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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.
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[*]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
+1 w
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
A Collection of Good Problems from my end
SomeonecoolLovesMaths   8
N an hour ago by Math-lover1
This is a collection of good problems and my respective attempts to solve them. I would like to encourage everyone to post their solutions to these problems, if any. This will not only help others verify theirs but also perhaps bring forward a different approach to the problem. I will constantly try to update the pool of questions.

The difficulty level of these questions vary from AMC 10 to AIME. (Although the main pool of questions were prepared as a mock test for IOQM over the years)

Problem 1

Problem 2

Problem 3

Problem 4

Problem 5
8 replies
SomeonecoolLovesMaths
Yesterday at 8:16 AM
Math-lover1
an hour ago
find number of elements in H
Darealzolt   1
N 2 hours ago by alexheinis
If \( H \) is the set of positive real solutions to the system
\[
x^3 + y^3 + z^3 = x + y + z
\]\[
x^2 + y^2 + z^2 = xyz
\]then find the number of elements in \( H \).
1 reply
Darealzolt
Today at 1:50 AM
alexheinis
2 hours ago
primes and perfect squares
Bummer12345   0
4 hours ago
If $p$ and $q$ are primes, then can $2^p + 5^q + pq$ be a perfect square?
0 replies
Bummer12345
4 hours ago
0 replies
simple trapezoid
gggzul   0
4 hours ago
Let $ABCD$ be a trapezoid. By $x$ we denote the angle bisector of angle $X$ . Let $P=a\cap c$ and $Q=b\cap d$. Prove that $ABPQ$ is cyclic.
0 replies
gggzul
4 hours ago
0 replies
Benelux fe
ErTeeEs06   11
N 5 hours ago by Pitchu-25
Source: BxMO 2025 P1
Does there exist a function $f:\mathbb{R}\to \mathbb{R}$ such that $$f(x^2+f(y))=f(x)^2-y$$for all $x, y\in \mathbb{R}$?
11 replies
ErTeeEs06
Apr 26, 2025
Pitchu-25
5 hours ago
My Unsolved FE on R+
ZeltaQN2008   4
N Today at 10:37 AM by mashumaro
Source: IDK
Give $a>0$. Find all funcitions $f:\mathbb{R}^+ \rightarrow \mathbb{R}^+$ such that for all any $x,y\in (0,\infty):$
$$f(xf(y)+a)=yf(x+y+a)$$
4 replies
ZeltaQN2008
Today at 8:41 AM
mashumaro
Today at 10:37 AM
2015 solutions for quotient function!
raxu   49
N Today at 1:26 AM by blueprimes
Source: TSTST 2015 Problem 5
Let $\varphi(n)$ denote the number of positive integers less than $n$ that are relatively prime to $n$. Prove that there exists a positive integer $m$ for which the equation $\varphi(n)=m$ has at least $2015$ solutions in $n$.

Proposed by Iurie Boreico
49 replies
raxu
Jun 26, 2015
blueprimes
Today at 1:26 AM
My unsolved problem
ZeltaQN2008   1
N Yesterday at 4:46 PM by Adywastaken
Source: Belarus 2017
Find all funcition $f:(0,\infty)\rightarrow (0,\infty)$ such that for all any $x,y\in (0,\infty)$ :
$f(x+f(xy))=xf(1+f(y))$
1 reply
ZeltaQN2008
Yesterday at 3:47 PM
Adywastaken
Yesterday at 4:46 PM
IMO Shortlist 2011, Algebra 4
orl   18
N Yesterday at 3:54 PM by shanelin-sigma
Source: IMO Shortlist 2011, Algebra 4
Determine all pairs $(f,g)$ of functions from the set of positive integers to itself that satisfy \[f^{g(n)+1}(n) + g^{f(n)}(n) = f(n+1) - g(n+1) + 1\] for every positive integer $n$. Here, $f^k(n)$ means $\underbrace{f(f(\ldots f)}_{k}(n) \ldots ))$.

Proposed by Bojan Bašić, Serbia
18 replies
orl
Jul 11, 2012
shanelin-sigma
Yesterday at 3:54 PM
IMO 2011 Problem 5
orl   84
N Yesterday at 12:57 PM by alexanderhamilton124
Let $f$ be a function from the set of integers to the set of positive integers. Suppose that, for any two integers $m$ and $n$, the difference $f(m) - f(n)$ is divisible by $f(m- n)$. Prove that, for all integers $m$ and $n$ with $f(m) \leq f(n)$, the number $f(n)$ is divisible by $f(m)$.

Proposed by Mahyar Sefidgaran, Iran
84 replies
orl
Jul 19, 2011
alexanderhamilton124
Yesterday at 12:57 PM
Functional Equation
Keith50   2
N Yesterday at 3:49 AM by jasperE3
Source: Own
Find all functions $f:\mathbb{R} \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ such that \[f(x+f(x)+2f(y))+f(2f(x)-y)=4x+f(y)\]holds for all reals $x$ and $y$.
2 replies
Keith50
Jun 24, 2021
jasperE3
Yesterday at 3:49 AM
n-term Sequence
MithsApprentice   14
N Yesterday at 2:32 AM by chenghaohu
Source: USAMO 1996, Problem 4
An $n$-term sequence $(x_1, x_2, \ldots, x_n)$ in which each term is either 0 or 1 is called a binary sequence of length $n$. Let $a_n$ be the number of binary sequences of length $n$ containing no three consecutive terms equal to 0, 1, 0 in that order. Let $b_n$ be the number of binary sequences of length $n$ that contain no four consecutive terms equal to 0, 0, 1, 1 or 1, 1, 0, 0 in that order. Prove that $b_{n+1} = 2a_n$ for all positive integers $n$.
14 replies
MithsApprentice
Oct 22, 2005
chenghaohu
Yesterday at 2:32 AM
FE on R+
AshAuktober   7
N Yesterday at 1:37 AM by GingerMan
Source: 2007 MOP
(Note I couldn't find a post w/ this from AoPS search so I'm posting, please do tell if there exists a post.)

Solve over positive real numbers the functional equation
\[ f\left( f(x) y + \frac xy \right) = xyf(x^2+y^2). \]
7 replies
AshAuktober
Sep 2, 2024
GingerMan
Yesterday at 1:37 AM
Property of a function
Ritangshu   0
May 3, 2025
Let \( f(x, y) = xy \), where \( x \geq 0 \) and \( y \geq 0 \).
Prove that the function \( f \) satisfies the following property:

\[
f\left( \lambda x + (1 - \lambda)x',\; \lambda y + (1 - \lambda)y' \right) > \min\{f(x, y),\; f(x', y')\}
\]
for all \( (x, y) \ne (x', y') \) and for all \( \lambda \in (0, 1) \).

0 replies
Ritangshu
May 3, 2025
0 replies
Absolute value
Silverfalcon   8
N Apr 22, 2025 by zhoujef000
This problem seemed to be too obvious.. And I think I"m wrong.. :D

Problem:

Consider the sequence $x_0, x_1, x_2,...x_{2000}$ of integers satisfying

\[x_0 = 0, |x_n| = |x_{n-1} + 1|\]

for $n = 1,2,...2000$.

Find the minimum value of the expression $|x_1 + x_2 + ... x_{2000}|$.

My idea

Pretty sure I'm wrong but where did I go wrong?
8 replies
Silverfalcon
Jun 27, 2005
zhoujef000
Apr 22, 2025
Absolute value
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G H BBookmark kLocked kLocked NReply
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Silverfalcon
5006 posts
#1 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
This problem seemed to be too obvious.. And I think I"m wrong.. :D

Problem:

Consider the sequence $x_0, x_1, x_2,...x_{2000}$ of integers satisfying

\[x_0 = 0, |x_n| = |x_{n-1} + 1|\]

for $n = 1,2,...2000$.

Find the minimum value of the expression $|x_1 + x_2 + ... x_{2000}|$.

My idea

Pretty sure I'm wrong but where did I go wrong?
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Palytoxin
490 posts
#2 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
yes wrong because check this out

$|x_1|=|x_0+1|=|1|$ and this means that $x_1$ can be $x_1=1$ or $x_1=-1$
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Silverfalcon
5006 posts
#3 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Ohh..

Then

I'm not sure if that makes the minimum though. No wonder it's the last question now..
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peeta
364 posts
#4 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
well when u say every even will be 0 u can say for the odd $|x_n|=1$ therefore u can use 1 and -1 alternating coming to the minimum of 0, because there is sequence is periodic with the period 4, and the first 4 $x_n$ besides $x_0$ are 0 and they repeat themselves 250 times. also 0 is the smallest number possible, since $|x|\ge 0$
done :)
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JesusFreak197
1939 posts
#5 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Sweet, an Olympiad problem that I can actually solve! :P

Click to reveal hidden text
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K81o7
2417 posts
#6 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Peeta...there's a slight problem...
You can't go from 1 to 0...the thing about this problem is that $|x_n|\le|x_{n+1}|$ when $x_n$ is positive. In other words, you can't go from 1 to -1.
This one isn't quite as easy as it looks at first...
I'm thinking of one where the minimum is 12...
Basically you can start with 0, then go
-1, 0, 1, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, -3, ...
going through sets of sizes which are an odd number each, and by the time you get to 22, you'll be at $x_1976$. 24 more numbers. Then, you go
-23, 22, -23, 22, -23...
But, if there's a way that 2000 - square number=multiple of 23 or 21, then the minimum is 0.
I'm sure there's a solution for that...
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JesusFreak197
1939 posts
#7 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Oh, you're right... by a more complicated set, you might be able to get it lower.
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Assassino9931
1319 posts
#8
Y by
Bump this
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zhoujef000
314 posts
#9
Y by
see 2006 AIME I P15 for a similar problem. (post #9 has a good solution)
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by zhoujef000, Apr 22, 2025, 7:47 PM
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