Plan ahead for the next school year. Schedule your class today!

G
Topic
First Poster
Last Poster
k a July Highlights and 2025 AoPS Online Class Information
jwelsh   0
Jul 1, 2025
We are halfway through summer, so be sure to carve out some time to keep your skills sharp and explore challenging topics at AoPS Online and our AoPS Academies (including the Virtual Campus)!

[list][*]Over 60 summer classes are starting at the Virtual Campus on July 7th - check out the math and language arts options for middle through high school levels.
[*]At AoPS Online, we have accelerated sections where you can complete a course in half the time by meeting twice/week instead of once/week, starting on July 8th:
[list][*]MATHCOUNTS/AMC 8 Basics
[*]MATHCOUNTS/AMC 8 Advanced
[*]AMC Problem Series[/list]
[*]Plus, AoPS Online has a special seminar July 14 - 17 that is outside the standard fare: Paradoxes and Infinity
[*]We are expanding our in-person AoPS Academy locations - are you looking for a strong community of problem solvers, exemplary instruction, and math and language arts options? Look to see if we have a location near you and enroll in summer camps or academic year classes today! New locations include campuses in California, Georgia, New York, Illinois, and Oregon and more coming soon![/list]

MOP (Math Olympiad Summer Program) just ended and the IMO (International Mathematical Olympiad) is right around the corner! This year’s IMO will be held in Australia, July 10th - 20th. Congratulations to all the MOP students for reaching this incredible level and best of luck to all selected to represent their countries at this year’s IMO! Did you know that, in the last 10 years, 59 USA International Math Olympiad team members have medaled and have taken over 360 AoPS Online courses. Take advantage of our Worldwide Online Olympiad Training (WOOT) courses
and train with the best! Please note that early bird pricing ends August 19th!
Are you tired of the heat and thinking about Fall? You can plan your Fall schedule now with classes at either AoPS Online, AoPS Academy Virtual Campus, or one of our AoPS Academies around the US.

Our full course list for upcoming classes is below:
All classes start 7:30pm ET/4:30pm PT unless otherwise noted.

Introductory: Grades 5-10

Prealgebra 1 Self-Paced

Prealgebra 1
Wednesday, Jul 16 - Oct 29
Sunday, Aug 17 - Dec 14
Tuesday, Aug 26 - Dec 16
Friday, Sep 5 - Jan 16
Monday, Sep 8 - Jan 12
Tuesday, Sep 16 - Jan 20 (4:30 - 5:45 pm ET/1:30 - 2:45 pm PT)
Sunday, Sep 21 - Jan 25
Thursday, Sep 25 - Jan 29
Wednesday, Oct 22 - Feb 25
Tuesday, Nov 4 - Mar 10
Friday, Dec 12 - Apr 10

Prealgebra 2 Self-Paced

Prealgebra 2
Friday, Jul 25 - Nov 21
Sunday, Aug 17 - Dec 14
Tuesday, Sep 9 - Jan 13
Thursday, Sep 25 - Jan 29
Sunday, Oct 19 - Feb 22
Monday, Oct 27 - Mar 2
Wednesday, Nov 12 - Mar 18

Introduction to Algebra A Self-Paced

Introduction to Algebra A
Tuesday, Jul 15 - Oct 28
Sunday, Aug 17 - Dec 14
Wednesday, Aug 27 - Dec 17
Friday, Sep 5 - Jan 16
Thursday, Sep 11 - Jan 15
Sunday, Sep 28 - Feb 1
Monday, Oct 6 - Feb 9
Tuesday, Oct 21 - Feb 24
Sunday, Nov 9 - Mar 15
Friday, Dec 5 - Apr 3

Introduction to Counting & Probability Self-Paced

Introduction to Counting & Probability
Wednesday, Jul 2 - Sep 17
Sunday, Jul 27 - Oct 19
Monday, Aug 11 - Nov 3
Wednesday, Sep 3 - Nov 19
Sunday, Sep 21 - Dec 14 (1:00 - 2:30 pm ET/10:00 - 11:30 am PT)
Friday, Oct 3 - Jan 16
Sunday, Oct 19 - Jan 25
Tuesday, Nov 4 - Feb 10
Sunday, Dec 7 - Mar 8

Introduction to Number Theory
Tuesday, Jul 15 - Sep 30
Wednesday, Aug 13 - Oct 29
Friday, Sep 12 - Dec 12
Sunday, Oct 26 - Feb 1
Monday, Dec 1 - Mar 2

Introduction to Algebra B Self-Paced

Introduction to Algebra B
Friday, Jul 18 - Nov 14
Thursday, Aug 7 - Nov 20
Monday, Aug 18 - Dec 15
Sunday, Sep 7 - Jan 11
Thursday, Sep 11 - Jan 15
Wednesday, Sep 24 - Jan 28
Sunday, Oct 26 - Mar 1
Tuesday, Nov 4 - Mar 10
Monday, Dec 1 - Mar 30

Introduction to Geometry
Monday, Jul 14 - Jan 19
Wednesday, Aug 13 - Feb 11
Tuesday, Aug 26 - Feb 24
Sunday, Sep 7 - Mar 8
Thursday, Sep 11 - Mar 12
Wednesday, Sep 24 - Mar 25
Sunday, Oct 26 - Apr 26
Monday, Nov 3 - May 4
Friday, Dec 5 - May 29

Paradoxes and Infinity
Mon, Tue, Wed, & Thurs, Jul 14 - Jul 16 (meets every day of the week!)
Sat & Sun, Sep 13 - Sep 14 (1:00 - 4:00 PM PT/4:00 - 7:00 PM ET)

Intermediate: Grades 8-12

Intermediate Algebra
Sunday, Jul 13 - Jan 18
Thursday, Jul 24 - Jan 22
Friday, Aug 8 - Feb 20
Tuesday, Aug 26 - Feb 24
Sunday, Sep 28 - Mar 29
Wednesday, Oct 8 - Mar 8
Sunday, Nov 16 - May 17
Thursday, Dec 11 - Jun 4

Intermediate Counting & Probability
Sunday, Sep 28 - Feb 15
Tuesday, Nov 4 - Mar 24

Intermediate Number Theory
Wednesday, Sep 24 - Dec 17

Precalculus
Wednesday, Aug 6 - Jan 21
Tuesday, Sep 9 - Feb 24
Sunday, Sep 21 - Mar 8
Monday, Oct 20 - Apr 6
Sunday, Dec 14 - May 31

Advanced: Grades 9-12

Calculus
Sunday, Sep 7 - Mar 15
Wednesday, Sep 24 - Apr 1
Friday, Nov 14 - May 22

Contest Preparation: Grades 6-12

MATHCOUNTS/AMC 8 Basics
Tues & Thurs, Jul 8 - Aug 14 (meets twice a week!)
Sunday, Aug 17 - Nov 9
Wednesday, Sep 3 - Nov 19
Tuesday, Sep 16 - Dec 9
Sunday, Sep 21 - Dec 14 (1:00 - 2:30 pm ET/10:00 - 11:30 am PT)
Monday, Oct 6 - Jan 12
Thursday, Oct 16 - Jan 22
Tues, Thurs & Sun, Dec 9 - Jan 18 (meets three times a week!)

MATHCOUNTS/AMC 8 Advanced
Tues & Thurs, Jul 8 - Aug 14 (meets twice a week!)
Sunday, Aug 17 - Nov 9
Tuesday, Aug 26 - Nov 11
Thursday, Sep 4 - Nov 20
Friday, Sep 12 - Dec 12
Monday, Sep 15 - Dec 8
Sunday, Oct 5 - Jan 11
Tues, Thurs & Sun, Dec 2 - Jan 11 (meets three times a week!)
Mon, Wed & Fri, Dec 8 - Jan 16 (meets three times a week!)

AMC 10 Problem Series
Tues & Thurs, Jul 8 - Aug 14 (meets twice a week!)
Sunday, Aug 10 - Nov 2
Thursday, Aug 14 - Oct 30
Tuesday, Aug 19 - Nov 4
Mon & Wed, Sep 15 - Oct 22 (meets twice a week!)
Mon, Wed & Fri, Oct 6 - Nov 3 (meets three times a week!)
Tue, Thurs & Sun, Oct 7 - Nov 2 (meets three times a week!)

AMC 10 Final Fives
Friday, Aug 15 - Sep 12
Sunday, Sep 7 - Sep 28
Tuesday, Sep 9 - Sep 30
Monday, Sep 22 - Oct 13
Sunday, Sep 28 - Oct 19 (1:00 - 2:30 pm ET/10:00 - 11:30 am PT)
Wednesday, Oct 8 - Oct 29
Thursday, Oct 9 - Oct 30

AMC 12 Problem Series
Wednesday, Aug 6 - Oct 22
Sunday, Aug 10 - Nov 2
Monday, Aug 18 - Nov 10
Mon & Wed, Sep 15 - Oct 22 (meets twice a week!)
Tues, Thurs & Sun, Oct 7 - Nov 2 (meets three times a week!)

AMC 12 Final Fives
Thursday, Sep 4 - Sep 25
Sunday, Sep 28 - Oct 19
Tuesday, Oct 7 - Oct 28

AIME Problem Series A
Thursday, Oct 23 - Jan 29

AIME Problem Series B
Tuesday, Sep 2 - Nov 18

F=ma Problem Series
Tuesday, Sep 16 - Dec 9
Friday, Oct 17 - Jan 30

WOOT Programs
Visit the pages linked for full schedule details for each of these programs!


MathWOOT Level 1
MathWOOT Level 2
ChemWOOT
CodeWOOT
PhysicsWOOT


Programming

Introduction to Programming with Python
Thursday, Aug 14 - Oct 30
Sunday, Sep 7 - Nov 23
Tuesday, Dec 2 - Mar 3

Intermediate Programming with Python
Friday, Oct 3 - Jan 16

USACO Bronze Problem Series
Wednesday, Sep 3 - Dec 3
Thursday, Oct 30 - Feb 5
Tuesday, Dec 2 - Mar 3

Physics

Introduction to Physics
Tuesday, Sep 2 - Nov 18
Sunday, Oct 5 - Jan 11
Wednesday, Dec 10 - Mar 11

Physics 1: Mechanics
Sunday, Sep 21 - Mar 22
Sunday, Oct 26 - Apr 26
0 replies
jwelsh
Jul 1, 2025
0 replies
Quadrilateral ABCD such that AC+AD=BC+BD
WakeUp   16
N 2 minutes ago by shendrew7
Source: Canadian MO 2012 #3
Let $ABCD$ be a convex quadrilateral and let $P$ be the point of intersection of $AC$ and $BD$. Suppose that $AC+AD=BC+BD$. Prove that the internal angle bisectors of $\angle ACB$, $\angle ADB$ and $\angle APB$ meet at a common point.
16 replies
WakeUp
May 4, 2012
shendrew7
2 minutes ago
Add d or Divide by a
MarkBcc168   29
N 12 minutes ago by eg4334
Source: ISL 2022 N3
Let $a > 1$ be a positive integer and $d > 1$ be a positive integer coprime to $a$. Let $x_1=1$, and for $k\geq 1$, define
$$x_{k+1} = \begin{cases}
x_k + d &\text{if } a \text{ does not divide } x_k \\
x_k/a & \text{if } a \text{ divides } x_k
\end{cases}$$Find, in terms of $a$ and $d$, the greatest positive integer $n$ for which there exists an index $k$ such that $x_k$ is divisible by $a^n$.
29 replies
+1 w
MarkBcc168
Jul 9, 2023
eg4334
12 minutes ago
Periodic sequence with positive integers
thdnder   43
N 13 minutes ago by sami1618
Source: IMO 2024 P3
Let $a_1, a_2, a_3, \dots$ be an infinite sequence of positive integers, and let $N$ be a positive integer. Suppose that, for each $n > N$, $a_n$ is equal to the number of times $a_{n-1}$ appears in the list $a_1, a_2, \dots, a_{n-1}$.

Prove that at least one of the sequence $a_1, a_3, a_5, \dots$ and $a_2, a_4, a_6, \dots$ is eventually periodic.

(An infinite sequence $b_1, b_2, b_3, \dots$ is eventually periodic if there exist positive integers $p$ and $M$ such that $b_{m+p} = b_m$ for all $m \ge M$.)
43 replies
thdnder
Jul 16, 2024
sami1618
13 minutes ago
Avoid prime sum
NicoN9   4
N 13 minutes ago by AbbyWong
Source: Based on https://atcoder.jp/contests/arc149/tasks/arc149_c?lang=en
An integer $n\ge 3$ and a $n\times n$ grid are given. We write down one integer to each of the square of the grid so that each of integer $1$ to $n^2$ are written exactly once in the grid, and no two adjacent square have sum prime.

Prove that this is always possible.
4 replies
+1 w
NicoN9
Jul 25, 2025
AbbyWong
13 minutes ago
No more topics!
Rotating segment by 45 degrees and interchanging endpoints.
Goutham   10
N Apr 14, 2025 by Ilikeminecraft
A needle (a segment) lies on a plane. One can rotate it $45^{\circ}$ round any of its endpoints. Is it possible that after several rotations the needle returns to initial position with the endpoints interchanged?
10 replies
Goutham
Feb 9, 2011
Ilikeminecraft
Apr 14, 2025
Rotating segment by 45 degrees and interchanging endpoints.
G H J
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
Goutham
3130 posts
#1 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
A needle (a segment) lies on a plane. One can rotate it $45^{\circ}$ round any of its endpoints. Is it possible that after several rotations the needle returns to initial position with the endpoints interchanged?
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
Akashnil
736 posts
#2 • 7 Y
Y by Aryan-23, Adventure10, Mango247, ohiorizzler1434, and 3 other users
Let the needle's endpoints initially lie at two adjacent lattice points in the cartesian coordinate plane.
It is clear that after some rotations, an endpoint's coordinates will be of the form:
$(a+b\cdot 2^{-\frac{1}{2}}, c+d\cdot 2^{-\frac{1}{2}})$, where $a,b,c,d\in \mathbb Z$
Since, $1, 2^{-\frac{1}{2}}$ are linearly independent over $\mathbb Z$, this is a unique representation.
the parity of $a+b$ is invariant for both endpoints. They start at different parity. So they can't interchange positions.
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
v_Enhance
6906 posts
#3 • 5 Y
Y by HamstPan38825, Aryan-23, JAnatolGT_00, khina, john0512
Solution from Twitch Solves ISL: The answer is no.

Work in ${\mathbb Z}[\omega]$ where $\omega = \cos(45^{\circ})+i\sin(45^{\circ})$. Draw the needle as a directed segment from $0$ to $1$ in the plane.
We will only keep track of the left end point: if the endpoint is located at $z$. Rotations around the other endpoint correspond to \[ z \mapsto z + \omega^k - \omega^{k-1} \]for some choice of $\omega$.
The claim is that we never can reach $1$. To prove this we only need show the following claim, which proves the relevant invariant.

Claim: $0 \not\equiv 1 \pmod{\omega-1}$ in ${\mathbb Z}[\omega]$.
Proof. It suffices to show ${\mathbb Z}[\omega]/(\omega-1)$ is not trivial. Write ${\mathbb Z}[\omega] = {\mathbb Z}[T] / (T^4+1)$, then \[ {\mathbb Z}[\omega]/(\omega-1) 		\cong {\mathbb Z}[T] / \left( T^4+1, T-1 \right) 		\cong {\mathbb Z} / 2 = {\mathbb F}_2 \]as desired. $\blacksquare$
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
IAmTheHazard
5007 posts
#5
Y by
Essentially the same as #2, but this is how I thought about it

Position the needle such that one endpoint is at $(0,0)$ and the other is at $(1,0)$, and WLOG rotate about the left endpoint first. Suppose a sequence of rotations works. Right before we switch endpoints to rotate around, draw the needle's current position on the plane. Also draw the line joining $(0,0)$ and $(1,0)$. Then the drawn segments clearly form a cycle/polygon. Furthermore, because the endpoints must be interchanged, there must be an odd number of vertices on this graph. On the other hand, every drawn segment has length $1$ and is either horizontal, vertical or has slope $\pm 1$. Because $1$ and $\sqrt{2}$ are linearly independent over $\mathbb{Z}$, it then follows that to end at the same position we started, we need an even number of horizontal and an even number of vertical edges. By rotating the argument $45^\circ$ the same is true for edges with slope $1$ and edges with slope $-1$, so there are an even number of edges and thus vertices: contradiction. $\blacksquare$
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
popop614
285 posts
#6
Y by
The answer should be no. Let $\omega = e^{\frac{\pi i}{4}}$.

We start at $0$. A move consists of taking a complex number $z$ and adding $\omega^k$ where $k$ is some integer from $0$ to $7$. (Effectively what this does is that we rotate the needle by some amount, and then jump to the other endpoint.) We now show that the number of moves must be even, if we return to $0$. More formally, if

\[ \sum_{k = 0}^{7} a_k\omega^k = 0 \]for some integers $a_0$ through $a_7$, we must have that
\[ \sum_{k = 0}^{7} a_k \equiv 0 \pmod{2}.\]
In fact we can assume that $a_4$ through $a_7$ are zero, by subtracting pairs of $0 = \omega^k + \omega^{k + 4}$ while preserving the parity.

Now consider the real part of this thing. We have $a_0 + \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}a_1 - \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}a_3 = 0$. As such $a_0 = 0$. Likewise, $a_2 = 0$. This then forces $a_1 = a_3 = 0$, so the statement is true.
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
HamstPan38825
8904 posts
#7
Y by
Does this work?

The answer is no. Let $\omega$ be a primitive eighth root of unity. Suppose otherwise, and consider the locus of all positions of the segment. Modulo the first and last positions, all such segments $\ell$ form an equilateral polygon with an odd number of sides.

As a result, there must exist some odd number of $\omega^k$'s that sum to $0$; equivalently, there exists a polynomial $f \in \mathbb Z[X]$ such that $f(1)$ is odd and $f(\omega) = 0$.

But then $X^4+1 \mid f$, and hence $2 \mid f(1)$, contradiction!
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
blackbluecar
307 posts
#8
Y by
I have a very silly solution, which by the looks of things looks kinda different from the other solutions.

We place the needle on the complex plane with one end at $0$ and the other at $1$. We will let $z_0=0$ and $z_1=1$ and after $n$ moves, we let $z_n$ denote the new endpoint of the needle after a move. Note that if $\omega = e^{\frac{\pi i}{4}}$ then we can set up the following recurrence relation for $z_1,z_2, \ldots$ \[ z_{n} = \omega^{e_{n}}(z_{n-2}-z_{n-1})-z_{n-2} = (1- \omega^{e_{n}})z_{n-1}+\omega^{e_{n}}z_{n-2}\]for an arbitrary sequence of integers $e_1,e_2, \ldots$. This recurrence works because we translate $z_n$ to a new point $w$ on the unit circle, rotate it by $e_{n} \cdot \frac{\pi}{4}$ and undo the translation, which is exactly the operation we desire.

Claim: If $k$ is odd and $a_1,a_2, \ldots, a_k$ are integers, then \[ \omega^{a_1}+\omega^{a_2}+ \cdots + \omega^{a_k} \not = 0 \]
This is equivalent to showing that if $t_1\omega^1+t_2\omega^2+ \cdots +t_8\omega^8 = 0$ then $t_1+t_2+ \cdots +t_8$ is even. Indeed, note that \[ \Re(t_1\omega^1+t_2\omega^2 \cdots +t_8\omega^8) = t_1\cdot \Re(\omega^1)+t_2 \cdot \Re(\omega^2) \cdots +t_8 \cdot \Re(\omega^8)=0 \]\[ \implies (t_1+t_3-t_5-t_7) \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} + t_2+t_4 = 0 \implies t_1+t_3-t_5-t_7=0 \]So, $t_1+t_3+t_5+t_7$ is even. We also note that \[\omega \cdot (t_1\omega^1+t_2\omega^2 \cdots +t_8\omega^8) = 0 \implies t_8\omega^1+t_1\omega^2 \cdots +t_7\omega^8\]So, $t_2+t_4+t_6+t_8$ is even by the same logic. Thus, $t_1+t_3+ \cdots +t_8$ is even as desired. $\square$

Thus, if we let $A_n$ denote the number of terms in the expansion of $z_n$, we can set up the following recursion \[ z_{n} = (1- \omega^{e_{n}})z_{n-1}+\omega^{e_{n}}z_{n-2} = z_{n-1} + \omega^{e_n+4} \cdot z_{n-1} + \omega^{e_n}z_{n-2}\]\[ \implies A_n = 2A_{n-1} + A_{n-2} \]Where $A_0=0$ and $A_1=1$. Note that this recursion implies that for all odd $k$, we have $A_k \equiv A_{k-2} \equiv \cdots \equiv A_1 \equiv 1 \pmod{2}$. Thus, $z_k$ has an odd number of terms in it's $\omega$ expansion. Thus, $z_k \not = 0 = z_0$ for all odd $k$. So, the two ends of the needle cannot swap.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by blackbluecar, Dec 29, 2023, 6:14 AM
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
dolphinday
1343 posts
#10
Y by
Work in $\mathbb{Z}\left[\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\right]^2$. WLOG the needle has length $1$. We will only focus on one endpoint, and prove that it cannot lie on the starting point of the other endpoint.
Then note that rotating point $\left(a_1 + b_1\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}, a_2 + b_2\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\right)$ around another results in both $a_1 + b_1$ and $a_2 + b_2$ being invariant modulo $2$. However, since the two endpoints of the needle have distance $1$, the two endpoints have different parities, so they cannot swap.
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
john0512
4194 posts
#11
Y by
The answer is no.

Main Claim: If $v_1,v_2,\dots v_n$ are vectors with the same magnitude that sum to $0$ and the argument of each vector is a multiple of $45$ degrees, then $n$ is even.

Suppose the magnitude is $2$. The idea here is that since $\sqrt{2}$ is irrational, both the integer and $\sqrt{2}$ parts of both $x$ and $y$ coordinates must be zero. Thus $(2,0)$ appears the same number of times as $(-2,0)$, and $(0,2)$ appears the same number of times as $(0,-2)$. Furthermore, $(\sqrt{2},\sqrt{2}),(\sqrt{2},-\sqrt{2})$ in total occur the same number of times as $(-\sqrt{2},\sqrt{2}),(-\sqrt{2},-\sqrt{2})$ in total due to the $x$ coordinate. Thus, the total number of vectors is even.

Contract any series of pivots around the same endpoint into a single rotation. Thus, what happens is that the needle repeatedly pivots some multiple of 45 degrees around one endpoint, and then switches the pivot to the other endpoint. The difference between consecutive endpoints is always the same magnitude and has an argument a multiple of $45$ degrees. However, in order for it to get back to its original position with the orientation swapped, the number of such vectors must be odd, contradiction.
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
Mathandski
777 posts
#12
Y by
Assign each endpoint $\left(a+b \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}, c+d \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} \right)$. Induct gives $a+c+d$ parity unchanged.
This post has been edited 5 times. Last edited by Mathandski, Mar 6, 2025, 6:23 PM
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
Ilikeminecraft
738 posts
#13
Y by
No. Let $\omega = e^{\frac{\pi i}{4}}.$ Assume this exists. If we trace out the path as we move along the sequence, it forms a polygon(not necessarily degenerate) with odd number of vertices.
[asy]
        size(4cm);
        pair Exp(real r){
            return (cos(r), sin(r));
        }
        draw((1, 0) -- (0, 0) -- Exp(pi/4) -- 2 * Exp(pi/4) -- (2 * Exp(pi/4) + Exp(0)) -- (2 * Exp(pi/4) + 2 * Exp(0)));
        draw(2 * Exp(pi/4) + (2,0) -- (1, 0), Dotted);
        dot((0, 0), black);
        dot((1,0), red);
        dot(Exp(pi/4), red);
        dot(2 * Exp(pi/4), black);
        dot(2 * Exp(pi/4) + (1,0), red);
        dot(2 * Exp(pi/4) + (2,0), black);
[/asy]
Thus, it suffices to show that there doesn't exist nonnegative integers $a_k < 8$ such that \[\sum_{k = 0}^{2\ell} \omega^{a_k} = 0.\]Substitute $x = \omega,$ and we get that the polynomial \[P(x) = \sum_{k = 0}^{2\ell} x^{a_k}\]must have a root at $x=\omega$. Furthermore, $P(x)\in\mathbb Z[x].$ Since $P(\omega) = 0,$ it follows the minimal polynomial of $\omega$(equivalently $\Phi_4(x) = x^4 + 1$) must divide $P.$ Thus, $x^4 + 1 \mid P.$ However, this implies $2\mid P(1).$ However, this is false since $P$ is the sum of an odd number of $x^k.$
This post has been edited 3 times. Last edited by Ilikeminecraft, Apr 14, 2025, 8:40 PM
Z K Y
N Quick Reply
G
H
=
a