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k a July Highlights and 2025 AoPS Online Class Information
jwelsh   0
Jul 1, 2025
We are halfway through summer, so be sure to carve out some time to keep your skills sharp and explore challenging topics at AoPS Online and our AoPS Academies (including the Virtual Campus)!

[list][*]Over 60 summer classes are starting at the Virtual Campus on July 7th - check out the math and language arts options for middle through high school levels.
[*]At AoPS Online, we have accelerated sections where you can complete a course in half the time by meeting twice/week instead of once/week, starting on July 8th:
[list][*]MATHCOUNTS/AMC 8 Basics
[*]MATHCOUNTS/AMC 8 Advanced
[*]AMC Problem Series[/list]
[*]Plus, AoPS Online has a special seminar July 14 - 17 that is outside the standard fare: Paradoxes and Infinity
[*]We are expanding our in-person AoPS Academy locations - are you looking for a strong community of problem solvers, exemplary instruction, and math and language arts options? Look to see if we have a location near you and enroll in summer camps or academic year classes today! New locations include campuses in California, Georgia, New York, Illinois, and Oregon and more coming soon![/list]

MOP (Math Olympiad Summer Program) just ended and the IMO (International Mathematical Olympiad) is right around the corner! This year’s IMO will be held in Australia, July 10th - 20th. Congratulations to all the MOP students for reaching this incredible level and best of luck to all selected to represent their countries at this year’s IMO! Did you know that, in the last 10 years, 59 USA International Math Olympiad team members have medaled and have taken over 360 AoPS Online courses. Take advantage of our Worldwide Online Olympiad Training (WOOT) courses
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0 replies
jwelsh
Jul 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
3 var inquality
sqing   0
6 minutes ago
Source: Own
Let $ 1\geq a,b,c\geq 0 , a^3+b^3+c^3=2 . $ Prove that
$$0\leq (a+b+c)-(a^2+b^2+c^2) \leq\sqrt[3]{6}(\sqrt[3]{3}-\sqrt[3]{2})$$
0 replies
1 viewing
sqing
6 minutes ago
0 replies
Polynomial with prime
Eeightqx   2
N 7 minutes ago by ayeen_izady
Source: 2025 China South East Mathematical Olympiad Grade10 P8
Find all positive integer pairs $(p,\,m)$ where $p$ is a prime such that the polynomial
$$f(x)=x^{2m}-px^m+p^2$$can be written as the product of two rational coefficient polynomial whose degree less than $2m$.
2 replies
+1 w
Eeightqx
2 hours ago
ayeen_izady
7 minutes ago
All even perfect numbers >6 equal x^3 + y^3 + z^3
TUAN2k8   4
N 8 minutes ago by Lufin
Source: 2025 VIASM summer challenge P5
Let $n$ be an even positive integer greater than 6 such that $2n$ is equal to the sum of all distinct positive divisors of $n$. Prove that there exist distinct integers $x, y, z$ satisfying:
\[
x^3 + y^3 + z^3 = n.
\]
4 replies
+1 w
TUAN2k8
Jul 28, 2025
Lufin
8 minutes ago
Sword in row
Eeightqx   0
11 minutes ago
Source: 2025 China South East Mathematical Olympiad Grade10 P7
We put some swords which can only face to up, down, left and right into a $n\times n$ grid with only 1 sword in a row and 1 sword in a column to form a "$n$ star sword in row". A square is said controlled if a sword is put in it or it is pointed by some swords. Try to work out the maximum number of the squares which is controlled in a $n$ star sword in row and when it gets its maximum, there are how many situations.

Below is an example of a $4$ star sword in row, swords are represented by arrows and the controlled squares are colored grey. Here 8 squares are controlled.
0 replies
Eeightqx
11 minutes ago
0 replies
Payable numbers
mathscrazy   15
N 21 minutes ago by Cats_on_a_computer
Source: INMO 2025/6
Let $b \geqslant 2$ be a positive integer. Anu has an infinite collection of notes with exactly $b-1$ copies of a note worth $b^k-1$ rupees, for every integer $k\geqslant 1$. A positive integer $n$ is called payable if Anu can pay exactly $n^2+1$ rupees by using some collection of her notes. Prove that if there is a payable number, there are infinitely many payable numbers.

Proposed by Shantanu Nene
15 replies
mathscrazy
Jan 19, 2025
Cats_on_a_computer
21 minutes ago
Root of polynomial
Eeightqx   5
N 22 minutes ago by MathsII-enjoy
Source: 2025 China South East Mathematical Olympiad Grade10 P5
Suppose $\alpha,\,\beta,\,\gamma\ne1$ are roots of $f(x)=x^3+ax^2+bx+a+2\in\mathbb R[x]$ where $2a+b\ge24$. Prove that
$$\dfrac1{\sqrt[3]{\alpha-1}}+\dfrac1{\sqrt[3]{\beta-1}}+\dfrac1{\sqrt[3]{\gamma-1}}\le0.$$
5 replies
Eeightqx
an hour ago
MathsII-enjoy
22 minutes ago
Training turkeys to get together
plagueis   10
N 33 minutes ago by SimplisticFormulas
Source: Mexico National Olympiad 2020 P3
Let $n\ge 3$ be an integer. Two players, Ana and Beto, play the following game. Ana tags the vertices of a regular $n$- gon with the numbers from $1$ to $n$, in any order she wants. Every vertex must be tagged with a different number. Then, we place a turkey in each of the $n$ vertices.
These turkeys are trained for the following. If Beto whistles, each turkey moves to the adjacent vertex with greater tag. If Beto claps, each turkey moves to the adjacent vertex with lower tag.
Beto wins if, after some number of whistles and claps, he gets to move all the turkeys to the same vertex. Ana wins if she can tag the vertices so that Beto can't do this. For each $n\ge 3$, determine which player has a winning strategy.

Proposed by Victor and Isaías de la Fuente
10 replies
plagueis
Nov 11, 2020
SimplisticFormulas
33 minutes ago
Peru IMO TST 2024
diegoca1   3
N 38 minutes ago by P0tat0b0y
Source: Peru IMO TST 2024 D2 P3
Determine the minimum possible value of \( x^2 + y^2 + z^2 \), where \( x, y, z \) are positive real numbers satisfying:
\[
    \begin{cases} 
    x + y + z = 5, \\ 
    \frac{1} {x} + \frac{1} {y} + \frac{1} {z} = 2.
    \end{cases}
    \]
3 replies
diegoca1
Jul 25, 2025
P0tat0b0y
38 minutes ago
Positive reals FE
VicKmath7   8
N 42 minutes ago by thaiquan2008
Source: Bulgaria NMO 2024, Problem 3
Find all functions $f:\mathbb {R}^{+} \rightarrow \mathbb{R}^{+}$, such that $$f(af(b)+a)(f(bf(a))+a)=1$$for any positive reals $a, b$.
8 replies
VicKmath7
Apr 15, 2024
thaiquan2008
42 minutes ago
can you pls give me the reason?
youochange   3
N an hour ago by P0tat0b0y

Evaluate the integral:
\[
\int_0^{2\pi} \frac{4\sin x + 8\cos x}{5\sin x + 4\cos x} \, dx
\]
Click to reveal hidden text
3 replies
youochange
2 hours ago
P0tat0b0y
an hour ago
I am [not] a parallelogram
peppapig_   20
N an hour ago by AN1729
Source: ISL 2024/G4
Let $ABCD$ be a quadrilateral with $AB$ parallel to $CD$ and $AB<CD$. Lines $AD$ and $BC$ intersect at a point $P$. Point $X$ distinct from $C$ lies on the circumcircle of triangle $ABC$ such that $PC=PX$. Point $Y$ distinct from $D$ lies on the circumcircle of triangle $ABD$ such that $PD=PY$. Lines $AX$ and $BY$ intersect at $Q$.

Prove that $PQ$ is parallel to $AB$.

Fedir Yudin, Mykhailo Shtandenko, Anton Trygub, Ukraine
20 replies
1 viewing
peppapig_
Jul 16, 2025
AN1729
an hour ago
2 var inquality
Iveela   20
N an hour ago by TigerOnion
Source: Izho 2025 P1
Let $a, b$ be positive reals such that $a^3 + b^3 = ab + 1$. Prove that \[(a-b)^2 + a + b \geq 2\]
20 replies
Iveela
Jan 14, 2025
TigerOnion
an hour ago
Four concyclic points
jayme   2
N an hour ago by whwlqkd
Source: own?
Dear Mathlinkers,

1. ABC an A-isoceles triangle
2. (O) the circumcircle
3. D a point on the segment AC
4. E le second point d’intersection de (O) avec (BD)
5. Te the tangent to (O) at E
6. Z the point of intersection of the parallel to BC through D and Te
7. Y the second point of intersection of CZ and (O).

Question : E, D, Y et Z are cocyclic.

Sincerely
Jean-Louis
2 replies
jayme
2 hours ago
whwlqkd
an hour ago
van der Waerden Theorem
steven_zhang123   0
an hour ago
Source: 2025 CSMO Grade 11 P8
Do there exist sets \( A \) and \( B \) such that \( A \cap B = \emptyset \), \( A \cup B = \mathbb{N} \), and for every positive integer \( d \), there exists an integer \( l > 2 \) such that neither \( A \) nor \( B \) contains an arithmetic progression of common difference \( d \) and length \( l \)? Prove your answer.
0 replies
steven_zhang123
an hour ago
0 replies
Inequality with one variable rational functions
liliput   14
N May 22, 2025 by IEatProblemsForBreakfast
Source: 2022 Junior Macedonian Mathematical Olympiad P2
Let $a$, $b$ and $c$ be positive real numbers such that $a+b+c=3$. Prove the inequality
$$\frac{a^3}{a^2+1}+\frac{b^3}{b^2+1}+\frac{c^3}{c^2+1} \geq \frac{3}{2}.$$
Proposed by Anastasija Trajanova
14 replies
liliput
Jun 7, 2022
IEatProblemsForBreakfast
May 22, 2025
Inequality with one variable rational functions
G H J
G H BBookmark kLocked kLocked NReply
Source: 2022 Junior Macedonian Mathematical Olympiad P2
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liliput
7 posts
#1
Y by
Let $a$, $b$ and $c$ be positive real numbers such that $a+b+c=3$. Prove the inequality
$$\frac{a^3}{a^2+1}+\frac{b^3}{b^2+1}+\frac{c^3}{c^2+1} \geq \frac{3}{2}.$$
Proposed by Anastasija Trajanova
Z K Y
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RagvaloD
4959 posts
#2 • 2 Y
Y by teomihai, MihaiT
$\frac{a^3}{a^2+1} \geq \frac{2a-1}{2}$
So $\frac{a^3}{a^2+1}+\frac{b^3}{b^2+1}+\frac{c^3}{c^2+1} \geq \frac{2(a+b+c)-3}{2}=\frac{3}{2}$
Z K Y
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sqing
43461 posts
#3 • 1 Y
Y by Mango247
Let $a$, $b$ and $c$ be positive real numbers such that $a+b+c=3$. Prove the inequality
$$\frac{a^3}{a^2+b}+\frac{b^3}{b^2+c}+\frac{c^3}{c^2+a} \geq\frac{3}{2}\geq  \frac{a^2}{a^3+1}+\frac{b^2}{b^3+1}+\frac{c^2}{c^3+1} $$$$\frac{a^3}{a^2+b+c}+\frac{b^3}{b^2+c+a}+\frac{c^3}{c^2+a+b} \geq 1 $$$$\frac{a^3}{a^2+1}+\frac{b^3}{b^2+1}+\frac{c^3}{c^2+1} \leq\frac{a^2}{b+c}+\frac{b^2}{c+a}+\frac{c^2}{a+b} $$h
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by sqing, Jun 8, 2022, 1:17 AM
Z K Y
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grupyorum
1466 posts
#4
Y by
Just note that $\frac{a^3}{a^2+1} = a\cdot \left(1-\frac{1}{a^2+1}\right)$, and thus it boils down proving
$\frac32 \ge \sum \frac{a}{a^2+1}$. But as $a/(a^2+1)\le 1/2$ we are done.
Z K Y
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sqing
43461 posts
#5 • 1 Y
Y by Mango247
Let $a$, $b$ and $c$ be non-negative real numbers such that $a+b+c=3$. Prove that
$$\frac{27}{10}\geq\frac{a^3}{a^2+1}+\frac{b^3}{b^2+1}+\frac{c^3}{c^2+1} \geq \frac{3}{2}$$$$\frac{3}{2}\geq  \frac{a^2}{a^3+1}+\frac{b^2}{b^3+1}+\frac{c^2}{c^3+1} \geq\frac{9}{28}$$
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by sqing, Jun 14, 2022, 2:59 AM
Z K Y
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AlanLG
241 posts
#6
Y by
It is not difficult to prove that

$$\frac{x^3}{x^2+1}\geq \frac{1}{2}+x-1$$
holds for all $x$, summing the result inequalities we are done.
Z K Y
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strong_boy
261 posts
#7
Y by
FALSEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by strong_boy, Sep 3, 2022, 7:13 AM
Z K Y
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Mathological03
254 posts
#8
Y by
strong_boy wrote:
Cute problem :
We know $a^2 +1 \geq 2a$ . (:D )
By (:D ) and original problem we can see :
$$\frac{a^3}{a^2+1}+\frac{b^3}{b^2+1}+\frac{c^3}{c^2+1} \geq \frac{a^3}{2a}+\frac{a^3}{2a}+\frac{a^3}{2a} = a^2+b^2+c^2$$
Now we only need prove $a^2+b^2+c^2 \geq 3$ . and it is true beacuase $3(a^2+b^2+c^2) \geq (a+b+c)^2$ . $\blacksquare$

$X \ge Y$ doesn't mean $\frac{Z}{X} \ge \frac{Z}{Y}$, this is false.
Z K Y
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CrazyInMath
477 posts
#9 • 1 Y
Y by teomihai
Tangent line method...

$\frac{x^3}{x^2+1}\geq x-\frac{1}{2}\Leftrightarrow \frac{1}{2}(x-1)^2\geq0$
$\sum_{cyc}\frac{a^3}{a^2+1}\geq\sum_{cyc}(a-\frac{1}{2})=\frac{3}{2}$
Z K Y
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TestX01
357 posts
#10
Y by
Write $\frac{a^3}{a^2+1}$ as $a-\frac{a}{a^2+1}$. Summing, we just want to prove $3-\sum_{cyc}\frac{a}{a^2+1}\geq \frac{3}{2}$ or rearranging, $\sum_{cyc}\frac{a}{a^2+1}\leq \frac{3}{2}$. We claim $\frac{a}{a^2+1}\leq \frac{1}{2}$. This is trivial as upon rearranging, $(a-1)^2\geq 0$. Summing finishes.
Z K Y
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sqing
43461 posts
#11
Y by
Let $ a,b,c >0 $ and $ a+b+c=3$. Prove that
$$\frac{a^3}{a^2+2}+\frac{ b^3}{b^2+8}+\frac{c^3}{c^2+2} \geq \frac{27}{41} $$$$\frac{a^3}{a^2+2}+\frac{ b^3}{b^2+3}+\frac{c^3}{c^2+2} \geq \frac{27(5-\sqrt 6)}{76} $$
Z K Y
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TestX01
357 posts
#12
Y by
sqing wrote:
Let $a$, $b$ and $c$ be non-negative real numbers such that $a+b+c=3$. Prove that
$$\frac{27}{10}\geq\frac{a^3}{a^2+1}+\frac{b^3}{b^2+1}+\frac{c^3}{c^2+1} \geq \frac{3}{2}$$$$\frac{3}{2}\geq  \frac{a^2}{a^3+1}+\frac{b^2}{b^3+1}+\frac{c^2}{c^3+1} \geq\frac{9}{28}$$

The left hand side of the second inequality is due to tangent line trick. RTP $f\left(x\right)-f\left(1\right)-\left(x-1\right)f'\left(1\right)\leq 0$ if $f\left(x\right)=\frac{x^{2}}{x^{3}+1}$. Rearrange as showing $x^{4}+x^{3}-4x^{2}+x+1\geq 0$. Standard calc exercise. Derivative tells us local minimum at $x=1$, other minimums are at negative $x$ values. Easy to check that this gives $1+1-4+1+1=0$ as the $y$ coordinate hence everything else is just nonnegative.
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basilis
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#13
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from AM-GM we have:
a^2+1>=2a,
b^2+1>=2b,
c^2+1>=2c
Hence (a^3)/2a + (b^3)/2b + (c^3)/2c >= 3/2 <=>
(a^2)/2 + (b^2)/2 + (c^2)/2 >= 3/2
from the special case of the B-C-S(andreescu) inequality we have:
[(a+b+c)^2] / (2+2+2) >= 3/2 <=>
(3^2) / 6 >= 3/2 <=>
3/2 >= 3/2 which applies
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by basilis, Mar 11, 2025, 10:59 AM
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Sakura-junlin
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#15 • 1 Y
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$ LHS = \sum\limits_{\text{cyc}} \frac{a^3 + a - a}{a^2 + 1} $
= $ \sum\limits_{\text{cyc}} a - \frac{a}{a^2+1} $
$ \ge \sum\limits_{\text{cyc}} a - \frac{a}{2a} $ (from $ AM-GM $)
= $RHS$ $\blacksquare$. :)
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IEatProblemsForBreakfast
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This post has been edited 4 times. Last edited by IEatProblemsForBreakfast, Jun 17, 2025, 5:48 PM
Reason: 556666
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