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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.

Summer camps are starting next month at the Virtual Campus in math and language arts that are 2 - to 4 - weeks in duration. Spaces are still available - don’t miss your chance to have an enriching summer experience. There are middle and high school competition math camps as well as Math Beasts camps that review key topics coupled with fun explorations covering areas such as graph theory (Math Beasts Camp 6), cryptography (Math Beasts Camp 7-8), and topology (Math Beasts Camp 8-9)!

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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
IMO ShortList 1999, algebra problem 1
orl   42
N 31 minutes ago by ihategeo_1969
Source: IMO ShortList 1999, algebra problem 1
Let $n \geq 2$ be a fixed integer. Find the least constant $C$ such the inequality

\[\sum_{i<j} x_{i}x_{j} \left(x^{2}_{i}+x^{2}_{j} \right) \leq C
\left(\sum_{i}x_{i} \right)^4\]

holds for any $x_{1}, \ldots ,x_{n} \geq 0$ (the sum on the left consists of $\binom{n}{2}$ summands). For this constant $C$, characterize the instances of equality.
42 replies
orl
Nov 13, 2004
ihategeo_1969
31 minutes ago
q(x) to be the product of all primes less than p(x)
orl   19
N 41 minutes ago by ihategeo_1969
Source: IMO Shortlist 1995, S3
For an integer $x \geq 1$, let $p(x)$ be the least prime that does not divide $x$, and define $q(x)$ to be the product of all primes less than $p(x)$. In particular, $p(1) = 2.$ For $x$ having $p(x) = 2$, define $q(x) = 1$. Consider the sequence $x_0, x_1, x_2, \ldots$ defined by $x_0 = 1$ and \[ x_{n+1} = \frac{x_n p(x_n)}{q(x_n)} \] for $n \geq 0$. Find all $n$ such that $x_n = 1995$.
19 replies
orl
Aug 10, 2008
ihategeo_1969
41 minutes ago
Interesting inequality
sealight2107   2
N an hour ago by arqady
Source: Own
Let $a,b,c>0$ such that $a+b+c=3$. Find the minimum value of:
$Q=\frac{a}{b}+\frac{b}{c}+\frac{c}{a}+\frac{1}{a^3+b^3+abc}+\frac{1}{b^3+c^3+abc}+\frac{1}{c^3+a^3+abc}$
2 replies
sealight2107
Tuesday at 4:53 PM
arqady
an hour ago
Cyclic Quads and Parallel Lines
gracemoon124   16
N 2 hours ago by ohiorizzler1434
Source: 2015 British Mathematical Olympiad?
Let $ABCD$ be a cyclic quadrilateral. Let $F$ be the midpoint of the arc $AB$ of its circumcircle which does not contain $C$ or $D$. Let the lines $DF$ and $AC$ meet at $P$ and the lines $CF$ and $BD$ meet at $Q$. Prove that the lines $PQ$ and $AB$ are parallel.
16 replies
gracemoon124
Aug 16, 2023
ohiorizzler1434
2 hours ago
Radical Center on the Euler Line (USEMO 2020/3)
franzliszt   37
N 3 hours ago by Ilikeminecraft
Source: USEMO 2020/3
Let $ABC$ be an acute triangle with circumcenter $O$ and orthocenter $H$. Let $\Gamma$ denote the circumcircle of triangle $ABC$, and $N$ the midpoint of $OH$. The tangents to $\Gamma$ at $B$ and $C$, and the line through $H$ perpendicular to line $AN$, determine a triangle whose circumcircle we denote by $\omega_A$. Define $\omega_B$ and $\omega_C$ similarly.
Prove that the common chords of $\omega_A$,$\omega_B$ and $\omega_C$ are concurrent on line $OH$.

Proposed by Anant Mudgal
37 replies
franzliszt
Oct 24, 2020
Ilikeminecraft
3 hours ago
Functional equation with powers
tapir1729   13
N 3 hours ago by ihategeo_1969
Source: TSTST 2024, problem 6
Determine whether there exists a function $f: \mathbb{Z}_{> 0} \rightarrow \mathbb{Z}_{> 0}$ such that for all positive integers $m$ and $n$,
\[f(m+nf(m))=f(n)^m+2024! \cdot m.\]Jaedon Whyte
13 replies
tapir1729
Jun 24, 2024
ihategeo_1969
3 hours ago
Powers of a Prime
numbertheorist17   34
N 3 hours ago by KevinYang2.71
Source: USA TSTST 2014, Problem 6
Suppose we have distinct positive integers $a, b, c, d$, and an odd prime $p$ not dividing any of them, and an integer $M$ such that if one considers the infinite sequence \begin{align*}
		ca &- db \\
		ca^2 &- db^2 \\
		ca^3 &- db^3 \\
		ca^4 &- db^4 \\
&\vdots
	\end{align*} and looks at the highest power of $p$ that divides each of them, these powers are not all zero, and are all at most $M$. Prove that there exists some $T$ (which may depend on $a,b,c,d,p,M$) such that whenever $p$ divides an element of this sequence, the maximum power of $p$ that divides that element is exactly $p^T$.
34 replies
numbertheorist17
Jul 16, 2014
KevinYang2.71
3 hours ago
IMO 2018 Problem 5
orthocentre   80
N 4 hours ago by OronSH
Source: IMO 2018
Let $a_1$, $a_2$, $\ldots$ be an infinite sequence of positive integers. Suppose that there is an integer $N > 1$ such that, for each $n \geq N$, the number
$$\frac{a_1}{a_2} + \frac{a_2}{a_3} + \cdots + \frac{a_{n-1}}{a_n} + \frac{a_n}{a_1}$$is an integer. Prove that there is a positive integer $M$ such that $a_m = a_{m+1}$ for all $m \geq M$.

Proposed by Bayarmagnai Gombodorj, Mongolia
80 replies
orthocentre
Jul 10, 2018
OronSH
4 hours ago
Line passes through fixed point, as point varies
Jalil_Huseynov   60
N 4 hours ago by Rayvhs
Source: APMO 2022 P2
Let $ABC$ be a right triangle with $\angle B=90^{\circ}$. Point $D$ lies on the line $CB$ such that $B$ is between $D$ and $C$. Let $E$ be the midpoint of $AD$ and let $F$ be the seconf intersection point of the circumcircle of $\triangle ACD$ and the circumcircle of $\triangle BDE$. Prove that as $D$ varies, the line $EF$ passes through a fixed point.
60 replies
Jalil_Huseynov
May 17, 2022
Rayvhs
4 hours ago
Tangent to two circles
Mamadi   2
N 4 hours ago by A22-
Source: Own
Two circles \( w_1 \) and \( w_2 \) intersect each other at \( M \) and \( N \). The common tangent to two circles nearer to \( M \) touch \( w_1 \) and \( w_2 \) at \( A \) and \( B \) respectively. Let \( C \) and \( D \) be the reflection of \( A \) and \( B \) respectively with respect to \( M \). The circumcircle of the triangle \( DCM \) intersect circles \( w_1 \) and \( w_2 \) respectively at points \( E \) and \( F \) (both distinct from \( M \)). Show that the line \( EF \) is the second tangent to \( w_1 \) and \( w_2 \).
2 replies
Mamadi
May 2, 2025
A22-
4 hours ago
Deduction card battle
anantmudgal09   55
N 5 hours ago by deduck
Source: INMO 2021 Problem 4
A Magician and a Detective play a game. The Magician lays down cards numbered from $1$ to $52$ face-down on a table. On each move, the Detective can point to two cards and inquire if the numbers on them are consecutive. The Magician replies truthfully. After a finite number of moves, the Detective points to two cards. She wins if the numbers on these two cards are consecutive, and loses otherwise.

Prove that the Detective can guarantee a win if and only if she is allowed to ask at least $50$ questions.

Proposed by Anant Mudgal
55 replies
anantmudgal09
Mar 7, 2021
deduck
5 hours ago
Geometry
Lukariman   7
N 6 hours ago by vanstraelen
Given circle (O) and point P outside (O). From P draw tangents PA and PB to (O) with contact points A, B. On the opposite ray of ray BP, take point M. The circle circumscribing triangle APM intersects (O) at the second point D. Let H be the projection of B on AM. Prove that $\angle HDM$ = 2∠AMP.
7 replies
Lukariman
Tuesday at 12:43 PM
vanstraelen
6 hours ago
perpendicularity involving ex and incenter
Erken   20
N Yesterday at 7:48 PM by Baimukh
Source: Kazakhstan NO 2008 problem 2
Suppose that $ B_1$ is the midpoint of the arc $ AC$, containing $ B$, in the circumcircle of $ \triangle ABC$, and let $ I_b$ be the $ B$-excircle's center. Assume that the external angle bisector of $ \angle ABC$ intersects $ AC$ at $ B_2$. Prove that $ B_2I$ is perpendicular to $ B_1I_B$, where $ I$ is the incenter of $ \triangle ABC$.
20 replies
Erken
Dec 24, 2008
Baimukh
Yesterday at 7:48 PM
Isosceles Triangle Geo
oVlad   4
N Yesterday at 7:43 PM by Double07
Source: Romania Junior TST 2025 Day 1 P2
Consider the isosceles triangle $ABC$ with $\angle A>90^\circ$ and the circle $\omega$ of radius $AC$ centered at $A.$ Let $M$ be the midpoint of $AC.$ The line $BM$ intersects $\omega$ a second time at $D.$ Let $E$ be a point on $\omega$ such that $BE\perp AC.$ Let $N$ be the intersection of $DE$ and $AC.$ Prove that $AN=2\cdot AB.$
4 replies
oVlad
Apr 12, 2025
Double07
Yesterday at 7:43 PM
AP bisects angle BAC
yunxiu   17
N Oct 20, 2024 by cursed_tangent1434
Source: 2012 China Mathematical Olympiad P1
In the triangle $ABC$, $\angle A$ is biggest. On the circumcircle of $\triangle ABC$, let $D$ be the midpoint of $\widehat{ABC}$ and $E$ be the midpoint of $\widehat{ACB}$. The circle $c_1$ passes through $A,B$ and is tangent to $AC$ at $A$, the circle $c_2$ passes through $A,E$ and is tangent $AD$ at $A$. $c_1$ and $c_2$ intersect at $A$ and $P$. Prove that $AP$ bisects $\angle BAC$.

Diagram
17 replies
yunxiu
Jan 7, 2012
cursed_tangent1434
Oct 20, 2024
AP bisects angle BAC
G H J
Source: 2012 China Mathematical Olympiad P1
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yunxiu
571 posts
#1 • 9 Y
Y by ilovemath121, Davi-8191, Adventure10, Mango247, Rounak_iitr, and 4 other users
In the triangle $ABC$, $\angle A$ is biggest. On the circumcircle of $\triangle ABC$, let $D$ be the midpoint of $\widehat{ABC}$ and $E$ be the midpoint of $\widehat{ACB}$. The circle $c_1$ passes through $A,B$ and is tangent to $AC$ at $A$, the circle $c_2$ passes through $A,E$ and is tangent $AD$ at $A$. $c_1$ and $c_2$ intersect at $A$ and $P$. Prove that $AP$ bisects $\angle BAC$.

Diagram
This post has been edited 3 times. Last edited by WakeUp, Dec 15, 2013, 8:21 PM
Reason: Asymptote diagram added.
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malcolm
148 posts
#2 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Let $\mathcal{R}$ be an inversion with center $A$ and arbitrary power. Let $X'$ denote the image of $X$ under $\mathcal{R}$. $\mathcal{R}$ takes the perpendicular bisector of $AC$ to the circle with center $C'$ and radius $AC'$, so $D'$ is the point on ray $C'B'$ satisfying $C'D'=C'A$. Similarly, $E$ is the point on ray $B'C'$ satisfying $B'E'=B'A$. $P'$ is the intersection of the line through $B'$ parallel to $A'C'$ and the line through $E'$ parallel to $A'D'$. It follows $\angle C'AD' = \angle E'P'B'$. But from parallel lines $AD'$ and $E'P'$ and $C'D'=C'A$, $\angle BE'P =\angle C'D'A =  \angle C'AD'$ hence $\angle BE'P=\angle E'P'B'$ so $\triangle B'P'E'$ is isoceles and $B'P'=B'E'=B'A$. But now $\triangle B'AP'$ is isoceles and so $\angle B'AP'=\frac{1}{2}(180^{\circ}-\angle AB'P') = \frac{1}{2}(180^{\circ} - \angle AB'C'- \angle C'B'P')$ $ = \frac{1}{2}(180^{\circ} - \angle AB'C'- \angle B'C'A) = \frac{1}{2} \angle B'AC'$ as desired.
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Lyub4o
265 posts
#3 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
yunxiu wrote:
Circle ${c_1}$ passes $A,B$ and tangent $AC$ at $A$Circle ${c_2}$ passes $A,E$ and tangent $AD$ at $A$, ${c_1} \cap {c_2} = \left\{ {A,P} \right\}$.
Do you mean the tangents to $c_1$ and $c_2$ are $AC$ and $BC$?
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yunxiu
571 posts
#4 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Lyub4o wrote:
yunxiu wrote:
Circle ${c_1}$ passes $A,B$ and tangent $AC$ at $A$Circle ${c_2}$ passes $A,E$ and tangent $AD$ at $A$, ${c_1} \cap {c_2} = \left\{ {A,P} \right\}$.
Do you mean the tangents to $c_1$ and $c_2$ are $AC$ and $BC$?

I mean tangents to $c_1$ and $c_2$ are $AC$ and $AD$.

Another solution:$BD \cap CE = I$, then we can prove $A,P,I$ are collinear.
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SnowEverywhere
801 posts
#5 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Solution

Let the center of $c_1$ be $O_1$ and let the center of $c_2$ be $O_2$. Now Let $P'$ denote the point on segment $[EO_1]$ such that $BO_1 = P'O_1$, which implies that $P'$ lies on $c_1$. Since $c_1$ is tangent to $AC$, it follows that $\angle{BO_1 A}=2\angle{BAC}$. Since $O_1$ and $E$ both lie on the perpendicular bisector of $AB$, it follows that $O_1 E$ bisects angle $\angle{BO_1 A}$ which implies that $\angle{BO_1 A}=\angle{BAC}$ and hence that $\angle{BP'E}=90^\circ + \frac{1}{2}\angle{BAC}$. However, since $P'$ lies on the perpencular bisector $EO_1$ of $AB$, $A$ is the reflection of $B$ about $EO_1$ and $\angle{AP'E}=\angle{BP'E}=90^\circ + \angle{BAC}$. Since $c_2$ is tangent to $AD$ and passes through $E$, it follows that $\angle{AO_2 E}=2\angle{DAE}=180^\circ - \angle{BAC}$. Combining this with the angle relation above yields that $P'$ lies on $c_2$. Hence $P'$ lies on both $c_1$ and $c_2$ and $P=P'$. Therefore $\angle{BAP}=\frac{1}{2} \angle{BO_1 P} = \frac{1}{2} \angle{BAC}$ which implies the result.
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Andy Loo
35 posts
#6 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
During the competition, it only took about 45 minutes to solve this problem using complex numbers. The expressions turn out to be surprisingly simple! :lol:
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simplependulum
73 posts
#7 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Let $ F = AB \cap DE $ , by angle chasing , we have $ \angle DEP = \angle AED - \angle AEP = \angle CAD - \angle DAP = \angle CAP = \angle ABP $ , so $B,F,E,P$ are concyclic .

Consider $ \Delta AEF $ and $P$ , $ \angle EPF = \angle EBF = 180^o - \angle EAF $ . At the same time , $ \angle APF = \angle APB + \angle BPF = \angle APB + \angle BED = 180^o - ( \angle BAC - \angle BAD )$$ = 180^o - \angle CAD = 180^o - \angle ACD = 180^o - \angle AEF $ . It is easy to prove that $ P $ is exactly the orthocentre of $ \Delta AEF $ and therefore $ EP $ is perpendicular to $AB$ and $ \angle BAP = \angle ABP = \angle CAP $ .
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Potla
1886 posts
#8 • 4 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247, Rounak_iitr, and 1 other user
Let $M,N$ be the midpoints of $AB, AC.$ Let the internal bisector of $\angle BAC$ meet the perpendicular bisector of $AB$ at the point $S.$ Note that $\angle SAC=\angle MAS=\angle MBS$ leads to the fact that $CA$ is tangent to $\odot(ASB).$ We will now show that $DA$ is tangent to $\odot(ASE).$
Obviously $E$ lies on the perpendicular bisector of $AB.$ Hence we get $\angle AES=\angle BES=\frac 12\angle AEB=\frac 12\angle ACB.$ Furthermore, $\angle DAC=\angle DCA=\frac{\pi}2-\frac{\angle ADC}{2}=\frac{\pi}{2}-\frac{\angle ABC}{2};$ which leads to $\angle DAS=\frac{\pi-\angle ABC-\angle BAC}{2}=\frac{\angle ABC}{2}.$
So, $\angle DAS=\angle AES,$ and $DA$ is tangent to $\odot(ASE).$ We are done.$\Box$
http://i42.tinypic.com/2i8hlde.jpg
:)
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crazyfehmy
1345 posts
#9 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Another solution:

Using tangencies and the equations $AD=DC, \: AE=EB$ we get the equation $\angle BPE = \angle APE.$

Since $AE=BE,$ by sine law we get $\angle PAE= \angle PBE$ which means the triangle $APB$ is isosceles. The rest is just angle calculation.
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Bigwood
374 posts
#10 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Let $\frac{\angle{CAB}}{2}=A,$ and so on.
Easy to get $\angle{ABP}+\angle{AEP}=A+C$.
\[\sin \angle{ABP}:\sin \angle{AEP}\]
\[=\frac {\sin{A+B}}{\sin{B+C}}:\frac{\sin {2C}}{\sin {2A}}\]
\[=\frac {\sin{A+B}}{\sin{B+C}}:\frac{\sin {2A+2B}}{\sin {2B+2C}}\]
\[=\sin A:\sin C\]
implies $\angle{ABP}=A$, since $A,B,C<\frac{\pi}{2}$ and the function $\sin x$ in increasing when $0<x<\frac{\pi}{2}$. So done.
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sayantanchakraborty
505 posts
#11 • 3 Y
Y by karitoshi, Adventure10, Rounak_iitr
Inversion"
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infiniteturtle
1131 posts
#12 • 3 Y
Y by karitoshi, Adventure10, Mango247
This seems rather easy for China. After a lookthrough my solution is relatively similar to Potla's.

If $\omega$ is the circumcircle of $\triangle ABC$, then $D$ is the intersection of the perpendicular bisector of $AC$ and $\omega$ on the same side as $B$, and $E$ is defined similarly. The A-bisector meets $\omega$ again at $K$, and C-bisector meets $\omega$ at $L$ (they are just the midpoints of arcs.) Let $Q=EL\cap AK$, now we want $Q=P$. Notice $\angle ABQ=\angle QAC =\angle QAB$, so $(AQB)$ is tangent to $AC$. So we just need $DA$ tangent to $AQE$. But this happens iff $\angle DAK=\angle AEL =\angle LEB\iff BL=KD\iff BD\parallel LK$ and this is trivial, so we are done.

Motivation
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jayme
9792 posts
#13 • 1 Y
Y by Adventure10
Dear Mathlinkers,

For the first step of the Message 7
1. X the point of intersection of AC and DE is on C2
2. according to Pivot theorem, B, F, E, P are concyclic.

Sincerely
Jean-Louis
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jayme
9792 posts
#14 • 1 Y
Y by Adventure10
Dear Mathlinkers,
For the second step…

3. Y, Z the points of intersection of AD and PF, BY and AE ; Y is on C1 and Z on the circle (BFEP)
4. then the angle chasing of message 7 is more clear.

Sincerely
Jean-Louis
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Ferid.---.
1008 posts
#15 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
My solution:
Let $F=AB\cap DE,G=AC\cap DE,$ by angle chasing,we have
$\angle PEF=\angle AED-\angle PEA=\angle CAD-\angle DAP=\angle CAP=\angle ABP\to FBPE$ cyclic,and $\angle PEG=\angle PEA+\angle DBA=180-\angle DAC+\angle DAP=180-\angle PAG\to APEG$ cyclic.$(1)$
If $\angle DAC=x,\angle BAE=y$ then we find $\triangle AFG$ isosceles.
Then from $(1)$ $\angle BPE=\angle APE=x+y,$ from $EB=EA$ and using the Sine Law in $\triangle EPA,\triangle EPB$ we can find $\angle EAP=\angle PBE.$ Then we can find easily $AP=BP$ where using the Sine Law in $\triangle APE,\triangle BPE.$
Then $\angle BAP=\angle PBA=\angle PAC.$ As desired.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by Ferid.---., Jul 15, 2017, 8:12 PM
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doxuanlong15052000
269 posts
#16 • 1 Y
Y by Adventure10
My solution
Let $J$ be the ẽ-bisector of triangle $ABC$, we have $J, C, E$ and $J, B, D$ are collinear. Let $JC$ cut $(c_2)$ at R, we have $AR//DC$. Similarly, let $BD$ cut $(c_2)$ at $K$, we have $AK//CD$$\implies$ $A, K, R$ are collinear so we have $\angle AKC=\angle JBC$ $\implies$ $R, K, E, B$ are concyclic so $AP$ passes through $J$.
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Fermat_Theorem
146 posts
#17 • 6 Y
Y by AlastorMoody, Physicsknight, Naruto.D.Luffy, o_i-SNAKE-i_o, RAMUGAUSS, Adventure10
Joint solution with Naruto.D.Luffy:

Note that $BD$ and $CE$ are the external angle bisectors of $\angle ABC$ and $\angle ACB$. So it suffices to show that $AP$ concurs with $BD$ and $CE$.

Extend $DB$ so that it meets $\odot(ABP)$ at $I$ and extend $EC$ so that it meets $\odot(APE)$ at $J$. Now, $AJ\|DC$ and $AI\|DC$ by Reim's Theorem. So $A,I, J$ are collinear.

Now,
\begin{align*}
\angle IJE&=\angle AJE\qquad[\text{Since }A,I,J\text{ are collinear}]\\
                    &=\angle DAE\\
                    &=\angle DBE,
\end{align*}giving us that $I,B,E,J$ are concyclic.

By Radical Axis Theorem on $\odot(IBEJ)$, $\odot(ABP)$ and $\odot(APE)$, we get $IB$, $AP$, and $JE$ to be concurrent, giving us what we need. :)

NOTE: Darn, just saw that this is the same as the above solution...
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by Fermat_Theorem, Sep 10, 2019, 3:33 PM
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cursed_tangent1434
623 posts
#18
Y by
The entire difficulty of this problem is identifying this common intersection point, after which phantom points kills. Let $M$ denote the $BC$ minor arc midpoint , $I$ be the incenter of $\triangle ABC$ and let $P'$ be the intersection of the internal $\angle A$-bisector and the $AB$ perpendicular bisector. Then, $AP=BP$ so,
\[\measuredangle ABP' = \measuredangle P'AB = \measuredangle CAP' \]which implies that $AC$ is tangent to $(ABP)$ , i.e $P'$ lies on $c_1$. Further, since $P'$ lies on the $AB$ perpendicular bisector,
\[\measuredangle P'AD = \measuredangle MAD = \measuredangle ICA = \measuredangle P'EA\]which implies that $AD$ is tangent to $(AEP')$ i.e $P'$ lies on $c_2$. But this means $P' = c_1 \cap c_2 \ne A$ and thus, $P' \equiv P$ which implies that $P$ lies on the internal $\angle BAC-$bisector as desired.
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