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k a March Highlights and 2025 AoPS Online Class Information
jlacosta   0
Mar 2, 2025
March is the month for State MATHCOUNTS competitions! Kudos to everyone who participated in their local chapter competitions and best of luck to all going to State! Join us on March 11th for a Math Jam devoted to our favorite Chapter competition problems! Are you interested in training for MATHCOUNTS? Be sure to check out our AMC 8/MATHCOUNTS Basics and Advanced courses.

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Be sure to mark your calendars for the following events:
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0 replies
jlacosta
Mar 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
Prove that expression is always even.
shivangjindal   19
N 8 minutes ago by alexanderhamilton124
Source: INMO 2014- Problem 2
Let $n$ be a natural number. Prove that,
\[ \left\lfloor \frac{n}{1} \right\rfloor+ \left\lfloor \frac{n}{2} \right\rfloor + \cdots + \left\lfloor \frac{n}{n} \right\rfloor + \left\lfloor \sqrt{n} \right\rfloor \]
is even.
19 replies
+1 w
shivangjindal
Feb 2, 2014
alexanderhamilton124
8 minutes ago
Functional equation on (0,infinity)
mathwizard888   55
N 15 minutes ago by Ilikeminecraft
Source: 2016 IMO Shortlist A4
Find all functions $f:(0,\infty)\rightarrow (0,\infty)$ such that for any $x,y\in (0,\infty)$, $$xf(x^2)f(f(y)) + f(yf(x)) = f(xy) \left(f(f(x^2)) + f(f(y^2))\right).$$
55 replies
mathwizard888
Jul 19, 2017
Ilikeminecraft
15 minutes ago
Functional Equations Marathon March 2025
Levieee   16
N 15 minutes ago by joeym2011
1. before posting another problem please try your best to provide the solution to the previous solution because we don't want a backlog of many problems
2.one is welcome to send functional equations involving calculus (mainly basic real analysis type of proofs) as long it is of the form $\text{"find all functions:"}$
16 replies
+1 w
Levieee
3 hours ago
joeym2011
15 minutes ago
Twin Prime Diophantine
awesomeming327.   14
N 30 minutes ago by Assassino9931
Source: CMO 2025
Determine all positive integers $a$, $b$, $c$, $p$, where $p$ and $p+2$ are odd primes and
\[2^ap^b=(p+2)^c-1.\]
14 replies
awesomeming327.
Mar 7, 2025
Assassino9931
30 minutes ago
2^a + 3^b + 1 = 6^c
togrulhamidli2011   2
N 40 minutes ago by RedFireTruck
Find all positive integers (a, b, c) such that:

\[
2^a + 3^b + 1 = 6^c
\]
2 replies
togrulhamidli2011
Yesterday at 12:34 PM
RedFireTruck
40 minutes ago
Bosnia and Herzegovina JBMO TST 2013 Problem 1
gobathegreat   4
N an hour ago by RedFireTruck
Source: Bosnia and Herzegovina Junior Balkan Mathematical Olympiad TST 2013
It is given $n$ positive integers. Product of any one of them with sum of remaining numbers increased by $1$ is divisible with sum of all $n$ numbers. Prove that sum of squares of all $n$ numbers is divisible with sum of all $n$ numbers
4 replies
gobathegreat
Sep 16, 2018
RedFireTruck
an hour ago
chat gpt
fuv870   8
N an hour ago by jkim0656
The chat gpt alreadly knows how to solve the problem of IMO USAMO and AMC?
8 replies
fuv870
Yesterday at 9:51 PM
jkim0656
an hour ago
IMO 2012 P5
mathmdmb   122
N an hour ago by KevinYang2.71
Source: IMO 2012 P5
Let $ABC$ be a triangle with $\angle BCA=90^{\circ}$, and let $D$ be the foot of the altitude from $C$. Let $X$ be a point in the interior of the segment $CD$. Let $K$ be the point on the segment $AX$ such that $BK=BC$. Similarly, let $L$ be the point on the segment $BX$ such that $AL=AC$. Let $M$ be the point of intersection of $AL$ and $BK$.

Show that $MK=ML$.

Proposed by Josef Tkadlec, Czech Republic
122 replies
mathmdmb
Jul 11, 2012
KevinYang2.71
an hour ago
Variable point on the median
MarkBcc168   47
N an hour ago by HamstPan38825
Source: APMO 2019 P3
Let $ABC$ be a scalene triangle with circumcircle $\Gamma$. Let $M$ be the midpoint of $BC$. A variable point $P$ is selected in the line segment $AM$. The circumcircles of triangles $BPM$ and $CPM$ intersect $\Gamma$ again at points $D$ and $E$, respectively. The lines $DP$ and $EP$ intersect (a second time) the circumcircles to triangles $CPM$ and $BPM$ at $X$ and $Y$, respectively. Prove that as $P$ varies, the circumcircle of $\triangle AXY$ passes through a fixed point $T$ distinct from $A$.
47 replies
MarkBcc168
Jun 11, 2019
HamstPan38825
an hour ago
Can this sequence be bounded?
darij grinberg   66
N an hour ago by shendrew7
Source: German pre-TST 2005, problem 4, ISL 2004, algebra problem 2
Let $a_0$, $a_1$, $a_2$, ... be an infinite sequence of real numbers satisfying the equation $a_n=\left|a_{n+1}-a_{n+2}\right|$ for all $n\geq 0$, where $a_0$ and $a_1$ are two different positive reals.

Can this sequence $a_0$, $a_1$, $a_2$, ... be bounded?

Proposed by Mihai Bălună, Romania
66 replies
darij grinberg
Jan 19, 2005
shendrew7
an hour ago
Sequences and limit
lehungvietbao   14
N 2 hours ago by eg4334
Source: Vietnam Mathematical OLympiad 2014
Let $({{x}_{n}}),({{y}_{n}})$ be two positive sequences defined by ${{x}_{1}}=1,{{y}_{1}}=\sqrt{3}$ and
\[ \begin{cases}  {{x}_{n+1}}{{y}_{n+1}}-{{x}_{n}}=0 \\   x_{n+1}^{2}+{{y}_{n}}=2 \end{cases} \] for all $n=1,2,3,\ldots$.
Prove that they are converges and find their limits.
14 replies
lehungvietbao
Jan 3, 2014
eg4334
2 hours ago
IMO 2014 Problem 1
Amir Hossein   131
N 2 hours ago by eg4334
Let $a_0 < a_1 < a_2 < \dots$ be an infinite sequence of positive integers. Prove that there exists a unique integer $n\geq 1$ such that
\[a_n < \frac{a_0+a_1+a_2+\cdots+a_n}{n} \leq a_{n+1}.\]
Proposed by Gerhard Wöginger, Austria.
131 replies
Amir Hossein
Jul 8, 2014
eg4334
2 hours ago
One secuence satisfying condition
hatchguy   8
N 2 hours ago by jaescl
Prove that there exists only one infinite secuence of positive integers $a_1,a_2,...$ with $a_1=1$, $a_2>1$ and $a_{n+1}^3 + 1 = a_na_{n+2}$ for all positive integers $n$.
8 replies
1 viewing
hatchguy
Sep 4, 2011
jaescl
2 hours ago
Unsolved Diophantine(I think)
Nuran2010   2
N 3 hours ago by ohiorizzler1434
Find all solutions for the equation $2^n=p+3^p$ where $n$ is a positive integer and $p$ is a prime.(Don't get mad at me,I've used the search function and did not see a correct and complete solution anywhere.)
2 replies
Nuran2010
Mar 14, 2025
ohiorizzler1434
3 hours ago
Limit of a sequence involving square roots
hajimbrak   5
N May 15, 2018 by neel02
Source: Indian TST Day 1 Problem 3
Starting with the triple $(1007\sqrt{2},2014\sqrt{2},1007\sqrt{14})$, define a sequence of triples $(x_{n},y_{n},z_{n})$ by
$x_{n+1}=\sqrt{x_{n}(y_{n}+z_{n}-x_{n})}$
$y_{n+1}=\sqrt{y_{n}(z_{n}+x_{n}-y_{n})}$
$ z_{n+1}=\sqrt{z_{n}(x_{n}+y_{n}-z_{n})}$
for $n\geq 0$.Show that each of the sequences $\langle x_n\rangle _{n\geq 0},\langle y_n\rangle_{n\geq 0},\langle z_n\rangle_{n\geq 0}$ converges to a limit and find these limits.
5 replies
hajimbrak
Jul 11, 2014
neel02
May 15, 2018
Limit of a sequence involving square roots
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G H BBookmark kLocked kLocked NReply
Source: Indian TST Day 1 Problem 3
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hajimbrak
209 posts
#1 • 5 Y
Y by the0myth0, Paragdey12, Adventure10, Mango247, and 1 other user
Starting with the triple $(1007\sqrt{2},2014\sqrt{2},1007\sqrt{14})$, define a sequence of triples $(x_{n},y_{n},z_{n})$ by
$x_{n+1}=\sqrt{x_{n}(y_{n}+z_{n}-x_{n})}$
$y_{n+1}=\sqrt{y_{n}(z_{n}+x_{n}-y_{n})}$
$ z_{n+1}=\sqrt{z_{n}(x_{n}+y_{n}-z_{n})}$
for $n\geq 0$.Show that each of the sequences $\langle x_n\rangle _{n\geq 0},\langle y_n\rangle_{n\geq 0},\langle z_n\rangle_{n\geq 0}$ converges to a limit and find these limits.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by hajimbrak, Aug 9, 2014, 8:22 AM
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pco
23442 posts
#2 • 4 Y
Y by babu2001, Paragdey12, Adventure10, Mango247
hajimbrak wrote:
Starting with the triple $(1007\sqrt{2},2014\sqrt{2},1007\sqrt{14})$, define a sequence of triples $(x_{n},y_{n},z_{n})$ by
$x_{n+1}=\sqrt{x_{n}(y_{n}+z_{n}-x_{n})},  y_{n+1}=\sqrt{y_{n}(z_{n}+x_{n}-y_{n})},  z_{n+1}=\sqrt{z_{n}(x_{n}+y_{n}-z_{n})}$,
for $n\geq 0$.Show that each of these sequences converges to a limit and find these limits.
Sketch of proof :

Considering that $(x_n,y_n,z_n)$ are the three positive sidelengths or a triangle, we can rather easily show that :
1) $(x_{n+1},y_{n+1},z_{n+1})$ are the sides of a new triangle with same area
2) $|x_n^2-y_n^2|$, $|x_n^2-z_n^2|$ and $|y_n^2-z_n^2|$ are decreasing sequences
3) $x_n,y_n,z_n$ have same limits, sides of an equilateral triangle of same area

Area of starting triangle is $\frac{\sqrt{(x_0+y_0+z_0)(x_0+y_0-z_0)(x_0-y_0+z_0)(-x_0+y_0+z_0)}}4$

Area of limit equilateral triangle is $\frac{\sqrt 3}4l^2$

Hence required limit is $l=\sqrt[4]{\frac{(x_0+y_0+z_0)(x_0+y_0-z_0)(x_0-y_0+z_0)(-x_0+y_0+z_0)}3}$

With $(x_0,y_0,z_0)=(1007\sqrt 2,2014\sqrt 2,1007\sqrt{14})$, this formula gives $\boxed{l=2014}$
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utkarshgupta
2280 posts
#3 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Any motivation for that invariant ?
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WizardMath
2487 posts
#4 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
scale down by 1007
we get sides of a triangle
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WizardMath
2487 posts
#5 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Adding some motivation to my 'cryptic' solution from more than 2 years ago :D
We basically want to remove radicals from this expression, so squaring is very natural. The existence of the square root implicitly assumes that we have $y_n + z_n \ge x_n$. Also, the thing under the radical suspiciously looks like the product of length of tangent from a vertex and some other thing. This motivates the introduction of a triangle with sides $x_n, y_n, z_n$. Usually we need some kind of invariant in multivariable limits. So, we try the squared area of the triangle since it is a polynomial in $x_n, y_n, z_n$, more precisely, $16 \Delta^2 = 2\sum_{cyc} b^2c^2 - \sum_{cyc} a^4$. This surprisingly comes out to be invariant. Also to show the convergence, it seems better to choose the difference between squares.

Also this problem can be done using this paper.
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neel02
66 posts
#6 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Exceptionally easy for P3; Idea only since I am in hurry.
Central observation is if we treat the 3 values as lengths of a triangle then the ares is an invariant !
Another important observation is the subtended angles converges to 60 deg. Now bad calculations but a smart ans. ! :gleam:
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by neel02, May 15, 2018, 5:32 PM
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