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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.

Summer camps are starting next month at the Virtual Campus in math and language arts that are 2 - to 4 - weeks in duration. Spaces are still available - don’t miss your chance to have an enriching summer experience. 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)!

Be sure to mark your calendars for the following upcoming events:
[list][*]May 9th, 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET, Casework 2: Overwhelming Evidence — A Text Adventure, a game where participants will work together to navigate the map, solve puzzles, and win! All are welcome.
[*]May 19th, 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET, What's Next After Beast Academy?, designed for students finishing Beast Academy and ready for Prealgebra 1.
[*]May 20th, 4:00pm PT/7:00pm ET, Mathcamp 2025 Qualifying Quiz Part 1 Math Jam, Problems 1 to 4, join the Canada/USA Mathcamp staff for this exciting Math Jam, where they discuss solutions to Problems 1 to 4 of the 2025 Mathcamp Qualifying Quiz!
[*]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
AP calc?
Thayaden   29
N 26 minutes ago by BS2012
How are we all feeling on AP calc guys?
29 replies
Thayaden
May 20, 2025
BS2012
26 minutes ago
Bosnia and Herzegovina JBMO TST 2009 Problem 1
gobathegreat   1
N 40 minutes ago by FishkoBiH
Source: Bosnia and Herzegovina Junior Balkan Mathematical Olympiad TST 2009
Lengths of sides of triangle $ABC$ are positive integers, and smallest side is equal to $2$. Determine the area of triangle $P$ if $v_c = v_a + v_b$, where $v_a$, $v_b$ and $v_c$ are lengths of altitudes in triangle $ABC$ from vertices $A$, $B$ and $C$, respectively.
1 reply
gobathegreat
Sep 17, 2018
FishkoBiH
40 minutes ago
USAMO 2001 Problem 2
MithsApprentice   53
N an hour ago by lksb
Let $ABC$ be a triangle and let $\omega$ be its incircle. Denote by $D_1$ and $E_1$ the points where $\omega$ is tangent to sides $BC$ and $AC$, respectively. Denote by $D_2$ and $E_2$ the points on sides $BC$ and $AC$, respectively, such that $CD_2=BD_1$ and $CE_2=AE_1$, and denote by $P$ the point of intersection of segments $AD_2$ and $BE_2$. Circle $\omega$ intersects segment $AD_2$ at two points, the closer of which to the vertex $A$ is denoted by $Q$. Prove that $AQ=D_2P$.
53 replies
MithsApprentice
Sep 30, 2005
lksb
an hour ago
Strange angle condition and concyclic points
lminsl   129
N an hour ago by Aiden-1089
Source: IMO 2019 Problem 2
In triangle $ABC$, point $A_1$ lies on side $BC$ and point $B_1$ lies on side $AC$. Let $P$ and $Q$ be points on segments $AA_1$ and $BB_1$, respectively, such that $PQ$ is parallel to $AB$. Let $P_1$ be a point on line $PB_1$, such that $B_1$ lies strictly between $P$ and $P_1$, and $\angle PP_1C=\angle BAC$. Similarly, let $Q_1$ be the point on line $QA_1$, such that $A_1$ lies strictly between $Q$ and $Q_1$, and $\angle CQ_1Q=\angle CBA$.

Prove that points $P,Q,P_1$, and $Q_1$ are concyclic.

Proposed by Anton Trygub, Ukraine
129 replies
lminsl
Jul 16, 2019
Aiden-1089
an hour ago
Random concyclicity in a square config
Maths_VC   2
N an hour ago by Maths_VC
Source: Serbia JBMO TST 2025, Problem 1
Let $M$ be a random point on the smaller arc $AB$ of the circumcircle of square $ABCD$, and let $N$ be the intersection point of segments $AC$ and $DM$. The feet of the tangents from point $D$ to the circumcircle of the triangle $OMN$ are $P$ and $Q$ , where $O$ is the center of the square. Prove that points $A$, $C$, $P$ and $Q$ lie on a single circle.
2 replies
Maths_VC
2 hours ago
Maths_VC
an hour ago
Inequalities
sqing   26
N 2 hours ago by ytChen
Let $ a,b>0   $ . Prove that
$$ \frac{a}{a^2+a +2b+1}+ \frac{b}{b^2+2a +b+1}  \leq  \frac{2}{5} $$$$ \frac{a}{a^2+2a +b+1}+ \frac{b}{b^2+a +2b+1}  \leq  \frac{2}{5} $$
26 replies
sqing
May 13, 2025
ytChen
2 hours ago
Circle is tangent to circumcircle and incircle
ABCDE   74
N 2 hours ago by zuat.e
Source: 2016 ELMO Problem 6
Elmo is now learning olympiad geometry. In triangle $ABC$ with $AB\neq AC$, let its incircle be tangent to sides $BC$, $CA$, and $AB$ at $D$, $E$, and $F$, respectively. The internal angle bisector of $\angle BAC$ intersects lines $DE$ and $DF$ at $X$ and $Y$, respectively. Let $S$ and $T$ be distinct points on side $BC$ such that $\angle XSY=\angle XTY=90^\circ$. Finally, let $\gamma$ be the circumcircle of $\triangle AST$.

(a) Help Elmo show that $\gamma$ is tangent to the circumcircle of $\triangle ABC$.

(b) Help Elmo show that $\gamma$ is tangent to the incircle of $\triangle ABC$.

James Lin
74 replies
ABCDE
Jun 24, 2016
zuat.e
2 hours ago
Easy Geo Regarding Euler Line
USJL   12
N 3 hours ago by Ilikeminecraft
Source: 2021 Taiwan TST Round 2 Independent Study 1-G
Let $ABCD$ be a convex quadrilateral with pairwise distinct side lengths such that $AC\perp BD$. Let $O_1,O_2$ be the circumcenters of $\Delta ABD, \Delta CBD$, respectively. Show that $AO_2, CO_1$, the Euler line of $\Delta ABC$ and the Euler line of $\Delta ADC$ are concurrent.

(Remark: The Euler line of a triangle is the line on which its circumcenter, centroid, and orthocenter lie.)

Proposed by usjl
12 replies
USJL
Apr 7, 2021
Ilikeminecraft
3 hours ago
Pls help I'm stuck
UtkarshSri   1
N 3 hours ago by vanstraelen
So I was solving this problem
Cbrt(x+1) - cbrt(x-1) = pow((x²-1),1/6)


Here, the square root is defined in the domain x≤-1 OR x≥1
I substituted a= cbrt(x+1) and b= cbrt(x-1)
And then the equation turned out to be
a-b= sqrt(ab)
Here, since the RHS is +ve, the LHS must be too, so a>b (Done so as to prevent extraneous roots)
Now, I can write the domain in terms of a and b as ab≥0
Squaring, we get a²+b²-3ab=0
On solving we get a/b = (3±sqrt(5))/2
Now, we know that a>b from the above condition, so the only root is a/b= (3+sqrt(5))/2 and on substituting for x, and applying componendo and dividendo after cubing, I get x= sqrt(5)/2

Now, my question is, since the equation is even i.e f(x)=f(-x), it's symmetric about the y-axis, so x= -sqrt(5)/2 must also satisfy the equation, and indeed it does, so where did I made some irreversible step that caused this loss of the root?
when I plugged the equation to wolframalpha, it showed that the "principle root" has the former solⁿ only where's for a "real valued root", it has both.I also found that on solving the equation
b-a= sqrt(ab), I get the latter root.But I mean where did that extra -ve sign come from?
I'm familiar that f(x)=sqrt(g(x)) is equivalent to f²(x)=g(x) AND f(x)≥0 AND g(x)≥0 but the g(x)≥0 condition is not necessary as f²(x) is already ≥0
and also that abs(f(x))=abs(g(x)) is equivalent to f²(x)=g²(x)

PS: Pardon me I don't know latex well, I'm tried to make this as comprehensive as possible and made sure there's no loss of equivalence in any step.
I hope someone clarifies this for me, it's really bothering me for a while.
1 reply
UtkarshSri
Today at 9:57 AM
vanstraelen
3 hours ago
Lines AD, BE, and CF are concurrent
orl   49
N 3 hours ago by Ilikeminecraft
Source: IMO Shortlist 2000, G3
Let $O$ be the circumcenter and $H$ the orthocenter of an acute triangle $ABC$. Show that there exist points $D$, $E$, and $F$ on sides $BC$, $CA$, and $AB$ respectively such that \[ OD + DH = OE + EH = OF + FH\] and the lines $AD$, $BE$, and $CF$ are concurrent.
49 replies
orl
Aug 10, 2008
Ilikeminecraft
3 hours ago
Calculate the radius of a circle using sidelengths.
richminer   0
3 hours ago
Given triangle ABC with incircle (I), with D being the touchpoint of (I) and BC. Let M be the tangent point of the A-Mixtilinear circle (internally tangent). A' is the reflection of A through I. Calculate the radius of the circle (MDA') using the side lengths of the triangle ABC.
0 replies
richminer
3 hours ago
0 replies
Another right angled triangle
ariopro1387   5
N 4 hours ago by aaravdodhia
Source: Iran Team selection test 2025 - P7
Let $ABC$ be a right angled triangle with $\angle A=90$.Let $M$ be the midpoint of $BC$, and $P$ be an arbitrary point on $AM$. The reflection of $BP$ over $AB$ intersects lines $AC$ and $AM$ at $T$ and $Q$, respectively. The circumcircles of $BPQ$ and $ABC$ intersect again at $F$. Prove that the center of the circumcircle of $CFT$ lies on $BQ$.
5 replies
ariopro1387
May 25, 2025
aaravdodhia
4 hours ago
IMO 2014 Problem 4
ipaper   170
N 5 hours ago by lpieleanu
Let $P$ and $Q$ be on segment $BC$ of an acute triangle $ABC$ such that $\angle PAB=\angle BCA$ and $\angle CAQ=\angle ABC$. Let $M$ and $N$ be the points on $AP$ and $AQ$, respectively, such that $P$ is the midpoint of $AM$ and $Q$ is the midpoint of $AN$. Prove that the intersection of $BM$ and $CN$ is on the circumference of triangle $ABC$.

Proposed by Giorgi Arabidze, Georgia.
170 replies
ipaper
Jul 9, 2014
lpieleanu
5 hours ago
Tilted Students Thoroughly Splash Tiger part 2
DottedCaculator   20
N 5 hours ago by cj13609517288
Source: ELMO 2024/5
In triangle $ABC$ with $AB<AC$ and $AB+AC=2BC$, let $M$ be the midpoint of $\overline{BC}$. Choose point $P$ on the extension of $\overline{BA}$ past $A$ and point $Q$ on segment $\overline{AC}$ such that $M$ lies on $\overline{PQ}$. Let $X$ be on the opposite side of $\overline{AB}$ from $C$ such that $\overline{AX} \parallel \overline{BC}$ and $AX=AP=AQ$. Let $\overline{BX}$ intersect the circumcircle of $BMQ$ again at $Y \neq B$, and let $\overline{CX}$ intersect the circumcircle of $CMP$ again at $Z \neq C$. Prove that $A$, $Y$, and $Z$ are collinear.

Tiger Zhang
20 replies
DottedCaculator
Jun 21, 2024
cj13609517288
5 hours ago
BMT 2018 Algebra Round Problem 7
IsabeltheCat   5
N Apr 22, 2025 by P162008
Let $$h_n := \sum_{k=0}^n \binom{n}{k} \frac{2^{k+1}}{(k+1)}.$$Find $$\sum_{n=0}^\infty \frac{h_n}{n!}.$$
5 replies
IsabeltheCat
Dec 3, 2018
P162008
Apr 22, 2025
BMT 2018 Algebra Round Problem 7
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G H BBookmark kLocked kLocked NReply
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IsabeltheCat
4242 posts
#1 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Let $$h_n := \sum_{k=0}^n \binom{n}{k} \frac{2^{k+1}}{(k+1)}.$$Find $$\sum_{n=0}^\infty \frac{h_n}{n!}.$$
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by IsabeltheCat, Dec 3, 2018, 11:11 PM
Reason: wrong dummy variable was used previously
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rzlng
99 posts
#2 • 3 Y
Y by Srofller, Adventure10, Mango247
sketch
@below, thanks. fixed
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by rzlng, Dec 3, 2018, 5:11 AM
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TomCalc
1635 posts
#3 • 1 Y
Y by Adventure10
IsabeltheCat wrote:
Find $$\sum_{k=0}^\infty \frac{h_n}{n!}.$$
The second sum has a wrong dummy variable and @above the answer is correct.
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NikoIsLife
9657 posts
#4 • 3 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247, soryn
Solution
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IsabeltheCat
4242 posts
#5 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
TomCalc wrote:
IsabeltheCat wrote:
Find $$\sum_{k=0}^\infty \frac{h_n}{n!}.$$
The second sum has a wrong dummy variable and @above the answer is correct.

Thanks for pointing that out. I fixed the error in the original post.
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P162008
226 posts
#6
Y by
Storage
This post has been edited 3 times. Last edited by P162008, Apr 28, 2025, 9:40 PM
Reason: Typo
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N Quick Reply
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a