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k a April Highlights and 2025 AoPS Online Class Information
jlacosta   0
Apr 2, 2025
Spring is in full swing and summer is right around the corner, what are your plans? At AoPS Online our schedule has new classes starting now through July, so be sure to keep your skills sharp and be prepared for the Fall school year! Check out the schedule of upcoming classes below.

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0 replies
jlacosta
Apr 2, 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
Cool functional equation
Rayanelba   0
3 minutes ago
Source: Own
Find all functions $f:\mathbb{Z}_{>0}\to \mathbb{Z}_{>0}$ that verify the following equation for all $x,y\in \mathbb{Z}_{>0}$:
$max(f^{f(y)}(x),f^{f(y)}(y))|min(x,y)$
0 replies
Rayanelba
3 minutes ago
0 replies
primes,exponentials,factorials
skellyrah   2
N 24 minutes ago by CM1910
find all primes p,q such that $$ \frac{p^q+q^p-p-q}{p!-q!} $$is a prime number
2 replies
skellyrah
an hour ago
CM1910
24 minutes ago
Queue geo
vincentwant   1
N 44 minutes ago by hukilau17
Let $ABC$ be an acute scalene triangle with circumcenter $O$. Let $Y, Z$ be the feet of the altitudes from $B, C$ to $AC, AB$ respectively. Let $D$ be the midpoint of $BC$. Let $\omega_1$ be the circle with diameter $AD$. Let $Q\neq A$ be the intersection of $(ABC)$ and $\omega$. Let $H$ be the orthocenter of $ABC$. Let $K$ be the intersection of $AQ$ and $BC$. Let $l_1,l_2$ be the lines through $Q$ tangent to $\omega,(AYZ)$ respectively. Let $I$ be the intersection of $l_1$ and $KH$. Let $P$ be the intersection of $l_2$ and $YZ$. Let $l$ be the line through $I$ parallel to $HD$ and let $O'$ be the reflection of $O$ across $l$. Prove that $O'P$ is tangent to $(KPQ)$.
1 reply
vincentwant
4 hours ago
hukilau17
44 minutes ago
a nice prob for number theory
Jackson0423   1
N an hour ago by alexheinis
Source: number theory
Let \( n \) be a positive integer, and let its positive divisors be
\[
d_1 < d_2 < \cdots < d_k.
\]Define \( f(n) \) to be the number of ordered pairs \( (i, j) \) with \( 1 \le i, j \le k \) such that \( \gcd(d_i, d_j) = 1 \).

Find \( f(3431 \times 2999) \).

Also, find a general formula for \( f(n) \) when
\[
n = p_1^{e_1} p_2^{e_2} \cdots p_k^{e_k},
\]where the \( p_i \) are distinct primes and the \( e_i \) are positive integers.
1 reply
Jackson0423
3 hours ago
alexheinis
an hour ago
C-B=60 <degrees>
Sasha   27
N an hour ago by zuat.e
Source: Moldova TST 2005, IMO Shortlist 2004 geometry problem 3
Let $O$ be the circumcenter of an acute-angled triangle $ABC$ with ${\angle B<\angle C}$. The line $AO$ meets the side $BC$ at $D$. The circumcenters of the triangles $ABD$ and $ACD$ are $E$ and $F$, respectively. Extend the sides $BA$ and $CA$ beyond $A$, and choose on the respective extensions points $G$ and $H$ such that ${AG=AC}$ and ${AH=AB}$. Prove that the quadrilateral $EFGH$ is a rectangle if and only if ${\angle ACB-\angle ABC=60^{\circ }}$.

Proposed by Hojoo Lee, Korea
27 replies
Sasha
Apr 10, 2005
zuat.e
an hour ago
4 variables with quadrilateral sides 2
mihaig   1
N an hour ago by mihaig
Source: Own
Let $a,b,c,d\geq0$ satisfying
$$\frac1{a+1}+\frac1{b+1}+\frac1{c+1}+\frac1{d+1}=2.$$Prove
$$\left(a+b+c+d-2\right)^2+8\geq3\left(abc+abd+acd+bcd\right).$$
1 reply
mihaig
Yesterday at 8:47 PM
mihaig
an hour ago
Good divisors and special numbers.
Nuran2010   3
N an hour ago by Nuran2010
Source: Azerbaijan Al-Khwarizmi IJMO TST 2024
$N$ is a positive integer. Call all positive divisors of $N$ which are different from $1$ and $N$ beautiful divisors.We call $N$ a special number when it has at least $2$ beautiful divisors and difference of any $2$ beautiful divisors divides $N$ as well. Find all special numbers.
3 replies
Nuran2010
Yesterday at 4:52 PM
Nuran2010
an hour ago
Functionnal equation
Rayanelba   1
N an hour ago by Mrcuberoot
Source: Own
Find all functions $f:\mathbb{R}_{>0}\to \mathbb{R}_{>0}$ that verify the following equation for all $x,y\in \mathbb{R}_{>0}$:
$f(x+yf(x))+f(\frac{x}{y})=\frac{x}{y}+f(x+xy)$
1 reply
Rayanelba
4 hours ago
Mrcuberoot
an hour ago
An I for an I
Eyed   66
N an hour ago by SimplisticFormulas
Source: 2020 ISL G8
Let $ABC$ be a triangle with incenter $I$ and circumcircle $\Gamma$. Circles $\omega_{B}$ passing through $B$ and $\omega_{C}$ passing through $C$ are tangent at $I$. Let $\omega_{B}$ meet minor arc $AB$ of $\Gamma$ at $P$ and $AB$ at $M\neq B$, and let $\omega_{C}$ meet minor arc $AC$ of $\Gamma$ at $Q$ and $AC$ at $N\neq C$. Rays $PM$ and $QN$ meet at $X$. Let $Y$ be a point such that $YB$ is tangent to $\omega_{B}$ and $YC$ is tangent to $\omega_{C}$.

Show that $A,X,Y$ are collinear.
66 replies
Eyed
Jul 20, 2021
SimplisticFormulas
an hour ago
Find f
Redriver   5
N an hour ago by cefer
Find all $: R \to R : \ \ f(x^2+f(y))=y+f^2(x)$
5 replies
Redriver
Jun 25, 2006
cefer
an hour ago
Geometric inequality with Fermat point
Assassino9931   6
N 2 hours ago by arqady
Source: Balkan MO Shortlist 2024 G2
Let $ABC$ be an acute triangle and let $P$ be an interior point for it such that $\angle APB = \angle BPC = \angle CPA$. Prove that
$$ \frac{PA^2 + PB^2 + PC^2}{2S} + \frac{4}{\sqrt{3}} \leq \frac{1}{\sin \alpha} + \frac{1}{\sin \beta} + \frac{1}{\sin \gamma}. $$When does equality hold?
6 replies
Assassino9931
Apr 27, 2025
arqady
2 hours ago
Straight-edge is a social construct
anantmudgal09   27
N 2 hours ago by cj13609517288
Source: INMO 2023 P6
Euclid has a tool called cyclos which allows him to do the following:
[list]
[*] Given three non-collinear marked points, draw the circle passing through them.
[*] Given two marked points, draw the circle with them as endpoints of a diameter.
[*] Mark any intersection points of two drawn circles or mark a new point on a drawn circle.
[/list]

Show that given two marked points, Euclid can draw a circle centered at one of them and passing through the other, using only the cyclos.

Proposed by Rohan Goyal, Anant Mudgal, and Daniel Hu
27 replies
anantmudgal09
Jan 15, 2023
cj13609517288
2 hours ago
Reducibility of 2x^2 cyclotomic
vincentwant   2
N 2 hours ago by vincentwant
Let $S$ denote the set of all positive integers less than $1020$ that are relatively prime to $1020$. Let $\omega=\cos\frac{\pi}{510}+i\sin\frac{\pi}{510}$. Is the polynomial $$\prod_{n\in S}(2x^2-\omega^n)$$reducible over the rational numbers, given that it has integer coefficients?
2 replies
vincentwant
4 hours ago
vincentwant
2 hours ago
Weighted Blocks
ilovemath04   51
N 2 hours ago by Maximilian113
Source: ISL 2019 C2
You are given a set of $n$ blocks, each weighing at least $1$; their total weight is $2n$. Prove that for every real number $r$ with $0 \leq r \leq 2n-2$ you can choose a subset of the blocks whose total weight is at least $r$ but at most $r + 2$.
51 replies
ilovemath04
Sep 22, 2020
Maximilian113
2 hours ago
Common point as a varies
Megus   7
N Aug 27, 2006 by Virgil Nicula
Source: Problem 2, Polish NO 1994
Let be given two parallel lines $k$ and $l$, and a circle not intersecting $k$. Consider a variable point $A$ on the line $k$. The two tangents from this point $A$ to the circle intersect the line $l$ at $B$ and $C$. Let $m$ be the line through the point $A$ and the midpoint of the segment $BC$. Prove that all the lines $m$ (as $A$ varies) have a common point.
7 replies
Megus
Oct 7, 2005
Virgil Nicula
Aug 27, 2006
Common point as a varies
G H J
Source: Problem 2, Polish NO 1994
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Megus
1198 posts
#1 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Let be given two parallel lines $k$ and $l$, and a circle not intersecting $k$. Consider a variable point $A$ on the line $k$. The two tangents from this point $A$ to the circle intersect the line $l$ at $B$ and $C$. Let $m$ be the line through the point $A$ and the midpoint of the segment $BC$. Prove that all the lines $m$ (as $A$ varies) have a common point.
Z K Y
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grobber
7849 posts
#2 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Let $AB,AC$ touch the circle in $U,V$ respectively. Also, let $M$ be the midpoint of $BC$, $Q=UV\cap k$, and $P=AM\cap UV$, and $X,Y$ the intersections between the circle and $AM$.

$UXVY$ is a harmonic quadrilateral, so the pole of $XY$ lies on $UV$. At the same time, we have $(AU,AV;XY,AQ)=-1$, so the same pole of $XY$ lies on $AQ=k$. This means that the respective pole is $Q$. Since $A$ is the pole of $UV$, it must be that $P=XY\cap UV$ is the pole of $AQ=k$. This shows that $AM$ always passes through $P$, the pole of $k$ wrt the circle.
Z K Y
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darij grinberg
6555 posts
#3 • 1 Y
Y by Adventure10
Another solution:
Megus wrote:
Let be given two parallel lines $k$ and $l$, and a circle not intersecting $k$. Two tangents from a variable point $A \in k$ to the circle intersect the line $l$ at $B$ and $C$. Let $m$ be the line through $A$ and the midpoint of $BC$. Prove that all the lines $m$ (as $A$ varies) have a common point.

In fact, we will show that all the lines m pass through the pole N of the line k with respect to our circle.

We know that the lines AB and AC are tangents to our circle; let them touch the circle at the points M and K. Also, let O be the center of the circle.

If a point lies outside a circle, then its polar with respect to the circle can be constructed by joining the points where the two tangents from the point to the circle touch the circle. Hence, the polar of the point A with respect to our circle is the line MK. Since the line k passes through the point A, the pole N of the line k with respect to our circle lies on the polar MK of the point A. On the other hand, since N is the pole of the line k with respect to our circle, whose center is O, we have $ON\perp k$; since $k\parallel l$, this becomes $ON\perp l$, or, equivalently, $ON\perp BC$.

So our point N is a point on the line MK satisfying $ON\perp BC$. Thus, by http://www.mathlinks.ro/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=5830 post #4 Theorem 2, it follows that, if the lines AN and BC intersect at a point Q, then this point Q is the midpoint of the segment BC. In other words, the line AN passes through the midpoint of the segment BC, i. e. through the point M. Hence, the line m through the point A and the midpoint of the segment BC coincides with the line AN and thus passes through the point N. This completes the proof.

darij
Z K Y
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armpist
527 posts
#4 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Isn't it a genetically modified butterfly?



T.Y.

M.T.
Z K Y
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Hawk Tiger
667 posts
#5 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
grobber wrote:
Let $AB,AC$ touch the circle in $U,V$ respectively. Also, let $M$ be the midpoint of $BC$, $Q=UV\cap k$, and $P=AM\cap UV$, and $X,Y$ the intersections between the circle and $AM$.

$UXVY$ is a harmonic quadrilateral, so the pole of $XY$ lies on $UV$. At the same time, we have $(AU,AV;XY,AQ)=-1$, so the same pole of $XY$ lies on $AQ=k$. This means that the respective pole is $Q$. Since $A$ is the pole of $UV$, it must be that $P=XY\cap UV$ is the pole of $AQ=k$. This shows that $AM$ always passes through $P$, the pole of $k$ wrt the circle.
Sorry,I can't understand this solution.Who can help me ?
I have known what is the pole and polar .but I can't understand this setence"At the same time, we have $(AU,AV;XY,AQ)=-1,$so the same pole of $XY$ lies on $AQ=k$,"
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Virgil Nicula
7054 posts
#6 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
An analytical method. The equation of the fixed circle $w$ is $x^{2}+y^{2}-1=0$ ; the equations of the fixed lines $k$, $l$ are $y=a$ with $|a|>1$ and $y=b$ respectively ; the mobile point is $A(m,a)\in k$. The conic $h$ of the tangents to the circle $w$ from the point $M$ is $(x^{2}+y^{2}-1)(m^{2}+a^{2}-1)=(mx+ay-1)^{2}$. Thus, the abscises $x_{B}$, $x_{C}$ of the points $\{B,C\}\subset h\cap l$ are the roots of the equation $(x^{2}+b^{2}-1)(m^{2}+a^{2}-1)=(mx+ab-1)^{2}$, i.e. $(a^{2}-1)x^{2}-2m(ab-1)x+\ldots =0$. Therefore, the middlepoint $M$ of the segment $[BC]$ has the co-ordinates $x_{M}=\frac{x_{B}+x_{C}}{2}=\frac{m(ab-1)}{a^{2}-1}$ and $y_{M}=b$. The equation of the line $AM$ is : $\left|\begin{array}{ccc}x & y & 1\\\ m & a & 1\\ m(ab-1) & b(a^{2}-1) & a^{2}-1\end{array}\right|=0$ $\Longleftrightarrow$ $m(b-a)(ay-1)-(a^{2}-1)x=0$, i.e. the demand fixed point is $F\left(0,\frac{1}{a}\right)$. The polar line of the point $F$ w.r.t. the circle $w$ is $0\cdot x+\frac{1}{a}\cdot y-1=0$, i.e. $y=a$- the equation of the line $k$. Therefore the fixed point $F$ is the pol of the line $k$ w.r.t. the circle $w$.

Remark (memorize ! ). Let $f(x,y)\equiv x^{2}+y^{2}+2mx+2ny+p=0$ be the equation of the circle $w=C(O,R)$, where $O(-m,-n)$ and $R^{2}=m^{2}+n^{2}-p\ .$
$1.\blacktriangleright$ The equation of the polar of the point $P(a,b)$ w.r.t. the circle $w$ is : $\boxed{\ d(x,y)\equiv ax+by+m(x+a)+n(y+b)+p=0\ }\ .$
If the point $P\in w$, then the its polar line w.r.t. the circle $w$ becomes the tangent $PP$ to the circle $w$.
The co-ordinates of the pol $S$ for the line $Ax+By+C=0$ w.r.t. the circle $w$ you can obtain from the relations : $\boxed{\ \frac{m+x_{S}}{A}=\frac{n+y_{S}}{B}=\frac{mx_{S}+ny_{S}+p}{C}\ }\ .$
$2.\blacktriangleright$ The equation of the conic $h$ of the tangents to the circle $w$ from the point $P(a,b)$ is : $\boxed{\ f(x,y)\cdot f(a,b)=d^{\ 2\ }(x,y)\ }\ .$


The synthetical method. The tangents $AB$, $AC$ touch the circle $w=C(O)$ in the points $D$, $E$ respectively. Denote : the fixed point $P\in DE$
(the pol of the line $k$ w.r.t. the circle $w$) for which $OP\perp k$ ; the points $F\in AC$, $G\in AB$ for which $P\in FG$ and $FG\parallel k$.
From the lower lemma $(\searrow )$ results that $PF=PG$. Therefore, in the trapezoid $BCGF$ the fixed point $P$ belongs to the line $AM$.

Lemma. Let $ADE$ be an isosceles triangle $(AD=AE)$. Denote the point $O$ for which $OD\perp AD$ and $OE\perp AE$.
For a point $P\in (DE)$ define the points $F\in AE$, $G\in AD$ for which $P\in (FG)$ and $FG\perp OP$. Then $PF=PG$.
Proof. The quadrilaterals $FEPO$ and $GDOP$ are inscribed $\Longrightarrow$ $\widehat{FOP}\equiv\widehat{AED}\equiv\widehat{ADE}\equiv\widehat{GOP}$ $\Longrightarrow$
$\widehat{FOP}\equiv\widehat{GOP}$, i.e. the triangle $FOG$ is isosceles and $OP\perp FG$ $\Longrightarrow$ $PF=PG$.

Remark. This lemma offers a solution for the following remarkable construct problem :


Construct problem. Given are two rays $[AX$, $[AY$ and a point $B$ which belongs to the interior of the angle $\widehat{XAY}$.
Construct the points $M\in [AX$ and $N\in [AY$ so that $B\in MN$ and $BM=BN$.


Indeed, let $C\in [AX$, $D\in [AY$ be the points for which $B\in CD$ and $AC=AD$. Denote the point $O$ for which $OC\perp AX$ and $OD\perp AY$.
Then the points $M$, $N$ are the intersections of the perpendicular line in the point $B$ to the line $OB$ with the rays $[AX$ and $[AY$.
This post has been edited 25 times. Last edited by Virgil Nicula, Aug 27, 2006, 11:10 PM
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Hawk Tiger
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#7 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Virgil Nicula wrote:
An analytical method. The equation of the fixed circle $w$ is $x^{2}+y^{2}-1=0$ ; the equations of the fixed lines $k$, $l$ are $y=a$ with $|a|>1$ and $y=b$ respectively ; the mobile point is $A(m,a)\in k$. The conic $h$ of the tangents to the circle $w$ from the point $M$ is $(x^{2}+y^{2}-1)(m^{2}+a^{2}-1)=(mx+ay-1)^{2}$. Thus, the abscises $x_{B}$, $x_{C}$ of the points $\{B,C\}\subset h\cap l$ are the roots of the equation $(x^{2}+b^{2}-1)(m^{2}+a^{2}-1)=(mx+ab-1)^{2}$, i.e. $(a^{2}-1)x^{2}-2m(ab-1)x+\ldots =0$. Therefore, the middlepoint $M$ of the segment $[BC]$ has the co-ordinates $x_{M}=\frac{x_{B}+x_{C}}{2}=\frac{m(ab-1)}{a^{2}-1}$ and $y_{M}=b$. The equation of the line $AM$ is : $\left|\begin{array}{ccc}x & y & 1\\\ m & a & 1\\ m(ab-1) & b(a^{2}-1) & a^{2}-1\end{array}\right|=0$ $\Longleftrightarrow$ $m(b-a)(ay-1)-(a^{2}-1)x=0$, i.e. the demand fixed point is $F\left(0,\frac{1}{a}\right)$. The polar line of the point $F$ w.r.t. the circle $w$ is $0\cdot x+\frac{1}{a}\cdot y-1=0$, i.e. $y=a$- the equation of the line $k$. Therefore the fixed point $F$ is the pol of the line $k$.

Remark (memorize ! ). Let $f(x,y)\equiv x^{2}+y^{2}+2mx+2ny+p=0$ be the equation of the circle $w$ and let $P(a,b)$ be a point. Then :
$1.\blacktriangleright$ The equation of the polar of the point $P$ w.r.t. the circle $w$ is : $\boxed{\ d(x,y)\equiv ax+by+m(x+a)+n(y+b)+p=0\ }\ .$
$2.\blacktriangleright$ The equation of the conic $h$ of the tangents to the circle $w$ from the point $P$ is : $\boxed{\ f(x,y)\cdot f(a,b)=d^{\ 2\ }(x,y)\ }\ .$
Thank you for the nice solution.But who can explain the grobber's post ?
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Virgil Nicula
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#8 • 1 Y
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In the previous my message I added a synthetical method for this problem.
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