Contests & Programs AMC and other contests, summer programs, etc.
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k a April Highlights and 2025 AoPS Online Class Information
jlacosta   0
Yesterday at 3:18 PM
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)!

Be sure to mark your calendars for the following events:
[list][*]April 3rd (Webinar), 4pm PT/7:00pm ET, Learning with AoPS: Perspectives from a Parent, Math Camp Instructor, and University Professor
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April 9th (Webinar), 4:00pm PT/7:00pm ET, Learn about Video-based Summer Camps at the Virtual Campus
[*]April 10th (Math Jam), 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET, 2025 MathILy and MathILy-Er Math Jam: Multibackwards Numbers
[*]April 22nd (Webinar), 4:00pm PT/7:00pm ET, Competitive Programming at AoPS (USACO).[/list]
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0 replies
jlacosta
Yesterday at 3:18 PM
0 replies
MOP Cutoffs Out?
Mathandski   28
N 2 hours ago by Yrock
MAA has just emailed a press release announcing the formula they will be using this year to come up with the MOP cutoff that applies to you! Here's the process:

1. Multiply your age by $1434$, let $n$ be the result.

2. Calculate $\varphi(n)$, where $\varphi$ is the Euler's totient theorem, which calculates the number of integers less than $n$ relatively prime to $n$.

3. Multiply your result by $1434$ again because why not, let the result be $m$.

4. Define the Fibonacci sequence $F_0 = 1, F_1 = 1, F_n = F_{n-1} + F_{n-2}$ for $n \ge 2$. Let $r$ be the remainder $F_m$ leaves when you divide it by $69$.

5. Let $x$ be your predicted USA(J)MO score.

6. You will be invited if your score is at least $\lfloor \frac{x + \sqrt[r]{r^2} + r \ln(r)}{r} \rfloor$.

7. Note that there may be additional age restrictions for non-high schoolers.

See here for MAA's original news message.

.

.

.


Edit (4/2/2025): This was an April Fool's post.
Here's the punchline
28 replies
Mathandski
Tuesday at 11:02 PM
Yrock
2 hours ago
mdk2013
Mar 30, 2025
mdk2013
2 hours ago
Moving P(o)in(t)s
bobthegod78   69
N 4 hours ago by akliu
Source: USAJMO 2021/4
Carina has three pins, labeled $A, B$, and $C$, respectively, located at the origin of the coordinate plane. In a move, Carina may move a pin to an adjacent lattice point at distance $1$ away. What is the least number of moves that Carina can make in order for triangle $ABC$ to have area 2021?

(A lattice point is a point $(x, y)$ in the coordinate plane where $x$ and $y$ are both integers, not necessarily positive.)
69 replies
bobthegod78
Apr 15, 2021
akliu
4 hours ago
Double dose of cyanide on day 2
brianzjk   30
N 4 hours ago by akliu
Source: USAMO 2023/5
Let $n\geq3$ be an integer. We say that an arrangement of the numbers $1$, $2$, $\dots$, $n^2$ in a $n \times n$ table is row-valid if the numbers in each row can be permuted to form an arithmetic progression, and column-valid if the numbers in each column can be permuted to form an arithmetic progression. For what values of $n$ is it possible to transform any row-valid arrangement into a column-valid arrangement by permuting the numbers in each row?
30 replies
brianzjk
Mar 23, 2023
akliu
4 hours ago
Polynomial meets geometry
chirita.andrei   0
Yesterday at 5:42 PM
Source: Own. Proposed for Romanian National Olympiad 2025.
(a) Let $A,B,C$ be collinear points (in order) and $D$ a point in plane. Consider the disc $\mathcal{D}$ of center $D$ and radius $kBD$, for some $k\in(0,1)$. Prove that $\mathcal{D}\cap [AC]$ is either the empty set or a segment of length at most $2kAC$.
(b) Let $n$ be a positive integer and $P(X)\in\mathbb{C}[X]$ be a polynomial of degree $n$. Prove that \[\sup_{x\in[0,1]}|P(x)|\le(2n+1)^{n+1}\int\limits_{0}^{1}|P(x)|\mathrm{d}x.\]
0 replies
chirita.andrei
Yesterday at 5:42 PM
0 replies
Integral inequality with differentiable function
Ciobi_   1
N Yesterday at 3:35 PM by MS_asdfgzxcvb
Source: Romania NMO 2025 12.2
Let $f \colon [0,1] \to \mathbb{R} $ be a differentiable function such that its derivative is an integrable function on $[0,1]$, and $f(1)=0$. Prove that \[ \int_0^1 (xf'(x))^2 dx \geq 12 \cdot \left( \int_0^1 xf(x) dx\right)^2 \]
1 reply
Ciobi_
Yesterday at 2:29 PM
MS_asdfgzxcvb
Yesterday at 3:35 PM
On coefficients of a polynomial over a finite field
Ciobi_   0
Yesterday at 2:59 PM
Source: Romania NMO 2025 12.4
Let $p$ be an odd prime number, and $k$ be an odd number not divisible by $p$. Consider a field $K$ be a field with $kp+1$ elements, and $A = \{x_1,x_2, \dots, x_t\}$ be the set of elements of $K^*$, whose order is not $k$ in the multiplicative group $(K^*,\cdot)$. Prove that the polynomial $P(X)=(X+x_1)(X+x_2)\dots(X+x_t)$ has at least $p$ coefficients equal to $1$.
0 replies
Ciobi_
Yesterday at 2:59 PM
0 replies
On non-negativeness of continuous and polynomial functions
Ciobi_   0
Yesterday at 2:51 PM
Source: Romania NMO 2025 12.3
a) Let $a\in \mathbb{R}$ and $f \colon \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$ be a continuous function for which there exists an antiderivative $F \colon \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R} $, such that $F(x)+a\cdot f(x) \geq 0$, for any $x \in \mathbb{R}$, and$ \lim_{|x| \to \infty} \frac{F(x)}{e^{|\alpha \cdot x|}}=0$ holds for any $\alpha \in \mathbb{R}^*$. Prove that $F(x) \geq 0$ for all $x \in \mathbb{R}$.
b) Let $n\geq 2$ be a positive integer, $g \in \mathbb{R}[X]$, $g = X^n + a_1X^{n-1}+ \dots + a_{n-1}X+a_n$ be a polynomial with all of its roots being real, and $f \colon \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$ a polynomial function such that $f(x)+a_1\cdot f'(x)+a_2\cdot f^{(2)}(x)+\dots+a_n\cdot f^{(n)}(x) \geq 0$ for any $x \in \mathbb{R}$. Prove that $f(x) \geq 0$ for all $x \in \mathbb{R}$.
0 replies
Ciobi_
Yesterday at 2:51 PM
0 replies
Proving AB-BA is singular from given conditions
Ciobi_   0
Yesterday at 2:04 PM
Source: Romania NMO 2025 11.4
Let $A,B \in \mathcal{M}_n(\mathbb{C})$ be two matrices such that $A+B=AB+BA$. Prove that:
a) if $n$ is odd, then $\det(AB-BA)=0$;
b) if $\text{tr}(A)\neq \text{tr}(B)$, then $\det(AB-BA)=0$.
0 replies
Ciobi_
Yesterday at 2:04 PM
0 replies
Equivalent definition for C^1 functions
Ciobi_   0
Yesterday at 1:54 PM
Source: Romania NMO 2025 11.3
Prove that, for a function $f \colon \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$, the following $2$ statements are equivalent:
a) $f$ is differentiable, with continuous first derivative.
b) For any $a\in\mathbb{R}$ and for any two sequences $(x_n)_{n\geq 1},(y_n)_{n\geq 1}$, convergent to $a$, such that $x_n \neq y_n$ for any positive integer $n$, the sequence $\left(\frac{f(x_n)-f(y_n)}{x_n-y_n}\right)_{n\geq 1}$ is convergent.
0 replies
Ciobi_
Yesterday at 1:54 PM
0 replies
RREF of some matrices
tommy2007   3
N Yesterday at 1:51 PM by tommy2007
for $\forall n \in \mathbb{N},$
what is the maximum integer that appears in one of the Reduced Row Echelon Forms of $n \times n$ matrices which has only $-1$ and $1$ for their entries?
3 replies
tommy2007
Yesterday at 6:57 AM
tommy2007
Yesterday at 1:51 PM
Finding pairs of functions of class C^2 with a certain property
Ciobi_   0
Yesterday at 1:31 PM
Source: Romania NMO 2025 11.1
Find all pairs of twice differentiable functions $f,g \colon \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$, with their second derivative being continuous, such that the following holds for all $x,y \in \mathbb{R}$: \[(f(x)-g(y))(f'(x)-g'(y))(f''(x)-g''(y))=0\]
0 replies
Ciobi_
Yesterday at 1:31 PM
0 replies
Inverse of absolute value function
MetaphysicalWukong   2
N Yesterday at 12:32 PM by paxtonw
how does the function have an inverse for k= 101, 203, 305, 509, 611 and 713?

how do we deduce this without graphing software?
2 replies
MetaphysicalWukong
Yesterday at 7:21 AM
paxtonw
Yesterday at 12:32 PM
Unique global minimum points
chirita.andrei   0
Yesterday at 11:06 AM
Source: Own. Proposed for Romanian National Olympiad 2025.
Let $f\colon[0,1]\rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ be a continuous function. Suppose that for each $t\in(0,1)$, the function \[f_t\colon[0,1-t]\rightarrow\mathbb{R}, f_t(x)=f(x+t)-f(x)\]has an unique global minimum point, which we will denote by $g(t)$. Prove that if $\lim\limits_{t\to 0}g(t)=0$, then $g$ is constant zero.
0 replies
chirita.andrei
Yesterday at 11:06 AM
0 replies
MAA finally wrote sum good number theory
IAmTheHazard   95
N Mar 30, 2025 by Magnetoninja
Source: 2021 AIME I P14
For any positive integer $a,$ $\sigma(a)$ denotes the sum of the positive integer divisors of $a.$ Let $n$ be the least positive integer such that $\sigma(a^n)-1$ is divisible by $2021$ for all positive integers $a.$ Find the sum of the prime factors in the prime factorization of $n.$
95 replies
IAmTheHazard
Mar 11, 2021
Magnetoninja
Mar 30, 2025
MAA finally wrote sum good number theory
G H J
G H BBookmark kLocked kLocked NReply
Source: 2021 AIME I P14
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Fruitz
138 posts
#84 • 1 Y
Y by dolphinday
thisismath1234 wrote:
How is this a P14? Anyone saying it should be a JMO question (even one that required proof) is also extremely misguided. Anyone who knows any number theory can solve this instantly. In addition, anyone who put 35 as an answer probably doesn't actually know number theory and just memorized formulas. It should be instantly apparent that you are not done by requiring 42, 46 to divide n.

Only around 2.4% of competitors were able to solve this problem, so I think its placement is fine for a P14. Additionally, I think it is not that people "memorize formulas", rather that people glossed over a few cases. Also, I think the way this problem is structured would be nice for a JMO P1/4.
Attachments:
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thisismath1234
43 posts
#85
Y by
dolphinday wrote:
So, we can compute the least positive integer $n$ so that the expression is divisible by $43$ and $47$. By FLT, $a^{42} - 1 \equiv 0\pmod{43}$, for $a$ being relatively prime to $43$.
This is why $n$ has to be divisible by $43$, for the cases where $a$ is not relatively prime to $43$.

This line is just wrong. We care about divisibility by of n by 43 when p is 1 mod 43, not when p (or a) is 0 mod 43. Did you actually do the problem or just read the solutions above and post something that went along the same lines
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by thisismath1234, Oct 31, 2023, 2:16 AM
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dolphinday
1318 posts
#86
Y by
thisismath1234 wrote:
dolphinday wrote:
So, we can compute the least positive integer $n$ so that the expression is divisible by $43$ and $47$. By FLT, $a^{42} - 1 \equiv 0\pmod{43}$, for $a$ being relatively prime to $43$.
This is why $n$ has to be divisible by $43$, for the cases where $a$ is not relatively prime to $43$.

This line is just wrong. We care about divisibility by of n by 43 when p is 1 mod 43, not when p (or a) is 0 mod 43. Did you actually do the problem or just read the solutions above and post something that went along the same lines

Thank you for catching that mistake but it's quite rude of you to assume that, when I genuinely misunderstood something.
I will make sure to correct that, but all it seems you've been doing is criticizing other people, calling out the problem for being too easy and just generally being rude. Can you avoid that please
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thisismath1234
43 posts
#87
Y by
I'm sorry if my words seemed harsh; I didn't mean to be unkind and will be more mindful in the future. I shouldn't have assumed that you did not do the problem.
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dolphinday
1318 posts
#88
Y by
thisismath1234 wrote:
I'm sorry if my words seemed harsh; I didn't mean to be unkind and will be more mindful in the future. I shouldn't have assumed that you did not do the problem.

It's ok, no worries and also thanks for catching my mistake. Probably if you didn't, I wouldn't have ever noticed :)
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OlympusHero
17019 posts
#89
Y by
mira74 wrote:
wait I think i see a couple posts saying this so imma just point out that you dont need $\varphi(2021)$ to divide $n$. just having $\varphi(2021)/2$ divide it is enough.

In general, for $a^k \equiv 1 \pmod{n}$ for all $a$ relatively prime to $n$, we don't need $\varphi(n) \mid k$. The actual number is given by the Carmichael Function, which is sorta the lcm of the totients of the prime powers, but is weird when there's a power of $2$ dividing $n$.

I was just solving this problem and had a question about it regarding this: I had the exact solution as @vsamc in #4, but this is technically wrong since it would be the LCM of $2021$ and HALF the totient of $2021$, not the totient of $2021$. I was wondering how, in general, you would know whether it is half the totient or something else instead of just the totient itself? I looked and didn't find any general formula for the Carmichael function, so I was curious about this. For this problem, it wouldn't make a difference to the answer, but it might for some other problem so I wanted to know. Thanks in advance!
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OlympusHero
17019 posts
#90
Y by
Sorry to double post but I'm pretty sure I figured it out - 2021 is 43 * 47, so you split it up into mod 43 and 47, which are both prime, so their totients are 42 and 46. Thus the Carmichael function would give lcm(42,46) which is indeed half of the totient of 2021.
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v_Enhance
6870 posts
#91 • 1 Y
Y by sanaops9
Sorry to double post but I'm pretty sure I figured it out - 2021 is 43 * 47, so you split it up into mod 43 and 47, which are both prime, so their totients are 42 and 46. Thus the Carmichael function would give lcm(42,46) which is indeed half of the totient of 2021.

Yes, that's exactly right.

The general formula for the Carmichael function is stated at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmichael_function#Recurrence_for_%CE%BB(n) (although it's called a "recurrence" in Wikipedia right now, I think that's a bit misleading). As you've already figured out, it's just the LCM of Carmichael function on each individual prime (power).
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de-Kirschbaum
187 posts
#92
Y by
If $2021|\sigma(a^n)-1$ for all integers $a$, then we can consider prime integers first. If $a=p$, then we want $\sigma(p^n)-1 \equiv 0 \mod{43}$ and $\sigma(p^n)-1 \equiv 0 \mod{47}$. First consider the 43 case. Writing out the LHS we have that $\frac{p^{n+1}-1}{p-1}-1 \equiv 0 \mod{43} \implies \frac{p^{n+1}-1}{p-1} \equiv 1 \mod{43}$. Now there are two things we must consider. First, if $p-1, 43$ are coprime, then division is defined in mod 43 and we can just multiply it out. In that case, $p^{n+1}-1 \equiv p-1 \mod{43} \implies p(p^n-1) \equiv 0 \mod{43}$. Of course, if $p=43$ this is true, but we need to ensure this is true for all $p \neq 43$. In order to do that, we must have $p^n-1 \equiv 0 \mod{43}$. FLT guarantees this is true when $42 | n$, and we will take it because there probably exists some prime that has that as the smallest period.

If $p-1, 43$ aren't coprime, then their gcd is 43 since 43 is a prime. That means we can write $p-1=43k \implies p=43k+1$. Thus consider the original expression of the sigma function $\sigma(p^n)=1+p+...+p^n \equiv 1+1+...+1 \equiv n+1 \mod{43}$. We want $n+1-1 \equiv n \equiv 0 \mod{43}$, so $43|n$. By similar analysis we can get $46|n, 47|n$. So we know that the least $n$ right now is $lcm(42,43,46,47)$.

Now consider any composite number $a=p_1^{e_1}p_2^{e_2}...p_m^{e_m}$. We have that $\sigma(a^n)-1 \equiv \frac{p_1^{ne_1+1}-1}{p_1-1}...\frac{p_m^{ne_m+1}-1}{p_m-1} -1 \mod{2021}$. Note that $n$ actually ensures each part of this multiplication to be $1 \mod{2021}$, as $n$ guarantees $\sigma(p^n) \equiv 1 \mod{2021}$ for any p. Thus, we just have $1-1 \equiv 0 \mod{2021}$ and we do not need to modify $n$ further.
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gladIasked
632 posts
#93
Y by
fairly straightforward

We want $\sigma(a^n) \equiv 1\pmod{2021}$. Because of the multiplicativity of $\sigma$, we only need check $a = p^k$, where $p$ is a prime. Note that $$\sigma((p^k)^n) = 1 + p + p^2 + \cdots + p^{kn}$$. Our original modular congruence becomes \begin{align*}1 + p + p^2 + \cdots + p^{kn}&\equiv 1\pmod{2021}\\ \iff p + p^2 + \cdots p^{kn} &\equiv 0\pmod{2021}\\ \iff 1 + p + \cdots + p^{kn-1}&\equiv 0\pmod{2021} \\ \iff \frac{p^{kn}-1}{p-1}&\equiv 0\pmod{2021}\end{align*}This implies that $p^{kn} \equiv 1\pmod{2021}$. Breaking this up with CRT, we have $p^{kn} \equiv 1\pmod{43}$ and $p^{kn}\equiv 1\pmod{47}$, from which we deduce (via FLT) that $42\mid n$ and $46\mid n$. However, this fails when either $v_{43}(p^{kn} - 1) = v_{43}(p-1)$ or $v_{47}(p^{kn} - 1) = v_{47}(p-1)$. Using LTE, we see that $$v_{43}(p^{kn} - 1) = v_{43}(p-1) + v_{43}(n)$$. We need $v_{43}(n) > 0$, so $43\mid n$. We can similarly deduce that $47\mid n$. Thus, our answer will just be $n = \text{lcm}(42, 43, 46, 47)$, which gives us the final answer of $\boxed{125}$.
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by gladIasked, Jan 14, 2024, 5:07 PM
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Cusofay
85 posts
#94
Y by
We know that $\sigma (a^n)-1=\prod_{1\leq i\leq k}(1+p_i+p_i^2+\dots+p_i^{ne_i})-1$. Thus, we contend just need to find the smallest $n$ for which $\frac{p(p^n-1)}{p-1} \equiv 0 \pmod{2021}$. If $43,47\mid p-1$ then using LTE we find that $2021\mid$. Otherwise we use euler's totient theorem and if $p=47,43$ then $ord_{43},ord_{47}\mid \Phi(2021)$. Hence $n=1952286$

$$\mathbb{Q.E.D.}$$
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L13832
254 posts
#95 • 2 Y
Y by S_14159, CRT_07
\begin{align*}
    &\text{We need}\; \sigma(a^n)-1 \equiv 0 \pmod {2021}.
    \;\text{Checking for values:} \\
    &[b]a=1:[/b] \sigma(1^n)-1=0 \;\text{so true for all n.}\\
    &[b]a=p[/b], \text{(p prime)}: \;\sigma(p^n)-1=\frac{p(p^n-1)}{p-1} \equiv 0 \pmod{2021}.\\
    &\text{Case I: p-1 has no 43s or 47s in its prime factorisation then it is easy to see that}\\&\; p(p^n-1)\equiv0 \pmod {2021} \; \text{we have to show when} \; p^n \equiv 1 \pmod{43} \; \text{and} \\ &\; p^n \equiv 1 \pmod{47},\; \text{n=42c and n=46d.} \;\text{So,} \;\text{n}=\text{LCM}(42,46)=42 \cdot 23.\\
    &\text{Case II: p-1 has 43 or 47 in prime factorisation}, \\& \text{First we look if 43 is there}\; p-1=43^ke \\
    &\Rightarrow p^n-1=43^{k+1}f\Rightarrow \boxed{p-1 \equiv 43^ke\pmod{43^{k+1}}} \\& \Rightarrow p^n \equiv (1+43^ke)^n \equiv n43^ke+1 \equiv 1\pmod{43^{k+1}} \\& \Rightarrow n43^ke \equiv 0 \pmod {43^{k+1}} \Rightarrow 43 \vert n.
   \\& \text{Similarly we try for when 47 is there in prime factorisation of $p-1$ we get}\;  47\vert n\\
   & \Rightarrow n=\operatorname{lcm}(42,43,46,47)\\
   &[b]a is composite[/b]\\
   &\text{Let}\; a=\prod_{i=1}^{u}p_i^{e_i} \;\text{Note that} \; \sigma(a) \text{is a multiplicative} \\
&\text{function:} \;\sigma(a)=\sigma\left(\prod_{i=1}^{u}p_i^{e_i}\right)=\prod_{i=1}^{u}\sigma\left(p_i^{e_i}\right), \; \text{as this product of} \text{is over all divisors of a.}\\
&\text{At}\;  n=\operatorname{lcm}(42,43,46,47),\; \text{we have}\; 
\sigma(a^n)-1=(\prod_{i=1}^{u}\sigma(p_i^{e_in}))-1 \equiv(\prod_{i=1}^{u}1)-1 \equiv 0\pmod{2021}.\\
&\text{The problems asks for the sum of the factors of n.}\\&n=\operatorname{lcm}(42,43,46,47)= 2\cdot3\cdot7\cdot23\cdot43\cdot47.\\
&\text{Therefore,}\; n=2+3+7+23+43+47=\boxed{\textbf{125}}
\end{align*}
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blueprimes
324 posts
#96
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Recall that $2021 = 43 \cdot 47$. We claim the minimal $n$ is $\text{lcm}(42, 43, 46, 47) = 2 \cdot 3 \cdot 7 \cdot 23 \cdot 43 \cdot 47$, yielding $\boxed{125}$ as the requested answer.

Consider an arbitrary prime $\gcd(p - 1, 2021) = 1$, allowing $a = p$ we want
\[1 + p + p^2 + \dots + p^n = \dfrac{p^{n + 1} - 1}{p - 1} \equiv 1 \pmod{2021} \iff p^{n + 1} \equiv p \pmod{2021}. \]Let $g_{43}$ and $g_{47}$ be arbitrary primitive roots of $43$ and $47$ respectively, by CRT and Dirichlet we can find a prime $p$ such that $p \equiv g_{43} \pmod{43}$ and $p \equiv g_{47} \pmod{47}$ which forces $\text{lcm}(43 - 1, 47 - 1) = \text{lcm}(42, 46) \mid n$.

On the other hand, if $\gcd(p - 1, 2021) \ne 1$, we have $p \equiv 1 \pmod{43}$ or $p \equiv 1 \pmod{47}$. Assume the former, plugging in $a = p$ gives
\[1 + p + p^2 + \dots + p^n \equiv n + 1 \equiv 1 \pmod{43} \iff 43 \mid n. \]A similar argument for $47$ means $47 \mid n$. Altogether, we get $43, 47 \mid n$.

From both of these cases we easily obtain $\text{lcm}(42, 43, 46, 47) \mid n$, it is easy to show sufficiency for $n = \text{lcm}(42, 43, 46, 47)$ (just generalize the form of $a$, use multiplicity, and re-iterate through the previous arguments) so we are done.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by blueprimes, Dec 2, 2024, 3:03 AM
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AshAuktober
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#97
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Obtain from various values of $a$ that \[2021\phi(2021)\mid n\]is necessary,and then that it is sufficient,yielding 125.
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Magnetoninja
275 posts
#98
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Straightfoward for its placement:

Let $a=p_1^{e_1}*p_2^{e_2}*\cdots{p_k^{e_k}}$. $a^n=p_1^{ne_1}*p_2^{ne_2}*\cdots{p_k^{ne_k}} \Longrightarrow \sigma{(a^n)}=\prod_{j=1}^{k}{\sum_{i=0}^{e_j}{(p_j^i)}}=\prod_{j=1}^{k}{\frac{p_j^{ne_j+1}-1}{p_j-1}}$. Let prime $p|2021$. By induction, if $\sigma{(a_n)}\equiv 1\pmod{p}$, we also need $\sigma{(aq^{e_q})^n}=\prod_{j=1}^{k}{\sum_{i=0}^{e_j}{(p_j^i)}}*\frac{q^{ne_q+1}-1}{q-1} \equiv 1\pmod{p}$ so $\frac{q^{ne_q+1}-1}{q-1}\equiv 1\pmod{p}$ for all $q, e_q$. The base case is $a=1$, which is true. Now, if $q\neq{1}\pmod{p}$, then $q^{ne_1+1}-1\equiv q-1\pmod{p} \Longrightarrow q^{ne_q}=(q^{e_q})^n\equiv 1\pmod{p}$. By Fermat's Little Theorem, we need $p-1|n$ to satisfy this congruence for all $q, e_q$. If $q\equiv 1\pmod{p}$, then $(1+q+q^2\cdots{+q^{ne_q}})\equiv \underbrace{1+1\cdots{1}}_{ne_q+1}\equiv ne_q+1\equiv 1\pmod{p} \Longrightarrow n\equiv 0\pmod{p}$. Therefore $n(n-1)|p$. In our case $p=43, 47$, so we get $\text{lcm}{(42, 43, 46, 47)}=2*3*7*23*43*47$, giving us $\boxed{125}$.
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