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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.

WOOT early bird pricing is in effect, don’t miss out! If you took MathWOOT Level 2 last year, no worries, it is all new problems this year! Our Worldwide Online Olympiad Training program is for high school level competitors. AoPS designed these courses to help our top students get the deep focus they need to succeed in their specific competition goals. Check out the details at this link for all our WOOT programs in math, computer science, chemistry, and physics.

Looking for summer camps in math and language arts? Be sure to check out the video-based summer camps offered at the Virtual Campus that are 2- to 4-weeks in duration. 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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April 9th (Webinar), 4:00pm PT/7:00pm ET, Learn about Video-based Summer Camps at the Virtual Campus
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[*]April 22nd (Webinar), 4:00pm PT/7:00pm ET, Competitive Programming at AoPS (USACO).[/list]
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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
Kinda lookimg Like AM-GM
Atillaa   1
N 33 minutes ago by Natrium
Show that for all positive real numbers \( a, b, c \), the following inequality always holds:
\[
\frac{ab}{b+1} + \frac{bc}{c+1} + \frac{ca}{a+1} \geq \frac{3abc}{1 + abc}
\]
1 reply
1 viewing
Atillaa
an hour ago
Natrium
33 minutes ago
Dividing Pairs
Jackson0423   0
37 minutes ago
Source: Own
Let \( a \) and \( b \) be positive integers.
Suppose that \( a \) is a divisor of \( b^2 + 1 \) and \( b \) is a divisor of \( a^2 + 1 \).
Find all such pairs \( (a, b) \).
0 replies
Jackson0423
37 minutes ago
0 replies
For positive integers \( a, b, c \), find all possible positive integer values o
Jackson0423   0
40 minutes ago
For positive integers \( a, b, c \), find all possible positive integer values of
\[
\frac{a}{b} + \frac{b}{c} + \frac{c}{a}.
\]
0 replies
Jackson0423
40 minutes ago
0 replies
best source for inequalitys
Namisgood   1
N 43 minutes ago by Jackson0423
I need some help do I am beginner and have completed Number theory and almost all of algebra (except inequalitys) can anybody suggest a book or resource from where I can study inequalitys
1 reply
Namisgood
an hour ago
Jackson0423
43 minutes ago
Find the Maximum
Jackson0423   0
44 minutes ago
Source: Own.
Let \( ABC \) be a triangle with \( AB \leq AC \) and \( \angle BAC = 60^\circ \).
A point \( X \) inside triangle \( ABC \) satisfies the following conditions:
\[
XA^2 + BC^2 \leq XC^2 + AB^2 \leq XB^2 + AC^2.
\]Find the maximum value of \( m \) such that
\[
\frac{XA}{AC} \geq m.
\]
0 replies
Jackson0423
44 minutes ago
0 replies
Geometry with parallel lines.
falantrng   33
N an hour ago by L13832
Source: RMM 2018,D1 P1
Let $ABCD$ be a cyclic quadrilateral an let $P$ be a point on the side $AB.$ The diagonals $AC$ meets the segments $DP$ at $Q.$ The line through $P$ parallel to $CD$ mmets the extension of the side $CB$ beyond $B$ at $K.$ The line through $Q$ parallel to $BD$ meets the extension of the side $CB$ beyond $B$ at $L.$ Prove that the circumcircles of the triangles $BKP$ and $CLQ$ are tangent .
33 replies
falantrng
Feb 24, 2018
L13832
an hour ago
Something nice
KhuongTrang   25
N an hour ago by KhuongTrang
Source: own
Problem. Given $a,b,c$ be non-negative real numbers such that $ab+bc+ca=1.$ Prove that

$$\sqrt{a+1}+\sqrt{b+1}+\sqrt{c+1}\le 1+2\sqrt{a+b+c+abc}.$$
25 replies
KhuongTrang
Nov 1, 2023
KhuongTrang
an hour ago
Lord of the files
AndreiVila   2
N 2 hours ago by Rohit-2006
Source: Mathematical Minds 2024 P3
On the screen of a computer there is an $2^n\times 2^n$ board. On each cell of the main diagonal there is a file. At each step, we may select some files and move them to the left, on their respective rows, by the same distance. What is the minimum number of necessary moves in order to put all files on the first column?

Proposed by Vlad Spătaru
2 replies
AndreiVila
Sep 29, 2024
Rohit-2006
2 hours ago
An upper bound for Viet Nam TST 2005
Nguyenhuyen_AG   0
2 hours ago
Let $a, \ b, \ c$ be the side lengths of a triangle. Prove that
\[\frac{a^3}{(a+b)^3}+\frac{b^3}{(b+c)^3}+\frac{c^3}{(c+a)^3} \leqslant \frac{9}{8}.\]Viet Nam TST 2005
0 replies
Nguyenhuyen_AG
2 hours ago
0 replies
PROM^2 for Girls 2025
mathisfun17   25
N 2 hours ago by Yiyj1
Hi everyone!

The Princeton International School of Math and Science (PRISMS) Math Team is delighted that $PROM^2$ for Girls, PRISMS Online Math Meet for Girls, is happening this spring! https://www.prismsus.org/events/prom/home/index

We warmly invite all middle school girls to join us! This is a fantastic opportunity for young girls to connect with others interested in math as well as prepare for future math contests.

This contest will take place online from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm EST on Saturday, April 26th, 2025.

The competition will include a team and individual round as well as activities like origami. You can see a detailed schedule here. https://prismsus.org/events/prom/experience/schedule.

Registration is FREE, there are cash prizes for participants who place in the top 10 and cool gifts for all participants.

1st place individual: $500 cash
2nd place individual: $300 cash
3rd place individual: $100 cash
4th-10th place individual: $50 cash each

Some FAQs:
Q: How difficult are the questions?
A: The problem difficulty is around AMC 8 or Mathcounts level.

Q: Are there any example problems?
A: You can find some archived here: https://www.prismsus.org/events/prom/achieve/achieve

Registration is open now. https://www.prismsus.org/events/prom/register/register. Email us at prom2@prismsus.org with any questions.

The PRISMS Peregrines Math Team welcomes you!
25 replies
mathisfun17
Feb 22, 2025
Yiyj1
2 hours ago
$2$ spheres of radius $1$ and $2$
khanh20   1
N 2 hours ago by khanh20
Given $2$ spheres centered at $O$, with radius of $1$ and $2$, which is remarked as $S_1$ and $S_2$, respectively. Given $2024$ points $M_1,M_2,...,M_{2024}$ outside of $S_2$ (not including the surface of $S_2$).
Remark $T$ as the number of sets $\{M_i,M_j\}$ such that the midpoint of $M_iM_j$ lies entirely inside of $S_1$.
Find the maximum value of $T$
1 reply
khanh20
Today at 12:28 AM
khanh20
2 hours ago
centslordm
centslordm   56
N 4 hours ago by ab456
Source: AIME II #8
From an unlimited supply of 1-cent coins, 10-cent coins, and 25-cent coins, Silas wants to find a collection of coins that has a total value of $N$ cents, where $N$ is a positive integer. He uses the so-called greedy algorithm, successively choosing the coin of greatest value that does not cause the value of his collection to exceed $N.$ For example, to get 42 cents, Silas will choose a 25-cent coin, then a 10-cent coin, then 7 1-cent coins. However, this collection of 9 coins uses more coins than necessary to get a total of 42 cents; indeed, choosing 4 10-cent coins and 2 1-cent coins achieves the same total value with only 6 coins. In general, the greedy algorithm succeeds for a given $N$ if no other collection of 1-cent, 10-cent, and 25-cent coins gives a total value of $N$ cents using strictly fewer coins than the collection given by the greedy algorithm. Find the number of values of $N$ between $1$ and $1000$ inclusive for which the greedy algorithm succeeds.
56 replies
centslordm
Feb 13, 2025
ab456
4 hours ago
smt format pmo...?
alcumusftwgrind   6
N 5 hours ago by youlost_thegame_1434
they cant be serious on the 4th one...

UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH this better not happen on general or I'm literally gonna quit the test and go play ultimate ??????
6 replies
alcumusftwgrind
Yesterday at 11:31 PM
youlost_thegame_1434
5 hours ago
9 best high school math competitions hosted by a college/university
ethan2011   13
N Today at 2:41 AM by Danielzh
I only included college-hosted comps since MAA comps are very differently formatted, and IMO would easily beat the rest on quality since mathematicians around the world give questions, and so many problems are shortlisted, so IMO does release the IMO shortlist for people to practice. I also did not include the not as prestigious ones(like BRUMO, CUBRMC, and others), since most comps with very high quality questions are more prestigious(I did include other if you really think those questions are really good).
13 replies
ethan2011
Yesterday at 2:15 AM
Danielzh
Today at 2:41 AM
Isosceles Triangulation
worthawholebean   70
N Apr 2, 2025 by akliu
Source: USAMO 2008 Problem 4
Let $ \mathcal{P}$ be a convex polygon with $ n$ sides, $ n\ge3$. Any set of $ n - 3$ diagonals of $ \mathcal{P}$ that do not intersect in the interior of the polygon determine a triangulation of $ \mathcal{P}$ into $ n - 2$ triangles. If $ \mathcal{P}$ is regular and there is a triangulation of $ \mathcal{P}$ consisting of only isosceles triangles, find all the possible values of $ n$.
70 replies
worthawholebean
May 1, 2008
akliu
Apr 2, 2025
Isosceles Triangulation
G H J
G H BBookmark kLocked kLocked NReply
Source: USAMO 2008 Problem 4
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huashiliao2020
1292 posts
#58
Y by
badly written sol

The answer is all numbers n of the form 2^a+2^b, a,b nonnegative. Notice 2n works if n works because you can take A_iA_{i+2} as a side which makes isosceles triangle A_iA_{i+1}A_{i+2}, which we'll classify as short triangles. It's evident that doing this for the entire polygon reduces each two segments into one, effectively halving the sides.

On the other hand, we show that a polygon with one long side and l shorter sides can be triangulated iff l=2^k (we would think of this by drawing any diagonal which motivates it by reading this proof backwards). From the 2n<->n footnote, we only need to consider odd # of sides polygon not of the form 2^k+1 and show they don't work (since this will effectively cover all evens as well), and also show 2^k+1 works. WLOG orient the longest side to be at the bottom. Since 2^k+1 is odd, for the longest side to form an isosceles triangle, it needs to connect to the top most vertex. But this reduces the problem to (2^k+1-1)/2=2^{k-1}, which we know works. On the other hand, if it's not 2^k+1 sides, then by connecting the same vertices we reduce to a problem that is the form $2^ij\forall j=2m+1$, which by induction hypothesis we know cannot be triangulated. Hence all numbers of the form $2^a(2^b+1)$ work.
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trk08
614 posts
#59
Y by
horribly written
Z K Y
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Jndd
1417 posts
#60
Y by
We claim that all the numbers of the form $2^m+2^n$ for nonnegative $m,n$ work.

Label the vertices of a regular n-gon from $0$ to $n-1$. Notice that all edges must be part of some triangle, so edge $(k,k+1)$, vertices taken mod $n$, must be a part of one of the following three triangles
\begin{align*}
    &(k,k+1) - (k+1, k+2) - (k, k+2)\\
    &(k-1,k) - (k, k+1) - (k-1,k+1)\\
    &(k,k+1) - (k+1, k+1 + \frac{n-1}{2}) - (k+1 + \frac{n-1}{2}, k)\\
\end{align*}When $n$ is even, we must use either option 1 or 2 repeatedly for all the edges, so we see that $n$ has a triangulation if and only if $n/2$ has a triangulation.

However, when $n$ is odd, we must use option 3 exactly once. WLOG, $(n-1,0)$ is the edge that uses option 3, so we can't have vertex $\frac{n-1}{2}$ be blocked by $(\frac{n-3}{2},\frac{n+1}{2})$, so we need $2\mid \frac{n-1}{2}$, giving $n=4c+1$. Now, the polygon is split into two halves, and for each half, we must be able to connect consecutive edges, because we can't use option 3 more than once. From this, we can arrive at $n=2^t+1$ for some nonnegative $t$.

Using the previous two cases, we can have $n=2^t(2^u+1)$ or $n=2^t$, which is equivalent to what we claimed.
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peace09
5417 posts
#61
Y by
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joshualiu315
2513 posts
#62
Y by
The answer is $n=\boxed{2^a(2^b+1)}$ for nonnegative integers $a,b$.

For the sake of definitions, begin with a regular $(2n+1)$-gon with points $A_1, A_2, \dots, A_{2n+1}$ in that order. Define a \textit{small} triangle to be a triangle likewise to $A_1A_2A_3$ and define a \textit{large} triangle to be a triangle likewise to $A_1A_{n+1}A_{2n+1}$.


Claim: If a $n$-gon can be triangulated, so can a $2n$-gon.

Proof: Notice that filling out the $2n$-gon with small triangles will result in an $n$-gon, which proves the claim. $\square$


Now, consider the aforementioned regular $(2n+1)$-gon. Evidently, there must be at least one large triangle. Upon further inspection, we see that each of the large triangles contains the center and thus, there are only $1$ such triangle.

The large triangle splits the polygon into two $n+1$ sided polygons with $n$ equal sides. Then, it is clear that $n$ must be a power of two, so the only $k$-gons with an odd number of sides must have $k=2^b+1$ for a nonnegative integer $b$. Then, we can multiply this by any factor of $2$, so our answer results.
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EpicBird08
1743 posts
#63
Y by
Our answer is $n = 2^x (2^y + 1).$

We will first need the following:

Claim: $2n$ works if and only if $n$ works.
Proof: If $n$ works, then $2n$ works because we can connect two corners that are not connected but closest possible with an edge. This gives $n$ isosceles triangles (which we will call $1-1-2$ triangles) on the side. Now, if $2n$ works, we note that every edge is contained in some triangle. Suppose that two adjacent vertices of a $2n$-gon are $A$ and $B,$, where $A$ and $B$ are in the same triangle. There is no point diametrically opposite an edge on a $2n$-gon, so to make an isosceles triangle, so the third point of this triangle $C$ must be adjacent to either $A$ or $B,$ creating a $1-1-2$ triangle. This repeats for every edge, giving a regular $n$-gon in the middle. Since $2n$ works, that forces $n$ to work, as claimed.

Since $n = 4$ clearly works, all powers of $2$ work, at which point we can note that $2^k = 2^{k-1}(2^0 + 1).$ Therefore, we only need to consider odd $n.$

There are two parts to the problem from here: proving that odd numbers of the form $2^k + 1$ work, and proving that the rest don't.

Part 1: Proving that $2^k + 1$ work. We attach a construction for $k = 5;$ it is obvious how to generalize.

Part 2: Proving that the rest don't work. Suppose that we have adjacent vertices $A$ and $B$ in our $(2k + 1)$-gon. Then they must be part of the same triangle. There are $2$ ways that this triangle is isosceles: the first is if $A$ and $B$ are in a $1-1-2$ triangle, and the second is if this triangle includes the point diametrically opposite segment $AB,$ which we will call $C.$ Call a triangle $ABC$ very long. Note that every $1-1-2$ triangle covers $2$ edges of the polygon, but there are $2k + 1$ edges. Therefore, there is exactly one very long triangle in such a triangulation.

This very long triangle splits the polygon into $2$ congruent regions, each with $k$ edges facing outward and $1$ edge being inside the polygon. Note that $k$ is even, otherwise we cannot include the outward edges inside our triangulation (triangles containing outward edges are forced to be $1-1-2$). Similarly, $\frac{k}{2}$ is even, and so is $\frac{k}{4},$ and so on. This forces $k$ to be a power of $2,$ so $2k + 1 = 2^{x} + 1.$

Therefore, the only odd $n$ that work are $n$ of the form $2^x + 1.$ As a result, the only $n$ that work are $n$ of the form $2^x (2^y + 1),$ as claimed at the beginning.
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shendrew7
793 posts
#64
Y by
The key intuition is to consider the "small sides" of each shape we are triangulating. We use casework based on the value of $n$.
  • $n$ is even: Each side must be the leg of an isosceles triangle rather than the base. Consequently, we are forced to pair the sides off at every other vertex, creating an interior $\frac n2$-gon. Repeating this, we see that an $n$-gon is successfully triangulated $\iff$ an $\frac{n}{2^{v_2(n)}}$-gon can be triangulated.

    The only special case to consider if when $n$ is a power of two, but we note these always work as we can use this algorithm to obtain a square.
  • $n$ is odd: Let $n=2n_1+1$. We pair off the sides again, but this time 1 is left out. We are forced to use this side as the base with the vertex being the opposite vertex of the $n$-gon. Hence if $\frac{n_1}{2}<1$, we're done, but otherwise it must be an integer.

    Then let $n_1=2n_2$. After the previous move, we are left to triangulate two congruent polygons with $n_2$ small sides and one long side. This long side is longer than any diagonal in this new polygon, so it must be used as the base. Hence, if $\frac{n_2}{2}<1$, we're done, but otherwise it must be an integer.

    We continue, concluding that we require $n=2^x+1$ for a positive integer $x$.

Hence our solutions for $n$ are $\boxed{2^x, 2^x+1, 2^x\left(2^y+1\right) \forall x,y \in \mathbb{Z}^+}$. $\blacksquare$
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Markas
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#65
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Case 1: n is even

Claim: If n is even, it works if and only if $\frac{n}{2}$ works.

Proof: If $\frac{n}{2}$ works, we can easily draw isosceles triangles on the top of every side of the old polygon. Now we have to prove the other direction. This can happen if we just pair up the adjacent sides of the polygon and draw the edges between them. This is the only such triangulation since the center of the polygon lies on the perpendicular bisector of a side, but no vertex lies on this bisector.

Case 2: n is odd

Claim: If n is odd, n works if $n = 2^k + 1$.

Proof: Let a triangle be called big if it passes through the center of the n-gon. There is exactly one big triangle. Now this triangle divides the n-gon into two equal polygons. When each equal polygon has $2^{p-1}+1$ vertices for some p, we can triangulate it. Then the outer perimeter of the equal polygons concurrent with the side of the n-gon must be triangulated into small isosceles triangles, and we must continue this process $\Rightarrow$ it is only possible when $\frac{n-1}{2}$ is a power of 2 $\Rightarrow$ n works if n is of the form $n = 2^m(2^l +1)$.
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dolphinday
1319 posts
#66
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The answer is all $n$ so that $n = 2^a + 2^b$.
First we can show that a $n$-polygon is dissectible into isosceles triangles if and only if a $2n$-polygon is.
Note that in a $2n$-polygon, the only isosceles triangle containing $V_iV_{i+1}$ is $\triangle V_{i}V_{i+1}V_{i+2}$(or $\triangle V_{i}V_{i+1}V_{i-1}$).
So then this leaves us with the pairs of adjacent sides triangulated and a central $n$-gon, which must be dissectible into isosceles triangles if the $2n$-gon is. The reverse also holds true, clearly.
We can then show all $2^a + 1$-gons are dissectible into isosceles triangles, with the attached construction.
Our construction also shows the impossibility of $n \neq 2^a + 1$(which suffices as we can multiply by $2$ as much as we want).
This is because we are forced to (WLOG) draw in $\triangle PGH$, and continuously group adjacent sides into triangles(thus dividing the number of sides by $2$) until we get a number of sides that is not a power of $2$, from which we can't draw in any more triangles.
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Om245
163 posts
#67
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Answer is $2^m(2^n+1)$ for any $m,n$ whole number.

Claim:
$2n$ work if and only if $n$ works

If $n$ work, we can just add one vertex at midpoint of arc of each side, and hence so $2n$ works. Suppose $2n$ works, we have triangle \empty{good} if both of it's equal side are side of polygon. Now we claim all side of polygon are covered by \empty{good} triangles.

Suppose some side of polygon is not coverd by \empty{good} triangle then as number of side are even, perpendicular bisector of side of polygon pass through midpoint of arc of opposite side (as we always get rectangle for even side polygon). Hence we can't have isosceles triangle with base side as polygon side. Therefore only way is all side of polygon are part of \empty{good} triangle. Which give us another polygon at side $n$. Hence if $2n$ is possible then so $n$.

Claim:
If an odd $n$ works, then $n = 2^k+1$

let $n=2m+1$. All side of polygon can't be side of \empty{good} triangle, Assume side $V_1V_2$ is base for some isosceles triangle. Then note it has to be $\triangle V_1V_2V_{m+2}$.

Main observation is now we can't connect any vertex from ${V_3,V_4, \cdots V_{m+1}}$ so set ${V_{m+3},\cdots V_{2m+1}}$
By same arrgument as used in first claim, we have to use all side of polygon in \empty{good} triangle. then we have triangle $\triangle V_2V_3V_4, \cdots \triangle V_{m}V_{m+1}V_{m+2}$ as \empty{good} triangle. Note for this we should have $m+2$ even, hence $m$ is even.
Now we observe that after this we have polygon with side $V_2V_4V_6\cdots V_{m+2}$ (for one side). And if we consider it's side, then by same logic we still have to make \empty{good} triangles only. Doing this many time, we will be always making \empty{good} triangle on exiting polygon made up. Hence we only increase $v_2(m)$ each time. We finally end up with $m = 2^k$ for some $k$.
Hence $n=2^k+1$ for odd $n$.

This give us only answer, are number of type $2^m(2^n+1)$.
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eg4334
629 posts
#68
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The idea for this problem is super fun. The answer is all numbers of the form $\boxed{2^m(2^n+1)}$ for nonnegative integers $m, n$. Call a number that can be triangulated "funny". Call an isosceles triangle consisting of two adjacent sides of a polygon an "edge" triangle. The problem is split into two main claims:

Claim: A even number $2n$ is funny if and only if $n$ is funny.
Proof: One direction is obvious by inscribing a $n$-gon inside of the $2n$-gon by making isosceles triangles out of adjacent sides. For the other direction, consider any side. Note that the triangle containing this side must have this small side as one of the two isosceles sides because $2n$ is even. Therefore we must have one corner cut out. Repeat this process around the $2n$-gon, proving the claim. $\blacksquare$.

Claim: A odd number $n$ is funny if and only if $n = 2^m+1$ for some integer $m$.
Proof:
Direction 1: We wish to show that all $2^m+1$ are funny. Consider one side of this polygon and form an isosceles triangle with the diametrically opposite vertice. We then form these two hemispheres on the side (see the image in the beginning for a visual I don't feel like asying right now). We induct on these hemispheres. Note that the number of vertices in these hemispheres are also one more than a power of two. The base case is obvious, and to generalize to the next hemisphere (i.e. upping the power of two by one) by creating edge triangles on the sides of this new hemisphere. Thus by induction all $2^m+1$ work, because we can dissect each of these hemispheres into isosceles triangles.

Direction 2: We wish to show that all funny $n$-gons with $n$ odd must satisfy $n=2^m+1$. Consider the sides of this $n$-gon: These sides are either part of an edge triangle or have the third vertice diametrically opposite. Note that because $n$ is odd we cannot have all edge triangles and must have at least one diameter triangle. But because it is a diameter and these cannot intersect, we have exactly one diameter triangle. Now consider the two hemispheres drawn. We wish to show all hemispheres must have a number of vertices one more than a power of two. Consider one side of these hemispheres adajcent to the long diameter drawn. Because we cannot have another diameter, this side must be part of an edge triangle. Continue this process around the hemisphere, forming another hemisphere. Therefore we have shown that if a $k$ vertice hemisphere is funny then the $\frac{k+1}{2}$ vertice hemisphere works as well. This process continues until we reach a triangle, i.e $3=2^1+1$. Now we work backwards to get the previous one to be $2(2^1+1)-1 = 2^2+1$. Now the result immediately follows by induction.

Both directions are proven so the claim is done. $\blacksquare$.

This is enough to finish. All odd $n$ are of the stated form, and all even $n$ are also of the stated form so we are done.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by eg4334, Jan 13, 2025, 4:33 AM
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Maximilian113
536 posts
#69
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Sketch:

Note that if $n$ was even, consider one of the edges of the polygon. Since it is part of an isosceles triangle, it cannot be the base since $n$ is even. Therefore, it must be paired with an adjacent edge, and using the same logic to the other edges reduces our problem to triangulating a regular $\frac{n}{2}$-gon. Thus, if $n$ is even it works if and only if $\frac{n}{2}$ works, so we consider when $n$ is odd. Clearly it is impossible to pair all the edges, so there must be one edge that is the base of an isosceles triangle. Once we construct this triangle, clearly the legs must be the base of another triangle (since there is no way to fit another one of that side length in each of the remaining two quadrilaterals). This works if and only if these remaining quadrilaterals have an odd amount of vertices. Continuing this logic, the following must be true: Let $a_i$ be a sequence of numbers such that $a_1=n, a_i = \frac{a_{i-1}+1}{2}$ for $i \geq 2,$ then at some point $a_i$ converges to $1.$ It is easy to show that only $n=2^k+1$ for some $k$ works. Therefore, in general if it is possible to write $n=2^i+2^j$ for nonnegative integers $i, j$ then $n$ works (because all odds of the form $2^k+1$ work while $n=4$ also clearly works.)
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blueprimes
325 posts
#70
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Solved during chem, really fun problem! I think this is a different solution.

We claim the answer is all $n$ expressible in the form $2^a + 2^b$ for nonnegative integers $(a, b) \ne (0, 0)$. Label the vertices of the $n$-gon $A_0, A_2, \dots, A_{n - 1}$ in clockwise order. All proceeding indices referring to vertices of the $n$-gon are $\pmod{n}$. Define a $k$-bowl as a polygon $A_{i} A_{i + 1} \dots A_{i + k}$ where $k \le \left\lfloor \dfrac{n}{2} \right\rfloor$.

$\textbf{Claim 1:}$ A $k$-bowl $B_0 B_2 \dots B_k$ can be triangulated if and only if $k$ is a power of $2$.

Proof. Consider a $k$-bowl that can be fully triangulated. Clearly no other segment has the same length as $B_1 B_{k + 1}$ so $k$ must be even and segments $B_0 B_{k / 2}$ and $B_k B_{k / 2}$ are drawn. This yields a triangle and two $k / 2$-bowls. Thus, a $k$-bowl can be fully triangulated if and only if a $k / 2$-bowl can be triangulated. This readily implies that the only $k$ that work are powers of two.

Returning to the original problem, first we show a construction for any $n = 2^a + 2^b$. If $a = b$, simply draw segment $A_0 A_{2^a}$ dissecting the $n$-gon into two $2^a$-bowls. By $\textbf{Claim 1}$ we can fully triangulate these polygons as wanted.

Now if $a \ne b$, WLOG $a > b$. Then we can draw triangle $A_0 A_{2^{a - 1}} A_{2^{a - 1} + 2^b}$ which dissects the $n$-gon into a triangle and two $2^{a - 1}$-bowls and one $2^b$-bowl, each of which can be fully triangulated, so again this works.

Finally, we show necessity. In any $n$-gon that can be fully triangulated, consider an arbitrary triangulation, and WLOG $A_0 A_p A_{p + q}$ where $p, q, r$ are positive integers is the isoceles triangle with $A_0 A_p = A_0 A_{p + q}$ that (not strictly) contains the center of the $n$-gon. Then polygons $A_0 A_1 \dots A_p, A_p A_{p + 1} \dots A_{p + q}, A_{p + q} A_{p + q + 1} \dots A_0$ are bowls, and thus we require $p$ and $q$ to be powers of $2$. But $n = 2p + q$ and hence is expressible in the form $2^a + 2^b$. Our solution is complete.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by blueprimes, Feb 24, 2025, 2:25 AM
Reason: bowl
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gladIasked
632 posts
#71
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Outline: The answer is all $n=2^i+2^j$ for some nonnegative integers $i$ and $j$. We can show that $n=2^i+1$ can be triangulated with some induction. It's also easy to show that if a $k$-gon can be triangulated, so can a $2k$-gon (draw a segment connecting every other vertex in the $2k$-gon), so we're done.

We can also show that if $n$ cannot be triangulated (with isosceles triangles), $n/2$ cannot be triangulated either — this is easy to see by noting that every side must be paired with exactly one other side when $n$ is even. In particular, each side needs to be paired with one adjacent side, so we're back at the $n/2$ case.

Finally, when $n$ is an odd number not of the form $2^i+1$, in any legal triangulation we must draw the ``large" isosceles triangle going directly across the middle of the $n$-gon. We can show that the remaining two polygons cannot be triangulated with some induction.
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akliu
1780 posts
#72
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Note that there must exist at least one triangle in the triangulation; draw that triangle, and our polygon is split into three regions: two containing $k$ line segments, and one containing $n - 2k$ line segments. There must be another triangle such that the base of the new triangle is one of the line segments of the older triangle, meaning that we can split the region with $k$ line segments into two regions with $\frac{k}{2}$ line segments. The only way this is possible is if $k$ is even, or $k = 2$ in which case the recursive method stops. Therefore, $k$ is a perfect power of $2$, and so is $2k$. Since we can do the same thing to $n-2k$, that means that $n-2k$ is also a perfect power of $2$, and all such $n$ are the sum of two powers of $2$.
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