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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.

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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
2021 EGMO P4: Reflection of A over EF lies on BC
anser   48
N 4 minutes ago by cursed_tangent1434
Source: EGMO 2021 P4
Let $ABC$ be a triangle with incenter $I$ and let $D$ be an arbitrary point on the side $BC$. Let the line through $D$ perpendicular to $BI$ intersect $CI$ at $E$. Let the line through $D$ perpendicular to $CI$ intersect $BI$ at $F$. Prove that the reflection of $A$ across the line $EF$ lies on the line $BC$.
48 replies
anser
Apr 13, 2021
cursed_tangent1434
4 minutes ago
A final attempt to make a combinatorics problem
JARP091   1
N 12 minutes ago by wimpykid
Source: At the time of posting the problem I do not know the source if any
Let \( N \) be a positive integer and consider the set \( S = \{1, 2, \ldots, N\} \).

Two players alternate moves. On each turn, the current player must select a nonempty subset \( T \subseteq S \) of numbers not previously chosen such that for every distinct \( x, y \in T \), neither \( x \) divides \( y \) nor \( y \) divides \( x \).

After selecting \( T \), all multiples of every element in \( T \), including those in \( T \) itself, are removed from \( S \).

The game continues with the reduced set \( S \) until no moves are possible.
Determine, for each \( N \), which player has a winning strategy if any

Note: It might be wrong or maybe too easy.
1 reply
JARP091
35 minutes ago
wimpykid
12 minutes ago
Serbian selection contest for the IMO 2025 - P2
OgnjenTesic   10
N an hour ago by Mahdi_Mashayekhi
Source: Serbian selection contest for the IMO 2025
Let $ABC$ be an acute triangle. Let $A'$ be the reflection of point $A$ over the line $BC$. Let $O$ and $H$ be the circumcenter and the orthocenter of triangle $ABC$, respectively, and let $E$ be the midpoint of segment $OH$. Let $D$ and $L$ be the points where the reflection of line $AA'$ with respect to line $OA'$ intersects the circumcircle of triangle $ABC$, where point $D$ lies on the arc $BC$ not containing $A$. If \( M \) is a point on the line \( BC \) such that \( OM \perp AD \), prove that \( \angle MAD = \angle EAL \).

Proposed by Strahinja Gvozdić
10 replies
OgnjenTesic
Thursday at 4:02 PM
Mahdi_Mashayekhi
an hour ago
find all Polynomials
andria   9
N an hour ago by A.H.H
Source: Iranian third round 2015 algebra problem 5
Find all polynomials $p(x)\in\mathbb{R}[x]$ such that for all $x\in \mathbb{R}$:
$p(5x)^2-3=p(5x^2+1)$ such that:
$a) p(0)\neq 0$
$b) p(0)=0$
9 replies
andria
Sep 8, 2015
A.H.H
an hour ago
AT // BC wanted
parmenides51   105
N an hour ago by Adywastaken
Source: IMO 2019 SL G1
Let $ABC$ be a triangle. Circle $\Gamma$ passes through $A$, meets segments $AB$ and $AC$ again at points $D$ and $E$ respectively, and intersects segment $BC$ at $F$ and $G$ such that $F$ lies between $B$ and $G$. The tangent to circle $BDF$ at $F$ and the tangent to circle $CEG$ at $G$ meet at point $T$. Suppose that points $A$ and $T$ are distinct. Prove that line $AT$ is parallel to $BC$.

(Nigeria)
105 replies
parmenides51
Sep 22, 2020
Adywastaken
an hour ago
Two lines concur on (ABC)
amar_04   19
N an hour ago by Giant_PT
Source: XVII Sharygin Corespondnce Round P13
In triangle $ABC$ with circumcircle $\Omega$ and incenter $I$, point $M$ bisects arc $BAC$ and line $\overline{AI}$ meets $\Omega$ at $N\ne A$. The excircle opposite to $A$ touches $\overline{BC}$ at point $E$. Point $Q\ne I$ on the circumcircle of $\triangle MIN$ is such that $\overline{QI}\parallel\overline{BC}$. Prove that the lines $\overline{AE}$ and $\overline{QN}$ meet on $\Omega$.
19 replies
amar_04
Mar 2, 2021
Giant_PT
an hour ago
Nice problem of concurrency
deraxenrovalo   0
an hour ago
Let $(I)$ be an inscribed circle of $\triangle$$ABC$ and touching $BC$, $CA$, $AB$ at $D$, $E$, $F$ respectively. Let $EE'$ and $FF'$ be diameters of $(I)$. Let $X$ and $Y$ be the pole of $DE'$ and $DF'$ with respect to $(I)$, respectively. $BE$ cuts $(I)$ again at $K$. $CF$ cuts $(I)$ again at $L$. The tangent at $K$ of $(I)$ cuts $AX$ at $M$. The tangent at $L$ of $(I)$ cuts $AY$ at $N$. Let $U$ and $V$ be midpoint of $IM$ and $IN$, respectively.

Show that : $UV$, $E'F'$ and perpendicular bisector of $ID$ are concurrent.
0 replies
deraxenrovalo
an hour ago
0 replies
A hunter and an invisible rabbit are playing again...
Phorphyrion   1
N an hour ago by JARP091
Source: 2021 Discord CCCC P4
A hunter and an invisible rabbit play a game in a $2021\times 2021$ grid. The rabbit's starting square is $P_0$ (unknown to the hunter), and after $n-1$ rounds, the rabbit is at square $P_{n-1}$. In the $n$-th round of the game, two things occur in order:

(i) The rabbit moves invisibly to a square $P_n$ which shares a point with $P_{n-1}$ (There are up to eight of these).

(ii) A tracking device searches $k$ squares of the hunter's choosing. If the rabbit is in one of these squares, the rabbit is captured and the game ends.

For what $k$ can the rabbit avoid capture indefinitely?
1 reply
Phorphyrion
Dec 24, 2023
JARP091
an hour ago
SL 2015 G1: Prove that IJ=AH
Problem_Penetrator   137
N 2 hours ago by heheman
Source: IMO 2015 Shortlist, G1
Let $ABC$ be an acute triangle with orthocenter $H$. Let $G$ be the point such that the quadrilateral $ABGH$ is a parallelogram. Let $I$ be the point on the line $GH$ such that $AC$ bisects $HI$. Suppose that the line $AC$ intersects the circumcircle of the triangle $GCI$ at $C$ and $J$. Prove that $IJ = AH$.
137 replies
Problem_Penetrator
Jul 7, 2016
heheman
2 hours ago
IMO Shortlist 2011, G2
WakeUp   30
N 2 hours ago by ezpotd
Source: IMO Shortlist 2011, G2
Let $A_1A_2A_3A_4$ be a non-cyclic quadrilateral. Let $O_1$ and $r_1$ be the circumcentre and the circumradius of the triangle $A_2A_3A_4$. Define $O_2,O_3,O_4$ and $r_2,r_3,r_4$ in a similar way. Prove that
\[\frac{1}{O_1A_1^2-r_1^2}+\frac{1}{O_2A_2^2-r_2^2}+\frac{1}{O_3A_3^2-r_3^2}+\frac{1}{O_4A_4^2-r_4^2}=0.\]

Proposed by Alexey Gladkich, Israel
30 replies
WakeUp
Jul 13, 2012
ezpotd
2 hours ago
2-var inequality
sqing   1
N 3 hours ago by sqing
Source: Own
Let $ a,b\geq 0 ,\frac{a}{b+2}+\frac{b}{a+2}+ \frac{ab}{3}\leq 1.$ Prove that
$$ a^2+b^2 +\frac{5}{3}ab \leq 4$$
1 reply
sqing
3 hours ago
sqing
3 hours ago
Rational Points in n-Dimensional Space
steven_zhang123   0
4 hours ago
Let \( T = (x_1, x_2, \ldots, x_n) \), where \( x_i \) is rational for \( i = 1, 2, \ldots, n \). A vector \( T \) is called a rational point in \( n \)-dimensional space. Denote the set of all such vectors \( T \) as \( S \). For \( A = (x_1, x_2, \ldots, x_n) \) and \( B = (y_1, y_2, \ldots, y_n) \) in \( S \), define the distance between points \( A \) and \( B \) as \( d(A, B) = \sqrt{(x_1 - y_1)^2 + (x_2 - y_2)^2 + \cdots + (x_n - y_n)^2} \). We say that point \( A \) can move to point \( B \) if and only if there is a unit distance between two points in \( S \).

Prove:
(1) If \( n \leq 4 \), there exists a point that cannot be reached from the origin via a finite number of moves.
(2) If \( n \geq 5 \), any point in \( S \) can be reached from any other point via moves.
0 replies
steven_zhang123
4 hours ago
0 replies
Inspired by old results
sqing   5
N 4 hours ago by sqing
Source: Own
Let $a,b,c $ be reals such that $a^2+b^2+c^2=3$ .Prove that
$$(1-a)(k-b)(1-c)+abc\ge -k$$Where $ k\geq 1.$
$$(1-a)(1-b)(1-c)+abc\ge -1$$$$(1-a)(1-b)(1-c)-abc\ge -\frac{1}{2}-\sqrt 2$$
5 replies
sqing
Yesterday at 7:36 AM
sqing
4 hours ago
equation in integers
Pirkuliyev Rovsen   2
N 4 hours ago by ytChen
Solve in $Z$ the equation $a^2+b=b^{2022}$
2 replies
Pirkuliyev Rovsen
Feb 10, 2025
ytChen
4 hours ago
Vertices of a convex polygon if and only if m(S) = f(n)
orl   12
N Apr 24, 2025 by Maximilian113
Source: IMO Shortlist 2000, C3
Let $ n \geq 4$ be a fixed positive integer. Given a set $ S = \{P_1, P_2, \ldots, P_n\}$ of $ n$ points in the plane such that no three are collinear and no four concyclic, let $ a_t,$ $ 1 \leq t \leq n,$ be the number of circles $ P_iP_jP_k$ that contain $ P_t$ in their interior, and let \[m(S)=a_1+a_2+\cdots + a_n.\]Prove that there exists a positive integer $ f(n),$ depending only on $ n,$ such that the points of $ S$ are the vertices of a convex polygon if and only if $ m(S) = f(n).$
12 replies
orl
Aug 10, 2008
Maximilian113
Apr 24, 2025
Vertices of a convex polygon if and only if m(S) = f(n)
G H J
Source: IMO Shortlist 2000, C3
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orl
3647 posts
#1 • 6 Y
Y by Adventure10, junioragd, and 4 other users
Let $ n \geq 4$ be a fixed positive integer. Given a set $ S = \{P_1, P_2, \ldots, P_n\}$ of $ n$ points in the plane such that no three are collinear and no four concyclic, let $ a_t,$ $ 1 \leq t \leq n,$ be the number of circles $ P_iP_jP_k$ that contain $ P_t$ in their interior, and let \[m(S)=a_1+a_2+\cdots + a_n.\]Prove that there exists a positive integer $ f(n),$ depending only on $ n,$ such that the points of $ S$ are the vertices of a convex polygon if and only if $ m(S) = f(n).$
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by djmathman, Oct 3, 2016, 3:25 AM
Reason: changed formatting to match imo compendium
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Thjch Ph4 Trjnh
205 posts
#2 • 4 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247, and 2 other users
$ f(n) = 2.(_4^n)$
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Myth
4464 posts
#3 • 4 Y
Y by Ali3085, Adventure10, Mango247, and 1 other user
It is strange to see such an easy and evident problem in IMO SL.
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SnowEverywhere
801 posts
#4 • 12 Y
Y by Catalanfury, Vaijan_Mama, k12byda5h, DCMaths, Adventure10, Mango247, Stuffybear, winniep008hfi, and 4 other users
We claim that the function $f(n)=2 \binom{n}{4}$ satisfies the requirements.

Let the score $s(a,b,c,d)$ of the four points $P_a$, $P_b$, $P_c$ and $P_d$ be the number of points $P_i$ where $i \in \{a,b,c,d \}$ such that $P_i$ is properly contained in the circle passing through the remaining three points. Observe that

\[m(S) = \sum_{1 \le a<b<c<d \le n} s(a,b,c,d)\]

First we prove the following lemma.

Lemma 1. The score of a convex quadrilateral $2$.

Proof. Let the vertices of the convex quadrilateral be denoted as $A, B, C$ and $D$. We have that point $D$ lies within the circumcircle of $\triangle{ABC}$ if and only if

\[\angle{ABC} > 180 - \angle{ADC} \quad \Leftrightarrow \quad \angle{ABC} + \angle{ADC} > 180\]

Therefore if $D$ lies within the circumcircle of $\triangle{ABC}$, it also follows by symmetry that $B$ lies within the circumcircle of $\triangle{ADC}$. If not, then since the sum of the interior angles of $ABCD$ is $360$,

\[\angle{ABC} + \angle{ADC} < 180 \quad \Rightarrow \quad \angle{BAD} + \angle{ACD} > 180\]

Therefore $A$ lies within the circumcircle of $\triangle{BCD}$ and $C$ lies within the circumcircle of $\triangle{ABD}$. In both cases, the score of $ABCD$ is equal to $2$.

Lemma 2. The score of a concave quadrilateral is $1$.

Proof. Let $ABCD$ denote the concave quadrilateral. Without the loss of generality, let $A$ be such that interior angle $\angle{BAC} > 180$. It follows that $A$ lies in the interior of triangle $\triangle{BCD}$. Therefore, the circumcircle of $\triangle{BCD}$ contains $A$. However, none of the remaining three circles passing through three of the points $A, B, C$ and $D$ contain the remaining point. Hence the score of $ABCD$ is equal to $1$.

If Direction. If the vertices of $S$ form a convex $n$-gon, then each quadrilateral formed by four distinct points in $S$ is a convex quadrilateral and therefore

\[m(S) = \sum_{1 \le a<b<c<d \le n} s(a,b,c,d) = 2 \binom{n}{4}\]

Only If Direction. If the vertices of $S$ form a concave $n$-gon, then at least one of the quadrilaterals formed by four distinct points in $S$ is a concave quadrilateral and therefore

\[m(S) = \sum_{1 \le a<b<c<d \le n} s(a,b,c,d) < 2 \binom{n}{4}\]

The function $f(n)=2 \binom{n}{4}$ therefore satisfies that $m(S)=f(n)$ if and only if the points in $S$ are the vertices of a convex polygon.
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JackXD
151 posts
#5 • 1 Y
Y by Adventure10
Lemma Every quadrilateral $S$ satisfies $m(S) \le 2$ with equality if and only if it is convex,

Proof:If a quadrilateral $ABCD$ is convex then one out of $\angle{ABC}+\angle{ADC}$ and $\angle{DAB}+\angle{DCB}$ is greater than $\pi$ and the other is less than $\pi$.This implies $m(S)=2$.One the other hand if it is concave then clearly $m(S)=1$


Back to our main problem.If S forms a convex polygon then every quadrilateral $P_{i}P_{j}P_{k}P_{l}$ contributes $1$ to two of $a_{i},a_{j},a_{k}$ and $a_{l}$ (from the lemma) and thus contributes two to $m(S)$.This immediately implies $f(n)=2\binom{n}{4}$

Now let $m(S)=f(n)=2\binom{n}{4}$.Each quadrilateral $P_{i}P_{j}P_{k}P_{l}$ contributes atmost $2$ to $f(n)$ and thus $m(S) \le 2\binom{n}{4}$.As there is equality,we have that each quadrilateral contributes exactly $2$ to $f(n)$,hence from the lemma every quadrilateral is convex,implying that $S$ forms a convex polygon.
This post has been edited 3 times. Last edited by JackXD, Jan 7, 2016, 4:22 PM
Reason: xx
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william122
1576 posts
#6 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Note that given any 4 points, they add 2 to the count if their convex hull is a quadrilateral, and 1 otherwise. So, $f(n)=2\binom{n}{2}$, with equality achieved iff all quadruplets of points form convex quadrilaterals. However, if there exists a point $P_i$ inside the convex hull $Q_1,Q_2,\ldots,Q_k$, then it must be in one of the triangles $Q_1Q_2Q_3$, $Q_1Q_3Q_4,\ldots Q_1Q_{k-1}Q_k$, which cover the convex hull. So, there exist 4 points whose convex hull is a triangle. Therefore, the only way equality is reached is if all points are on the convex hull, as desired.
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niyu
830 posts
#7
Y by
The key idea is to consider four-tuples.

Lemma: If $ABCD$ is a non-cyclic convex quadrilateral, $m(ABCD) = 2$.

Proof: Suppose $ABCD$ is convex and non-cyclic. Note that $\angle ABC + \angle ADC \neq \angle BCD + \angle BAD \neq 180^\circ$. Hence, exactly one of these two sums is greater than $180^\circ$. WLOG, suppose $\angle ABC + \angle ADC > 180^\circ$ and $\angle BCD + \angle BAD < 180^\circ$. Since $\angle ABC > 180^\circ - \angle ADC$ it follows that $B$ lies within $(ADC)$. Similarly, $D$ lies within $(ABC)$. Meanwhile, since $\angle BCD < 180^\circ - \angle BAD$, it follows that $A$ does not lie within $(BCD)$, and similarly, $C$ does not lie within $(ABD)$. This implies that $m(ABCD) = 2$, proving the lemma. $\blacksquare$

Lemma: If $ABCD$ is a concave quadrilateral, $m(ABCD) = 1$.

Proof: Say $\angle BAD > 180^\circ$. Since $A$ and $C$ both lie on the same side of $\overline{BD}$, and $\angle BCD < \angle BAD$, it follows that $C$ does not lie within $(ABD)$, while $A$ lies within $(BCD)$. Meanwhile, since $\angle ABC + \angle ADC < 180^\circ$, by the same argument as in the previous lemma we find that $B$ does not lie within $(ACD)$ and that $D$ does not lie within $(ABC)$. Hence, $m(ABCD) = 1$. $\blacksquare$

We now return to the given problem. We claim that $m(S) \leq 2\binom{n}{4}$, and that equality holds iff the points of $S$ form a convex quadrilateral. Indeed, as no four points in $S$ are concyclic, we have
\begin{align*}
	m(S) &= \sum_{1 \leq w < x < y < z \leq n} m(P_wP_xP_yP_z) \\
	&\leq \sum_{1 \leq w < x < y < z \leq n} 2 \\
	&\leq 2\binom{n}{4}.
\end{align*}Equality holds here iff each of the quadrilaterals $P_wP_xP_yP_z$ is convex, which occurs iff the points of $S$ form a cyclic quadrilateral. This completes the proof. $\Box$
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bluelinfish
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Rather easy for a C3.

All angles are in degrees.

Claim: Suppose $Q$ consists of four points $A,B,C,D$. Then $m(Q)$ is $2$ if $A,B,C,D$ form a convex quadrilateral and $1$ otherwise.
Proof. Notice that if $A,B,C,D$ form a convex quadrilateral, then $D$ appears inside the circumcircle of $ABC$, $\angle D$ must be greater than $180-\angle B$, which is equivalent to $\angle B + \angle D >180$. Since exactly one opposite pair of angles sum to greater than $180$ degrees, there will be exactly two points that are contained in the circumcircle of the other three.

If $A,B,C,D$ are not convex, WLOG let $A,B,C$ be the convex hull. Then it is clear that the only point that is contained in the circumcircle of the other three is $D$. $\blacksquare$

The key step is to notice that $$m(S)=\sum_{1\le a<b<c<d\le n} m\left(\{P_a,P_b,P_c,P_d\}\right)$$because both quantities count the amount of ordered pairs containing a single point of $S$ and a set of three points in $S$, with all four points distinct, such that the single point is inside the circumcircle of the three points.

Using our claim, $m(S)$ must be equal to twice the number of four-point subsets of $S$ that consist of points forming a convex quadrilateral plus the four-point subsets of $S$ that do not. Moreover, every subset of four points form a convex quadrilateral iff $S$ does, so $m(S)=2\binom{n}{4}$ iff $S$ forms a convex quadrilateral. We are done.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by bluelinfish, Jan 18, 2022, 10:45 PM
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awesomeming327.
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Let $m(\{a,b,c,d\})$ be the number $m(S)$ for the quadrilateral $P_aP_bP_cP_d.$ It is easy to see that $m(S)$ is the sum of $m(\{a,b,c,d\})$ for all choices of subset $\{a,b,c,d\} \subseteq S$. Note that $(P_aP_bP_c)$ contains $P_d$ if only $P_d$ lies inside of the angle $P_aP_bP_c$ and $\angle P_b+\angle P_d> 180^\circ.$ Clearly, when $P_aP_bP_cP_d$ then $m(a,b,c,d)=2$ and when it is nonconvex $m(a,b,c,d)=1$. Therefore, $m(S)=2\tbinom{n}4$ if and only if $S$ is convex.
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john0512
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Note that by swapping the order of summation, $m(S)$ is equal to the number of quadruples of points $(A,B,C,D)$ where $D$ is inside $(ABC)$ and $A,B,C$ are unordered.

Claim: Each set of 4 points contributes $2$ if they are convex, and $1$ if they are not.

If $ABCD$ is convex and non-cyclic, then we either have $\angle A+\angle C>180$ or $\angle B+\angle D>180$ but not both. However, since $A$ is inside $(BCD)$ if and only if $\angle A+\angle C>180$, etc, the convex quadriateral contributes $2$. If $D$ is inside $\triangle ABC$, then $D$ will be inside $(ABC)$ but nothing else works.

Thus, the maximum possible value of $m(S)$ is $2{n\choose 4}$, with equality if and only if each quadrilateral is convex, which is the same as saying the entire set is convex. We are done as $f(n)=2{n\choose 4}$.
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asdf334
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For any four points $S'=\{P_a,P_b,P_c,P_d\}$ count the value $m(S')$. Notice this is either $2$ if the convex hull is a quadrilateral (i.e. the points form a convex polygon) and $1$ if the convex hull is a triangle (i.e. there is an interior point).
Clearly $f(n)$ is the sum of $m(S')$ over all such $S'$. Hence the maximum occurs if every convex hull of four points is a quadrilateral. If the points of $S$ are the vertices of a convex polygon this occurs. If the points of $S$ are not the vertices of a convex polygon then triangulate the convex hull. Any interior point is contained in a triangle and for these four points we have $m(S')=1$. $\blacksquare$
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onyqz
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storage
solution
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Maximilian113
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Observe that in any $4$ points $A, B, C, D,$ if they form a convex polygon there are $2$ pairs of the form $(i, \omega)$ where $i$ is a point from $A, B, C, D$ and $\omega$ is the circumcircle of the other points. However if they form a non-convex polygon there is $1$ only.

Clearly, if we consider all quadruples of points from our $n$ points, and sum up the number of valid pairs, every point, along with a circumcircle it lies in, is counted. In addition, the point and circumcircle pair uniquely determines which quadruple it was counted in, meaning that this count yields a injection and surjection to $m(S),$ so there is a bijection.

Therefore if $x$ quadruples are convex and $y$ are concave, $$m(S) = 2x+y.$$But $x+y=\binom{n}{4}$ so $$m(S)=\binom{n}{4}+x,$$and the desired result follows. QED
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