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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.

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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
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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
J
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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
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Twin Prime Diophantine
awesomeming327.   23
N 36 minutes ago by HDavisWashu
Source: CMO 2025
Determine all positive integers $a$, $b$, $c$, $p$, where $p$ and $p+2$ are odd primes and
\[2^ap^b=(p+2)^c-1.\]
23 replies
+1 w
awesomeming327.
Mar 7, 2025
HDavisWashu
36 minutes ago
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Troublesome median in a difficult inequality
JG666   2
N 44 minutes ago by navid
Source: 2022 Spring NSMO Day 2 Problem 3
Determine the minimum value of $\lambda\in\mathbb{R}$, such that for any positive integer $n$ and non-negative reals $x_1, x_2, \cdots, x_n$, the following inequality always holds:
$$\sum_{i=1}^n(m_i-a_i)^2\leqslant \lambda\cdot\sum_{i=1}^nx_i^2,$$Here $m_i$ and $a_i$ denote the median and arithmetic mean of $x_1, x_2, \cdots, x_i$, respectively.

Duanyang ZHANG, High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China
2 replies
JG666
May 22, 2022
navid
44 minutes ago
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Iran TST Starter
M11100111001Y1R   1
N an hour ago by DeathIsAwe
Source: Iran TST 2025 Test 1 Problem 1
Let \( a_n \) be a sequence of positive real numbers such that for every \( n > 2025 \), we have:
\[ a_n = \max_{1 \leq i \leq 2025} a_{n-i} - \min_{1 \leq i \leq 2025} a_{n-i} \]Prove that there exists a natural number \( M \) such that for all \( n > M \), the following holds:
\[ a_n < \frac{1}{1404} \]
1 reply
M11100111001Y1R
Tuesday at 7:36 AM
DeathIsAwe
an hour ago
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Concurrent lines, angle bisectors
legogubbe   0
an hour ago
Source: ???
Hi AoPS!

Let $ABC$ be an isosceles triangle with $AB=AC$, and $M$ an arbitrary point on side $BC$. The internal angle bisector of $\angle MAB$ meets the circumcircle of $\triangle ABC$ again at $P \neq A$, and the internal angle bisector of $\angle CAM$ meets it again at $Q \neq A$. Show that lines $AM$, $BQ$ and $CP$ are concurrent.
0 replies
legogubbe
an hour ago
0 replies
J
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Fractional Inequality
sqing   33
N an hour ago by Learning11
Source: Chinese Girls Mathematical Olympiad 2012, Problem 1
Let $ a_1, a_2,\ldots, a_n$ be non-negative real numbers. Prove that
$\frac{1}{1+ a_1}+\frac{ a_1}{(1+ a_1)(1+ a_2)}+\frac{ a_1 a_2}{(1+ a_1)(1+ a_2)(1+ a_3)}+$ $\cdots+\frac{ a_1 a_2\cdots a_{n-1}}{(1+ a_1)(1+ a_2)\cdots (1+ a_n)} \le 1.$
33 replies
sqing
Aug 10, 2012
Learning11
an hour ago
J
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Geometry angle chasing olympiads
Foxellar   1
N an hour ago by Ianis
Let \( \triangle ABC \) be a triangle such that \( \angle ABC = 120^\circ \). Points \( X, Y, Z \) lie on segments \( BC, CA, AB \), respectively, such that lines \( AX, BY, \) and \( CZ \) are the angle bisectors of triangle \( ABC \). Find the measure of angle \( \angle XYZ \).
1 reply
Foxellar
2 hours ago
Ianis
an hour ago
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Iran Inequality
mathmatecS   17
N an hour ago by Learning11
Source: Iran 1998
When $x(\ge1),$ $y(\ge1),$ $z(\ge1)$ satisfy $\frac{1}{x}+\frac{1}{y}+\frac{1}{z}=2,$ prove in equality.
$$\sqrt{x+y+z}\ge\sqrt{x-1}+\sqrt{y-1}+\sqrt{z-1}$$
17 replies
mathmatecS
Jun 11, 2015
Learning11
an hour ago
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Problem 4
codyj   87
N 2 hours ago by ezpotd
Source: IMO 2015 #4
Triangle $ABC$ has circumcircle $\Omega$ and circumcenter $O$. A circle $\Gamma$ with center $A$ intersects the segment $BC$ at points $D$ and $E$, such that $B$, $D$, $E$, and $C$ are all different and lie on line $BC$ in this order. Let $F$ and $G$ be the points of intersection of $\Gamma$ and $\Omega$, such that $A$, $F$, $B$, $C$, and $G$ lie on $\Omega$ in this order. Let $K$ be the second point of intersection of the circumcircle of triangle $BDF$ and the segment $AB$. Let $L$ be the second point of intersection of the circumcircle of triangle $CGE$ and the segment $CA$.

Suppose that the lines $FK$ and $GL$ are different and intersect at the point $X$. Prove that $X$ lies on the line $AO$.

Proposed by Greece
87 replies
codyj
Jul 11, 2015
ezpotd
2 hours ago
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IMO96/2 [the lines AP, BD, CE meet at a point]
Arne   47
N 3 hours ago by Bridgeon
Source: IMO 1996 problem 2, IMO Shortlist 1996, G2
Let $ P$ be a point inside a triangle $ ABC$ such that
\[ \angle APB - \angle ACB = \angle APC - \angle ABC. \]
Let $ D$, $ E$ be the incenters of triangles $ APB$, $ APC$, respectively. Show that the lines $ AP$, $ BD$, $ CE$ meet at a point.
47 replies
Arne
Sep 30, 2003
Bridgeon
3 hours ago
J
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A sharp one with 3 var (3)
mihaig   4
N 3 hours ago by aaravdodhia
Source: Own
Let $a,b,c\geq0$ satisfying
$$\left(a+b+c-2\right)^2+8\leq3\left(ab+bc+ca\right).$$Prove
$$a^2+b^2+c^2+5abc\geq8.$$
4 replies
mihaig
Tuesday at 5:17 PM
aaravdodhia
3 hours ago
J
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Cup of Combinatorics
M11100111001Y1R   1
N 4 hours ago by Davdav1232
Source: Iran TST 2025 Test 4 Problem 2
There are \( n \) cups labeled \( 1, 2, \dots, n \), where the \( i \)-th cup has capacity \( i \) liters. In total, there are \( n \) liters of water distributed among these cups such that each cup contains an integer amount of water. In each step, we may transfer water from one cup to another. The process continues until either the source cup becomes empty or the destination cup becomes full.

$a)$ Prove that from any configuration where each cup contains an integer amount of water, it is possible to reach a configuration in which each cup contains exactly 1 liter of water in at most \( \frac{4n}{3} \) steps.

$b)$ Prove that in at most \( \frac{5n}{3} \) steps, one can go from any configuration with integer water amounts to any other configuration with the same property.
1 reply
M11100111001Y1R
Tuesday at 7:24 AM
Davdav1232
4 hours ago
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Bulgaria National Olympiad 1996
Jjesus   7
N 4 hours ago by reni_wee
Find all prime numbers $p,q$ for which $pq$ divides $(5^p-2^p)(5^q-2^q)$.
7 replies
Jjesus
Jun 10, 2020
reni_wee
4 hours ago
J
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Can't be power of 2
shobber   31
N 4 hours ago by LeYohan
Source: APMO 1998
Show that for any positive integers $a$ and $b$, $(36a+b)(a+36b)$ cannot be a power of $2$.
31 replies
shobber
Mar 17, 2006
LeYohan
4 hours ago
J
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Brilliant Problem
M11100111001Y1R   4
N 4 hours ago by IAmTheHazard
Source: Iran TST 2025 Test 3 Problem 3
Find all sequences \( (a_n) \) of natural numbers such that for every pair of natural numbers \( r \) and \( s \), the following inequality holds:
\[ \frac{1}{2} < \frac{\gcd(a_r, a_s)}{\gcd(r, s)} < 2 \]
4 replies
M11100111001Y1R
Tuesday at 7:28 AM
IAmTheHazard
4 hours ago
J
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J
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Another System
worthawholebean   3
N Apr 21, 2025 by P162008
Source: HMMT 2008 Guts Problem 33
Let $ a$, $ b$, $ c$ be nonzero real numbers such that $ a+b+c=0$ and $ a^3+b^3+c^3=a^5+b^5+c^5$. Find the value of
$ a^2+b^2+c^2$.
3 replies
worthawholebean
May 13, 2008
P162008
Apr 21, 2025
J
Another System
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Reveal topic tags
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Source: HMMT 2008 Guts Problem 33
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worthawholebean
3017 posts
worthawholebean
#1 h  May 13, 2008, 11:17 PM • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Let $ a$, $ b$, $ c$ be nonzero real numbers such that $ a+b+c=0$ and $ a^3+b^3+c^3=a^5+b^5+c^5$. Find the value of
$ a^2+b^2+c^2$.
Z K Y
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The QuattoMaster 6000
1184 posts
The QuattoMaster 6000
#2 h  May 13, 2008, 11:35 PM • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
worthawholebean wrote:
Let $ a$, $ b$, $ c$ be nonzero real numbers such that $ a + b + c = 0$ and $ a^3 + b^3 + c^3 = a^5 + b^5 + c^5$. Find the value of
$ a^2 + b^2 + c^2$.
Solution
EDIT: Sorry everyone, arqady is correct. I made a small error in my solution; it has been edited.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by The QuattoMaster 6000, May 14, 2008, 1:49 AM
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arqady
30260 posts
arqady
#3 h  May 14, 2008, 12:57 AM • 3 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247, P162008
I have got $ \frac {6}{5}.$ :maybe:
Z K Y
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P162008
226 posts
P162008
#4 h  Apr 21, 2025, 11:32 PM
Y by
Storage
This post has been edited 4 times. Last edited by P162008, May 21, 2025, 10:05 PM
Reason: Typo
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