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k a May Highlights and 2025 AoPS Online Class Information
jlacosta   0
May 1, 2025
May is an exciting month! National MATHCOUNTS is the second week of May in Washington D.C. and our Founder, Richard Rusczyk will be presenting a seminar, Preparing Strong Math Students for College and Careers, on May 11th.

Are you interested in working towards MATHCOUNTS and don’t know where to start? We have you covered! If you have taken Prealgebra, then you are ready for MATHCOUNTS/AMC 8 Basics. Already aiming for State or National MATHCOUNTS and harder AMC 8 problems? Then our MATHCOUNTS/AMC 8 Advanced course is for you.

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[*]May 21st, 4:00pm PT/7:00pm ET, Mathcamp 2025 Qualifying Quiz Part 2 Math Jam, Problems 5 and 6, Canada/USA Mathcamp staff will discuss solutions to Problems 5 and 6 of the 2025 Mathcamp Qualifying Quiz![/list]
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0 replies
jlacosta
May 1, 2025
0 replies
k i Adding contests to the Contest Collections
dcouchman   1
N Apr 5, 2023 by v_Enhance
Want to help AoPS remain a valuable Olympiad resource? Help us add contests to AoPS's Contest Collections.

Find instructions and a list of contests to add here: https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c40244h1064480_contests_to_add
1 reply
dcouchman
Sep 9, 2019
v_Enhance
Apr 5, 2023
k i Zero tolerance
ZetaX   49
N May 4, 2019 by NoDealsHere
Source: Use your common sense! (enough is enough)
Some users don't want to learn, some other simply ignore advises.
But please follow the following guideline:


To make it short: ALWAYS USE YOUR COMMON SENSE IF POSTING!
If you don't have common sense, don't post.


More specifically:

For new threads:


a) Good, meaningful title:
The title has to say what the problem is about in best way possible.
If that title occured already, it's definitely bad. And contest names aren't good either.
That's in fact a requirement for being able to search old problems.

Examples:
Bad titles:
- "Hard"/"Medium"/"Easy" (if you find it so cool how hard/easy it is, tell it in the post and use a title that tells us the problem)
- "Number Theory" (hey guy, guess why this forum's named that way¿ and is it the only such problem on earth¿)
- "Fibonacci" (there are millions of Fibonacci problems out there, all posted and named the same...)
- "Chinese TST 2003" (does this say anything about the problem¿)
Good titles:
- "On divisors of a³+2b³+4c³-6abc"
- "Number of solutions to x²+y²=6z²"
- "Fibonacci numbers are never squares"


b) Use search function:
Before posting a "new" problem spend at least two, better five, minutes to look if this problem was posted before. If it was, don't repost it. If you have anything important to say on topic, post it in one of the older threads.
If the thread is locked cause of this, use search function.

Update (by Amir Hossein). The best way to search for two keywords in AoPS is to input
[code]+"first keyword" +"second keyword"[/code]
so that any post containing both strings "first word" and "second form".


c) Good problem statement:
Some recent really bad post was:
[quote]$lim_{n\to 1}^{+\infty}\frac{1}{n}-lnn$[/quote]
It contains no question and no answer.
If you do this, too, you are on the best way to get your thread deleted. Write everything clearly, define where your variables come from (and define the "natural" numbers if used). Additionally read your post at least twice before submitting. After you sent it, read it again and use the Edit-Button if necessary to correct errors.


For answers to already existing threads:


d) Of any interest and with content:
Don't post things that are more trivial than completely obvious. For example, if the question is to solve $x^{3}+y^{3}=z^{3}$, do not answer with "$x=y=z=0$ is a solution" only. Either you post any kind of proof or at least something unexpected (like "$x=1337, y=481, z=42$ is the smallest solution). Someone that does not see that $x=y=z=0$ is a solution of the above without your post is completely wrong here, this is an IMO-level forum.
Similar, posting "I have solved this problem" but not posting anything else is not welcome; it even looks that you just want to show off what a genius you are.

e) Well written and checked answers:
Like c) for new threads, check your solutions at least twice for mistakes. And after sending, read it again and use the Edit-Button if necessary to correct errors.



To repeat it: ALWAYS USE YOUR COMMON SENSE IF POSTING!


Everything definitely out of range of common sense will be locked or deleted (exept for new users having less than about 42 posts, they are newbies and need/get some time to learn).

The above rules will be applied from next monday (5. march of 2007).
Feel free to discuss on this here.
49 replies
ZetaX
Feb 27, 2007
NoDealsHere
May 4, 2019
Self-evident inequality trick
Lukaluce   8
N a few seconds ago by JARP091
Source: 2025 Junior Macedonian Mathematical Olympiad P4
Let $x, y$, and $z$ be positive real numbers, such that $x^2 + y^2 + z^2 = 3$. Prove the inequality
\[\frac{x^3}{2 + x} + \frac{y^3}{2 + y} + \frac{z^3}{2 + z} \ge 1.\]When does the equality hold?
8 replies
Lukaluce
Yesterday at 3:34 PM
JARP091
a few seconds ago
JBMO Shortlist 2021 G2
Lukaluce   10
N a minute ago by Adventure1000
Source: JBMO Shortlist 2021
Let $P$ be an interior point of the isosceles triangle $ABC$ with $\hat{A} = 90^{\circ}$. If
$$\widehat{PAB} + \widehat{PBC} + \widehat{PCA} = 90^{\circ},$$prove that $AP \perp BC$.

Proposed by Mehmet Akif Yıldız, Turkey
10 replies
Lukaluce
Jul 2, 2022
Adventure1000
a minute ago
Thailand MO 2025 P3
Kaimiaku   5
N 7 minutes ago by MathLuis
Let $a,b,c,x,y,z$ be positive real numbers such that $ay+bz+cx \le az+bx+cy$. Prove that $$ \frac{xy}{ax+bx+cy}+\frac{yz}{by+cy+az}+\frac{zx}{cz+az+bx} \le \frac{x+y+z}{a+b+c}$$
5 replies
Kaimiaku
May 13, 2025
MathLuis
7 minutes ago
Simple inequality
sqing   7
N 11 minutes ago by sqing
Source: 2016 China Sichuan High School Mathematics Competition ,Q14
Let $a, b, c$ are positive real numbers .Show that$$abc\geq \frac{a+b+c}{\frac{1}{a^2}+\frac{1}{b^2}+\frac{1}{c^2}}\geq (b+c-a)(c+a-b)(a+b-c)$$
7 replies
sqing
May 22, 2016
sqing
11 minutes ago
geometry
EeEeRUT   5
N 17 minutes ago by MathLuis
Source: Thailand MO 2025 P4
Let $D,E$ and $F$ be touch points of the incenter of $\triangle ABC$ at $BC, CA$ and $AB$, respectively. Let $P,Q$ and $R$ be the circumcenter of triangles $AFE, BDF$ and $CED$, respectively. Show that $DP, EQ$ and $FR$ concurrent.
5 replies
EeEeRUT
May 13, 2025
MathLuis
17 minutes ago
Burapha integer
EeEeRUT   2
N 27 minutes ago by MathLuis
Source: Thailand MO 2025 P1
For each positive integer $m$, denote by $d(m)$ the number of positive divisors of $m$. We say that a positive integer $n$ is Burapha integer if it satisfy the following condition
[list]
[*] $d(n)$ is an odd integer.
[*] $d(k) \leqslant d(\ell)$ holds for every positive divisor $k, \ell$ of $n$, such that $k < \ell$
[/list]
Find all Burapha integer.
2 replies
EeEeRUT
May 13, 2025
MathLuis
27 minutes ago
Prove n is square-free given divisibility condition
CatalanThinker   0
33 minutes ago
Source: 1995 Indian Mathematical Olympiad
Let \( n \) be a positive integer such that \( n \) divides the sum
\[
1 + \sum_{i=1}^{n-1} i^{n-1}.
\]Prove that \( n \) is square-free.
0 replies
CatalanThinker
33 minutes ago
0 replies
Interesting inequalities
sqing   13
N 43 minutes ago by sqing
Source: Own
Let $ a,b,c\geq 0 , (a+k )(b+c)=k+1.$ Prove that
$$\frac{1}{a+1}+\frac{1}{b+1}+\frac{1}{c+1}\geq  \frac{2k-3+2\sqrt{k+1}}{3k-1}$$Where $ k\geq \frac{2}{3}.$
Let $ a,b,c\geq 0 , (a+1)(b+c)=2.$ Prove that
$$\frac{1}{a+1}+\frac{1}{b+1}+\frac{1}{c+1}\geq 2\sqrt{2}-1$$Let $ a,b,c\geq 0 , (a+3)(b+c)=4.$ Prove that
$$\frac{1}{a+1}+\frac{1}{b+1}+\frac{1}{c+1}\geq  \frac{7}{4}$$Let $ a,b,c\geq 0 , (3a+2)(b+c)= 5.$ Prove that
$$\frac{1}{a+1}+\frac{1}{b+1}+\frac{1}{c+1}\geq  \frac{2(2\sqrt{15}-5)}{3}$$
13 replies
sqing
May 10, 2025
sqing
43 minutes ago
Inspired by 2022 MARBLE - Mock ARML
sqing   2
N an hour ago by sqing
Source: Own
Let $ a,b,c\geq 0 , \frac{1}{a+b}+\frac{1}{b+c}+\frac{1}{c+a}= 5 $ and $ \frac{a}{b+c}+\frac{b}{c+a}+\frac{c}{a+b}=32. $ Prove that $$\frac{3}{2}>ab+bc+ca \geq  \frac{49}{34}$$Let $ a,b,c\geq 0 ,ab+bc+ca = \frac{49}{34} $ and $ \frac{a}{b+c}+\frac{b}{c+a}+\frac{c}{a+b}=32. $ Prove that $$\frac{51}{10}>\frac{1}{a+b}+\frac{1}{b+c}+\frac{1}{c+a}\geq5$$Let $ a,b,c\geq 0 ,ab+bc+ca = \frac{49}{34} $ and $ \frac{1}{a+b}+\frac{1}{b+c}+\frac{1}{c+a}=5. $ Prove that $$\frac{63}{2}<\frac{a}{b+c}+\frac{b}{c+a}+\frac{c}{a+b}\leq32$$
2 replies
sqing
Yesterday at 1:34 PM
sqing
an hour ago
Beijing High School Mathematics Competition 2025 Q1
SunnyEvan   3
N an hour ago by sqing
Let $ a,b,c,d \in R^+ $. Prove that:
$$ \frac{1}{a^4+b^4+c^4+abcd}+\frac{1}{b^4+c^4+d^4+abcd}+\frac{1}{c^4+d^4+a^4+abcd}+\frac{1}{d^4+a^4+b^4+abcd} \leq \frac{1}{abcd} $$
3 replies
SunnyEvan
Yesterday at 6:10 AM
sqing
an hour ago
Transposition?
EeEeRUT   2
N an hour ago by Bluecloud123
Source: Thailand MO 2025 P8
For each integer sequence $a_1, a_2, a_3, \dots, a_n$, a single parity swapping is to choose $2$ terms in this sequence, say $a_i$ and $a_j$, such that $a_i + a_j$ is odd, then switch their placement, while the other terms stay in place. This creates a new sequence.

Find the minimal number of single parity swapping to transform the sequence $1,2,3, \dots, 2025$ to $2025, \dots, 3, 2, 1$, using only single parity swapping.
2 replies
EeEeRUT
May 14, 2025
Bluecloud123
an hour ago
Batman chases the Joker on a square board
Lukaluce   1
N 3 hours ago by navier3072
Source: 2025 Junior Macedonian Mathematical Olympiad P1
Batman, Robin, and The Joker are in three of the vertex cells in a square $2025 \times 2025$ board, such that Batman and Robin are on the same diagonal (picture). In each round, first The Joker moves to an adjacent cell (having a common side), without exiting the board. Then in the same round Batman and Robin move to an adjacent cell. The Joker wins if he reaches the fourth "target" vertex cell (marked T). Batman and Robin win if they catch The Joker i.e. at least one of them is on the same cell as The Joker.

If in each move all three can see where the others moved, who has a winning strategy, The Joker, or Batman and Robin? Explain the answer.

Comment. Batman and Robin decide their common strategy at the beginning.

IMAGE
1 reply
Lukaluce
Yesterday at 3:23 PM
navier3072
3 hours ago
Foot from vertex to Euler line
cjquines0   31
N 3 hours ago by awesomeming327.
Source: 2016 IMO Shortlist G5
Let $D$ be the foot of perpendicular from $A$ to the Euler line (the line passing through the circumcentre and the orthocentre) of an acute scalene triangle $ABC$. A circle $\omega$ with centre $S$ passes through $A$ and $D$, and it intersects sides $AB$ and $AC$ at $X$ and $Y$ respectively. Let $P$ be the foot of altitude from $A$ to $BC$, and let $M$ be the midpoint of $BC$. Prove that the circumcentre of triangle $XSY$ is equidistant from $P$ and $M$.
31 replies
1 viewing
cjquines0
Jul 19, 2017
awesomeming327.
3 hours ago
Integer polynomial commutes with sum of digits
cjquines0   43
N 4 hours ago by Ilikeminecraft
Source: 2016 IMO Shortlist N1
For any positive integer $k$, denote the sum of digits of $k$ in its decimal representation by $S(k)$. Find all polynomials $P(x)$ with integer coefficients such that for any positive integer $n \geq 2016$, the integer $P(n)$ is positive and $$S(P(n)) = P(S(n)).$$
Proposed by Warut Suksompong, Thailand
43 replies
cjquines0
Jul 19, 2017
Ilikeminecraft
4 hours ago
RMM2011, P 4, Day 2 - Arithmetic function
mavropnevma   20
N Dec 13, 2023 by oVlad
Given a positive integer $\displaystyle n = \prod_{i=1}^s p_i^{\alpha_i}$, we write $\Omega(n)$ for the total number $\displaystyle \sum_{i=1}^s \alpha_i$ of prime factors of $n$, counted with multiplicity. Let $\lambda(n) = (-1)^{\Omega(n)}$ (so, for example, $\lambda(12)=\lambda(2^2\cdot3^1)=(-1)^{2+1}=-1$).
Prove the following two claims:

i) There are infinitely many positive integers $n$ such that $\lambda(n) = \lambda(n+1) = +1$;
ii) There are infinitely many positive integers $n$ such that $\lambda(n) = \lambda(n+1) = -1$.

(Romania) Dan Schwarz
20 replies
mavropnevma
Feb 26, 2011
oVlad
Dec 13, 2023
RMM2011, P 4, Day 2 - Arithmetic function
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G H BBookmark kLocked kLocked NReply
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mavropnevma
15142 posts
#1 • 9 Y
Y by FlakeLCR, Davi-8191, tenplusten, AlastorMoody, DofL, Adventure10, kimyager, Mango247, and 1 other user
Given a positive integer $\displaystyle n = \prod_{i=1}^s p_i^{\alpha_i}$, we write $\Omega(n)$ for the total number $\displaystyle \sum_{i=1}^s \alpha_i$ of prime factors of $n$, counted with multiplicity. Let $\lambda(n) = (-1)^{\Omega(n)}$ (so, for example, $\lambda(12)=\lambda(2^2\cdot3^1)=(-1)^{2+1}=-1$).
Prove the following two claims:

i) There are infinitely many positive integers $n$ such that $\lambda(n) = \lambda(n+1) = +1$;
ii) There are infinitely many positive integers $n$ such that $\lambda(n) = \lambda(n+1) = -1$.

(Romania) Dan Schwarz
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mahanmath
1354 posts
#2 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
i)Use the identity $a^2 -1 = (a-1)(a+1) $ we can construct solutions:

$(15,16) $ --> $( {31^2} -1 , 31^2 )$ ---> $ ( (2 \times 31^2 -1)^2 -1 ,  (2 \times 31^2 -1)^2 )$ --- > ....
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mahanmath
1354 posts
#3 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
ii) Choose an arbitrary $k$ such that $\lambda(k+1)= \lambda(k) =-1$

then look at the solutions of $(k+1)x^2 - ky^2 =1$ they are infinte and also
$\lambda((ky^2 ))= \lambda((k+1)x^2) =-1$
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Bugi
1857 posts
#4 • 1 Y
Y by Adventure10
i)
Let's assume that there are only finitely many integers n such that $\lambda(n)=\lambda(n+1)=1$

Then there exists an integer $N$ such that for all $a>N$, $\lambda(a)=1 \Longrightarrow \lambda(a+1)=-1$

Take some even $a>N$, then $(a-1,a+1)=1$, and as $\lambda(a^2)=1$, $\lambda(a-1)$ and $\lambda(a+1)$ have opposite signs. Continuing, we see that $\lambda(a+1)$ and $\lambda(a+3)$ have opposite signs, and we can do that until we reach $\lambda(a^2+1)$

Because of the assumption, we get $\lambda(a)=\lambda(a+2)=...=\lambda(a^2)=-1$, which is impossible, contradiction with the assumption.

ii) Start as in i)

Let $a$ be an odd number, $a>2N$, such that $\lambda(a)=-1$. Then if both $\lambda(a+1)$ and $\lambda(a-1)$ are 1, we get that $\lambda(\frac{a-1}2)=\lambda(\frac{a+1}2)=-1$, so we reach a contradiction.
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mavropnevma
15142 posts
#5 • 3 Y
Y by FlakeLCR, Adventure10, kimyager
Of course, the question that immediately comes to mind is if one can find infinitely many consecutive triplets equal to $+1$ (respectively $-1$); then groups of four, etc., $k\geq 3$. We have no answer as of yet for this ...
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SnowEverywhere
801 posts
#6 • 1 Y
Y by Adventure10
Solution to (1)

Consider the sets $A=\{ m^2 -1 | m \in \mathbb{N} \}$ and $B = \{ m^2 | m \in \mathbb{N} \}$. We define a natural number $n$ to be good if it satisfies that $\lambda(n)=\lambda(n+1)=1$. If there are infinitely many $n \in A$ or $n \in B$ such that $n$ is good, then the claim is proven. Suppose that there are only finitely many good $n \in A$ and $n \in B$. Since $A$ and $B$ are infinite, this implies that there are infinitely many $m$ such that $\lambda(m^2 -1) = \lambda(m^2 +1)=-1$ since otherwise one of the numbers $m^2 -1$ or $m^2$ is a good number. However, this implies that $\lambda(m^4 -1) = \lambda(m^2-1) \lambda (m^2 +1) = 1$. Since $\lambda(m^4) = 1$, this implies that $m^4 -1$ is good. Since there are infinitely many $m$ satisfying this condition, there are infinitely many good numbers.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by SnowEverywhere, Mar 4, 2012, 12:07 AM
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leshik
433 posts
#7 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Well, the problem can be killed by using a little bit of "theory".
Pell"s equation $x^2-6y^2=1,$ which has infinitely many solutions implies the first part of the problem.
Equation $3x^2-2y^2=1,$ which also has infinitely many solutions takes care of the second part.
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mavropnevma
15142 posts
#8 • 3 Y
Y by FlakeLCR, Adventure10, Mango247
Indeed, those equations are verbatim listed among the alternative proofs in the official solution :)
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blackbelt14253
372 posts
#9 • 3 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247, and 1 other user
i) Note that $\lambda(x^2) = 1$ for all integers $x$. Now note that either there exist infinitely many integers $\alpha$ such that $\lambda(\alpha^2 - 1) = 1$ or there don't. If infinitely many such $\alpha$ exist, then we are done. If only finitely many such $\alpha$ exist, then there exists a positive integer $M$ such that for all $\alpha > M$, we have $\lambda(\alpha^2 - 1) = -1$. This would imply that for all $\alpha > M$, we have $\lambda(\alpha - 1) = -\lambda(\alpha + 1)$, since $\lambda$ is clearly a multiplicative function. Then after a certain point, the values of $\lambda$ would cycle $1,1,-1,-1,1,1,-1,-1,\dots$ etc., so we are done.

ii) Note that $\lambda(px^2) = -1$ for all integers $x$ and primes $p$. Now note that there are infinitely many integer solutions in integers $(r,s)$ to the equation $3s^2 - 2r^2 = 1$; if $(r,s)$ is a solution, then $(4r + 5s, 5r + 6s)$ is a solution, and $(1,1)$ is a solution. Thus we are done.
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Zhero
2043 posts
#10 • 3 Y
Y by Adventure10 and 2 other users
Another solution to part i:

Observe that $\lambda$ is multiplicative. Consider the numbers $2^{2^n} - 1, 2^{2^n}, 2^{2^n} + 1$. If $\lambda(2^{2^n} + 1)$ is 1 for infinitely many positive integers $n$, then $\lambda(2^{2^n}) = \lambda(2^{2^n} + 1) = 1$ holds for infinitely many $n$. Otherwise, we may suppose that for all sufficiently large $n$, $\lambda(2^{2^n} + 1) = -1$. Hence, for any sufficiently large $n$, if $\lambda(2^{2^n} - 1) = 1$, since $\lambda(2^{2^n}) = 1$, we are done; otherwise, we have $\lambda(2^{2^{n+1}} - 1) = \lambda(2^{2^n} - 1) \lambda(2^{2^n} + 1) = -\lambda(2^{2^n} - 1) = 1 = \lambda(2^{2^{n+1}})$, so we are done.
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AndreiAndronache
88 posts
#11 • 1 Y
Y by Adventure10
Otherwise : i) We observe that $\lambda(a^2)=\lambda (6a^2)=1$ and we use the Pell's equation.
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junioragd
314 posts
#12 • 3 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247, and 1 other user
i)First,assume contrary,now we have that for some $N$,it holds that if $a>N$ we have that if $f(a)=1$ then $f(a+1)=-1$ and opposite.Now,just pick ann odd integer such $f(n)=1$(it is obvious that it exists) such that is larger than $2N$.Now,we have that $f(n+1)=-1$ and $f(n-1)=-1$,so $f(n+1/2)=f(n-1/2)=1$,so we are finished.
ii) Just pick an odd n such that $f(n)=-1$ and the rest is the same.
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JuanOrtiz
366 posts
#13 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Assume (i) is false. Then for $n>N$, $\lambda(n)=\lambda(n+1)=1$ is false, so for $n>2N$ even, $\lambda(n)=\lambda(n+2)=-1$ is false. Take any $\lambda(n+1)=1$, this implies an immediate contradiction. (ii) is same.

This is completely trivial
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mavropnevma
15142 posts
#14 • 2 Y
Y by FlakeLCR, Adventure10
Not so fast ... you only know $\lambda(n)$ and $\lambda(n+2)$ are not both equal to $-1$ for even $n$'s (thus at least one is equal to $1$). Who tells you that you can find some $\lambda(n+1)=1$ for an even $n$? For example, the alternating sequence, starting from an even value of $n>2N$, given by $1,-1,1,-1,1,-1,\ldots$ has no $\lambda(n) = \lambda(n+1) =1$, nor $\lambda(n) = \lambda(n+2) = -1$ for $n$ even. The problem is not that trivial.
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JuanOrtiz
366 posts
#15 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
mavropnevma I thought about addressing this in my first post but I thought it looked nicer as a one-liner

Just take $ n+1 = x^2 $ with $ x $ odd. For the case where we prove (ii), take $n+1= 3x^2$ with $x$ odd.
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anantmudgal09
1980 posts
#16 • 3 Y
Y by mijail, Adventure10, Mango247
Cute problem but a little easy for RMM P4
a.) take $n=m^2$ and let $m^2+1=10d^2$ This is a Pell type equation and kills a.)
b.) take $n=2m^2$ let $2m^2+1=3t^2$. This again is a Pell type equation killing b.)
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Sprites
478 posts
#18
Y by
For part a) take $x^2-6y^2=1$ and for part b) $3x^2-2y^2=1$
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by Sprites, Aug 19, 2021, 3:59 PM
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SerdarBozdag
892 posts
#19 • 1 Y
Y by Amy_Chen
a) If $(2k-1)^2$ and $(2k+1)^2$ do not satisfy the condition then $ \lambda (\frac{(2k-1)^2+1}{2} \frac{(2k+1)^2+1}{2})$ is even. Thus $4k^4$ satisfies the conditions.
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john0512
4190 posts
#20
Y by
Say that a positive integer $n$ is red if $\lambda(n)=1$, and blue otherwise. Then, the problem is asking to prove that there are infinitely many consecutive red pairs and consecutive blue pairs.

Claim: For any positive integer $n$, at least one of $(n^2-1,n^2)$, $(n^2,n^2+1)$, or $(n^4-1,n^4)$ is a consecutive red pair. Clearly, $n^2$ and $n^4$ are both red. Then, if either one of $n^2-1$ and $n^2+1$ are red, then the claim would be true. However, if they are both blue, then their product, $n^4-1$, would be red, so the claim is still true.

This claim clearly solves part (i). For part (ii), assume FTSOC there exists $m$ such that all blue numbers past $m$ are isolated. Then, pick $n>777770m$ such that $n$ is odd and blue (e.g. pick a sufficently large power of 3 that is not a power of 9). Then, $n-1$ and $n+1$ are both red by our FTSOC claim. However, this means that $(n-1)/2$ and $(n+1)/2$ are both blue, and they are consecutive integers, which contradicts our FTSOC claim since they are both still larger than $m$. Hence, we are done.
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Pitchu-25
55 posts
#21
Y by
First note that there are infinitely many values of $n$ such that $\lambda(n)=\lambda(n+1)$. Indeed, if starting from some point the values of $\lambda$ alternated, then $\lambda(x)$ would be determined by the parity of $x$ (for $x$ large enough), which is an obvious contradiction (odd squares and even squares both give a $\lambda$ value of $1$).

We can thus find infinitely many $m$ such that $\lambda(m-1)=\lambda(m+1)$ (multiplying by $2$ the claim above), so that $\lambda(m^2-1)=\lambda(m^2)=1$. This proves (i)

Now we deal with part (ii) : take some $a$ divisible by $6$. If $\lambda(a^2+2)$ (resp. $\lambda(a^2+3)$) is equal to $1$, then $-1=\lambda(a^2/2)=\lambda(a^2/2 +1)$ (resp. $-1=\lambda(a^2/3)=\lambda(a^2/3 +1)$. If not, then $-1=\lambda(a^2+2)=\lambda(a^2+3)$.
This proves (ii). $\blacksquare$
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oVlad
1746 posts
#22
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mavropnevma wrote:
Of course, the question that immediately comes to mind is if one can find infinitely many consecutive triplets equal to $+1$ (respectively $-1$); then groups of four, etc., $k\geq 3$. We have no answer as of yet for this ...
This is a fairly state-of-the-art question. For $k=3$ Hildebrand [1] showed that all eight patters on $\pm 1$ occur infinitely often and much later Matomaki et al. [2] have shown that these patters occur with a positive frequency (I am talking about the generalised problem, but it turns our that the hardest part of the proof is dealing with the runs in question, namely $k$ consecutive 1's or -1's).

Unless some major advancements have been made in the last 5-ish years, it is still unkown whether all the patters for $k=4$ are present infinitely often. Of course, it is expected that for any $k{}$, any pattern of signs occurs infinitely often - even more so, these patterns occur with equal frequencies - as stated by Chowla's conjecture.

I'm not entirely sure, but there are some connections between Chowla's conjecture and the Riemann Hypothesis, so perhaps it is completely out of reach as of now, let alone for an olympiad problem.

[1] A. Hildebrand – On consecutive values of the Liouville function. Enseign. Math. (2) 32 (1986), 219–226.
[2] K. Matomaki, M. Radziwill and T. Tao – Sign patterns of the Mobus and Liouville functions. Preprint, arXiv:1509:01545.

Edit: I just realised that the second paper I linked wasn't even published at the time of the competition. How time flies...
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by oVlad, Dec 13, 2023, 11:15 AM
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