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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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Prove the statement
Butterfly   12
N 21 minutes ago by oty
Given an infinite sequence $\{x_n\} \subseteq [0,1]$, there exists some constant $C$, for any $r>0$, among the sequence $x_n$ and $x_m$ could be chosen to satisfy $|n-m|\ge r $ and $|x_n-x_m|<\frac{C}{|n-m|}$.
12 replies
Butterfly
May 7, 2025
oty
21 minutes ago
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exponential diophantine with factorials
skellyrah   5
N 30 minutes ago by skellyrah
find all non negative integers (x,y) such that $$ x! + y! = 2025^x + xy$$
5 replies
skellyrah
Feb 24, 2025
skellyrah
30 minutes ago
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A second final attempt to make a combinatorics problem
JARP091   2
N an hour ago by JARP091
Source: At the time of writing this problem I do not know the source if any
Arthur Morgan is playing a game.

He has $n$ eggs, each with a hardness value $k_1, k_2, \dots, k_n$, where $\{k_1, k_2, \dots, k_n\}$ is a permutation of the set $\{1, 2, \dots, n\}$. He is throwing the eggs from an $m$-floor building.

When the $i$-th egg is dropped from the $j$-th floor, its new hardness becomes
\[ \left\lfloor \frac{k_i}{j+1} \right\rfloor. \]If $\left\lfloor \frac{k_i}{j+1} \right\rfloor = 0$, then the egg breaks and cannot be used again.

Arthur can drop each egg from a particular floor at most once.
For which values of $n$ and $m$ can Arthur always determine the correct ordering of the eggs according to their initial hardness values?
Note: The problem might be wrong or too easy
2 replies
JARP091
May 25, 2025
JARP091
an hour ago
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Iran 3rd Round Geo
M11100111001Y1R   12
N an hour ago by Mathgloggers
Source: Iran 2024 3rd Round Test 1 P3
Consider an acute scalene triangle $\triangle{ABC}$. The interior bisector of $A$ intersects $BC$ at $E$ and the minor arc of $\overarc {BC}$ in circumcircle of $\triangle{ABC}$ at $M$. Suppose that $D$ is a point on the minor arc of $\overarc {BC}$ such that $ED=EM$. $P$ is a point on the line segment of $AD$ such that $\angle ABP=\angle ACP \not= 0$. $O$ is the circumcenter of $\triangle{ABC}$. Prove that $OP \perp AM$.
12 replies
M11100111001Y1R
Aug 23, 2024
Mathgloggers
an hour ago
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Putnam 1981 A3
sqrtX   1
N an hour ago by Mathzeus1024
Source: Putnam 1981
Find
$$ \lim_{t\to \infty} e^{-t} \int_{0}^{t} \int_{0}^{t} \frac{e^x -e^y }{x-y} \,dx\,dy,$$or show that the limit does not exist.
1 reply
sqrtX
Mar 31, 2022
Mathzeus1024
an hour ago
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Inspired by qrxz17
sqing   2
N an hour ago by MathsII-enjoy
Source: Own
Let $a, b,c>0 ,(a^2+b^2+c^2)^2 - 2(a^4+b^4+c^4) = 27 $. Prove that $$a+b+c\geq 3\sqrt {3}$$
2 replies
sqing
2 hours ago
MathsII-enjoy
an hour ago
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D,E,F are collinear.
TUAN2k8   1
N an hour ago by Beelzebub
Source: Own
Help me with this:
1 reply
TUAN2k8
Yesterday at 1:07 AM
Beelzebub
an hour ago
J
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Inspired by qrxz17
sqing   2
N 2 hours ago by MathsII-enjoy
Source: Own
Let $ a,b,c $ be reals such that $ (a^2+b^2)^2 + (b^2+c^2)^2 +(c^2+a^2)^2 = 28 $ and $ (a^2+b^2+c^2)^2 =16. $ Find the value of $ a^2(a^2-1) + b^2(b^2-1)+c^2(c^2-1).$
2 replies
sqing
3 hours ago
MathsII-enjoy
2 hours ago
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Prove DK and BC are perpendicular.
yunxiu   63
N 2 hours ago by sknsdkvnkdvf
Source: 2012 European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad P1
Let $ABC$ be a triangle with circumcentre $O$. The points $D,E,F$ lie in the interiors of the sides $BC,CA,AB$ respectively, such that $DE$ is perpendicular to $CO$ and $DF$ is perpendicular to $BO$. (By interior we mean, for example, that the point $D$ lies on the line $BC$ and $D$ is between $B$ and $C$ on that line.)
Let $K$ be the circumcentre of triangle $AFE$. Prove that the lines $DK$ and $BC$ are perpendicular.

Netherlands (Merlijn Staps)
63 replies
yunxiu
Apr 13, 2012
sknsdkvnkdvf
2 hours ago
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Geometry with fix circle
falantrng   34
N 2 hours ago by Aiden-1089
Source: RMM 2018 Problem 6
Fix a circle $\Gamma$, a line $\ell$ to tangent $\Gamma$, and another circle $\Omega$ disjoint from $\ell$ such that $\Gamma$ and $\Omega$ lie on opposite sides of $\ell$. The tangents to $\Gamma$ from a variable point $X$ on $\Omega$ meet $\ell$ at $Y$ and $Z$. Prove that, as $X$ varies over $\Omega$, the circumcircle of $XYZ$ is tangent to two fixed circles.
34 replies
falantrng
Feb 25, 2018
Aiden-1089
2 hours ago
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Set of perfect powers is irreducible
Assassino9931   2
N 2 hours ago by navid
Source: Al-Khwarizmi International Junior Olympiad 2025 P4
For two sets of integers $X$ and $Y$ we define $X\cdot Y$ as the set of all products of an element of $X$ and an element of $Y$. For example, if $X=\{1, 2, 4\}$ and $Y=\{3, 4, 6\}$ then $X\cdot Y=\{3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 24\}.$ We call a set $S$ of positive integers good if there do not exist sets $A,B$ of positive integers, each with at least two elements and such that the sets $A\cdot B$ and $S$ are the same. Prove that the set of perfect powers greater than or equal to $2025$ is good.

(In any of the sets $A$, $B$, $A\cdot B$ no two elements are equal, but any two or three of these sets may have common elements. A perfect power is an integer of the form $n^k$, where $n>1$ and $k > 1$ are integers.)

Lajos Hajdu and Andras Sarkozy, Hungary
2 replies
Assassino9931
May 9, 2025
navid
2 hours ago
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Stop Projecting your insecurities
naman12   53
N 2 hours ago by EeEeRUT
Source: 2022 USA TST #2
Let $ABC$ be an acute triangle. Let $M$ be the midpoint of side $BC$, and let $E$ and $F$ be the feet of the altitudes from $B$ and $C$, respectively. Suppose that the common external tangents to the circumcircles of triangles $BME$ and $CMF$ intersect at a point $K$, and that $K$ lies on the circumcircle of $ABC$. Prove that line $AK$ is perpendicular to line $BC$.

Kevin Cong
53 replies
naman12
Dec 12, 2022
EeEeRUT
2 hours ago
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Recurrence trouble
SomeonecoolLovesMaths   2
N 2 hours ago by SomeonecoolLovesMaths
Let $0 < x_0 < y_0$ be real numbers. Define $x_{n+1} = \frac{x_n + y_n}{2}$ and $y_{n+1} = \sqrt{x_{n+1}y_n}$.
Prove that $\lim_{n \to \infty} x_n = \lim_{n \to \infty} y_n$ and hence find the limit.
2 replies
SomeonecoolLovesMaths
Yesterday at 11:27 AM
SomeonecoolLovesMaths
2 hours ago
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Trigo or Complex no.?
hzbrl   3
N 3 hours ago by GreenKeeper
(a) Let $y=\cos \phi+\cos 2 \phi$, where $\phi=\frac{2 \pi}{5}$. Verify by direct substitution that $y$ satisfies the quadratic equation $2 y^2=3 y+2$ and deduce that the value of $y$ is $-\frac{1}{2}$.
(b) Let $\theta=\frac{2 \pi}{17}$. Show that $\sum_{k=0}^{16} \cos k \theta=0$
(c) If $z=\cos \theta+\cos 2 \theta+\cos 4 \theta+\cos 8 \theta$, show that the value of $z$ is $-(1-\sqrt{17}) / 4$.



I could solve (a) and (b). Can anyone help me with the 3rd part please?
3 replies
hzbrl
May 27, 2025
GreenKeeper
3 hours ago
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Find the greatest possible value of the expression
BEHZOD_UZ   1
N Apr 23, 2025 by alexheinis
Source: Yandex Uzbekistan Coding and Math Contest 2025
Let $a, b, c, d$ be complex numbers with $|a| \le 1, |b| \le 1, |c| \le 1, |d| \le 1$. Find the greatest possible value of the expression $$|ac+ad+bc-bd|.$$
1 reply
BEHZOD_UZ
Apr 22, 2025
alexheinis
Apr 23, 2025
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Find the greatest possible value of the expression
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Reveal topic tags
complex numbers
maximum
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Source: Yandex Uzbekistan Coding and Math Contest 2025
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BEHZOD_UZ
409 posts
BEHZOD_UZ
#1 h  Apr 22, 2025, 11:56 AM
Y by
Let $a, b, c, d$ be complex numbers with $|a| \le 1, |b| \le 1, |c| \le 1, |d| \le 1$. Find the greatest possible value of the expression $$|ac+ad+bc-bd|.$$
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alexheinis
10635 posts
alexheinis
#2 h  Apr 23, 2025, 6:34 AM • 1 Y
Y by kiyoras_2001
We have $|c(a+b)+d(a-b)|\le |a+b|+|a-b|$ and for fixed $a,b$ we can obtain equality by a suitable rotation. Hence we maximise this over $|a|,|b|\le 1$. We have $|a+b|^2+|a-b|^2=2(|a|^2+|b|^2)\le 4$ and with $x:=|a+b|,y:=|a-b|$ we have $x^2+y^2\le 4\implies x+y\le 2\sqrt{2}$.
Equality when $a=1,b=i$.
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