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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
A challenging sum
Polymethical_   1
N 29 minutes ago by Polymethical_
I tried to integrate series of log(1-x) / x
1 reply
Polymethical_
36 minutes ago
Polymethical_
29 minutes ago
Pertenacious Polynomial Problem
BadAtCompetitionMath21420   1
N 35 minutes ago by elizhang101412
Let the polynomial $P(x) = x^3-x^2+px-q$ have real roots and real coefficients with $q>0$. What is the maximum value of $p+q$?

This is a problem I made for my math competition, and I wanted to see if someone would double-check my work (No Mike allowed):

solution
Is this solution good?
1 reply
BadAtCompetitionMath21420
2 hours ago
elizhang101412
35 minutes ago
Circles intersecting each other
rkm0959   9
N an hour ago by Mathandski
Source: 2015 Final Korean Mathematical Olympiad Day 2 Problem 6
There are $2015$ distinct circles in a plane, with radius $1$.
Prove that you can select $27$ circles, which form a set $C$, which satisfy the following.

For two arbitrary circles in $C$, they intersect with each other or
For two arbitrary circles in $C$, they don't intersect with each other.
9 replies
rkm0959
Mar 22, 2015
Mathandski
an hour ago
Max value
Hip1zzzil   0
an hour ago
Source: KMO 2025 Round 1 P12
Three distinct nonzero real numbers $x,y,z$ satisfy:

(i)$2x+2y+2z=3$
(ii)$\frac{1}{xz}+\frac{x-y}{y-z}=\frac{1}{yz}+\frac{y-z}{z-x}=\frac{1}{xy}+\frac{z-x}{x-y}$
Find the maximum value of $18x+12y+6z$.
0 replies
Hip1zzzil
an hour ago
0 replies
2018 Hong Kong TST2 problem 4
YanYau   4
N an hour ago by Mathandski
Source: 2018HKTST2P4
In triangle $ABC$ with incentre $I$, let $M_A,M_B$ and $M_C$ by the midpoints of $BC, CA$ and $AB$ respectively, and $H_A,H_B$ and $H_C$ be the feet of the altitudes from $A,B$ and $C$ to the respective sides. Denote by $\ell_b$ the line being tangent tot he circumcircle of triangle $ABC$ and passing through $B$, and denote by $\ell_b'$ the reflection of $\ell_b$ in $BI$. Let $P_B$ by the intersection of $M_AM_C$ and $\ell_b$, and let $Q_B$ be the intersection of $H_AH_C$ and $\ell_b'$. Defined $\ell_c,\ell_c',P_C,Q_C$ analogously. If $R$ is the intersection of $P_BQ_B$ and $P_CQ_C$, prove that $RB=RC$.
4 replies
YanYau
Oct 21, 2017
Mathandski
an hour ago
Prove that the triangle is isosceles.
TUAN2k8   4
N an hour ago by JARP091
Source: My book
Given acute triangle $ABC$ with two altitudes $CF$ and $BE$.Let $D$ be the point on the line $CF$ such that $DB \perp BC$.The lines $AD$ and $EF$ intersect at point $X$, and $Y$ is the point on segment $BX$ such that $CY \perp BY$.Suppose that $CF$ bisects $BE$.Prove that triangle $ACY$ is isosceles.
4 replies
TUAN2k8
Yesterday at 9:55 AM
JARP091
an hour ago
Pythagoras...
Hip1zzzil   0
an hour ago
Source: KMO 2025 Round 1 P20
Find the sum of all $k$s such that:
There exists two odd positive integers $a,b$ such that ${k}^{2}={a}^{2b}+{(2b)}^{4}.$
0 replies
1 viewing
Hip1zzzil
an hour ago
0 replies
Hard Function
johnlp1234   2
N an hour ago by maromex
Find all function $f:\mathbb{R}^{+} \rightarrow \mathbb{R}^{+}$ such that:
$$f(x^3+f(y))=y+(f(x))^3$$
2 replies
johnlp1234
Jul 8, 2020
maromex
an hour ago
Guangxi High School Mathematics Competition 2025 Q12
sqing   3
N an hour ago by sqing
Source: China Guangxi High School Mathematics Competition 2025 Q12
Let $ a,b,c>0  $. Prove that
$$abc\geq \frac {a+b+c}{\frac {1}{a^2}+\frac {1}{b^2}+\frac {1}{c^2} }\geq(a+b-c)(b+c-a)(c+a-b)$$
3 replies
sqing
2 hours ago
sqing
an hour ago
Hard Function
johnlp1234   4
N 2 hours ago by jasperE3
f:R+--->R+:
f(x^3+f(y))=y+(f(x))^3
4 replies
johnlp1234
Jul 7, 2020
jasperE3
2 hours ago
Pythagorean Diophantine?
youochange   2
N 2 hours ago by Ianis
The number of ordered pair $(a,b)$ of positive integers with $a \le b$ satisfying $a^2+b^2=2025$ is

Click to reveal hidden text
2 replies
youochange
3 hours ago
Ianis
2 hours ago
A china olympia 2015 problem.
Math2030   0
2 hours ago
Let $n \geq 5$ be a positive integer and let $A$ and $B$ be sets of integers satisfying the following conditions:

i) $|A| = n$, $|B| = m$ and $A$ is a subset of $B$
ii) For any distinct $x,y \in B$, $x+y \in B$ iff $x,y \in A$

Determine the minimum value of $m$.
0 replies
Math2030
2 hours ago
0 replies
Bounding With Powers
Shreyasharma   5
N 2 hours ago by jacosheebay
Is this a valid solution for the following problem (St. Petersburg 1996):

Find all positive integers $n$ such that,

$$ 3^{n-1} + 5^{n-1} | 3^n + 5^n$$
Solution
5 replies
Shreyasharma
Jul 11, 2023
jacosheebay
2 hours ago
2021 SMT Guts Round 5 p17-20 - Stanford Math Tournament
parmenides51   7
N Yesterday at 8:05 PM by Rombo
p17. Let the roots of the polynomial $f(x) = 3x^3 + 2x^2 + x + 8 = 0$ be $p, q$, and $r$. What is the sum $\frac{1}{p} +\frac{1}{q} +\frac{1}{r}$ ?


p18. Two students are playing a game. They take a deck of five cards numbered $1$ through $5$, shuffle them, and then place them in a stack facedown, turning over the top card next to the stack. They then take turns either drawing the card at the top of the stack into their hand, showing the drawn card to the other player, or drawing the card that is faceup, replacing it with the card on the top of the pile. This is repeated until all cards are drawn, and the player with the largest sum for their cards wins. What is the probability that the player who goes second wins, assuming optimal play?


p19. Compute the sum of all primes $p$ such that $2^p + p^2$ is also prime.


p20. In how many ways can one color the $8$ vertices of an octagon each red, black, and white, such that no two adjacent sides are the same color?


PS. You should use hide for answers. Collected here.
7 replies
parmenides51
Feb 11, 2022
Rombo
Yesterday at 8:05 PM
2023 Christmas Mock AIME #8 3x3 complex non linear system
parmenides51   2
N Feb 5, 2025 by Vivaandax
Let $a$, $b$, and $c$ be complex numbers such that they satisfy these equations:
$$abc + 4a^4 = 3$$$$abc + 2d^4 = 2$$$$abc +\frac{3c^4}{4}=-1$$If the maximum of $\left|\frac{a^2b^2c^2+1}{abc}\right|$ can be expressed as $\frac{p+\sqrt{q}}{r}$ for positive integers $p$, $q$, and $r$, find the minimum possible value of $p + q + r$.
2 replies
parmenides51
Jan 16, 2024
Vivaandax
Feb 5, 2025
2023 Christmas Mock AIME #8 3x3 complex non linear system
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parmenides51
30652 posts
#1
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Let $a$, $b$, and $c$ be complex numbers such that they satisfy these equations:
$$abc + 4a^4 = 3$$$$abc + 2d^4 = 2$$$$abc +\frac{3c^4}{4}=-1$$If the maximum of $\left|\frac{a^2b^2c^2+1}{abc}\right|$ can be expressed as $\frac{p+\sqrt{q}}{r}$ for positive integers $p$, $q$, and $r$, find the minimum possible value of $p + q + r$.
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vanstraelen
9050 posts
#2
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parmenides51 wrote:
Let $a$, $b$, and $c$ be complex numbers such that they satisfy these equations:
$$abc + 4a^4 = 3$$$$abc + 2b^4 = 2$$$$abc +\frac{3c^4}{4}=-1$$If the maximum of $\left|\frac{a^2b^2c^2+1}{abc}\right|$ can be expressed as $\frac{p+\sqrt{q}}{r}$ for positive integers $p$, $q$, and $r$, find the minimum possible value of $p + q + r$.

We find: $4a^{4}=3-abc$ and $2b^{4}=2-abc$ and $\frac{3}{4}c^{4}=-1-abc$.

Let $abc=t$; multiplying: $6t^{5}+(3-t)(2-t)(1+t)=0$
with one of the solutions: $t=-\frac{1+\sqrt{385}}{24}+ i \cdot \sqrt{\frac{95-\sqrt{385}}{288}}$.

Then $\left|t+\frac{1}{t}\right|=\frac{1+\sqrt{385}}{12}$.
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Vivaandax
87 posts
#3
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Doing the same $x=abc$ substitution as @above, we get $6x^4 + x^3 - 4x^2 + x + 6 = 0$. Seeing that the polynomial is symmetric, we divide by $x^2$ and let $y = x + \frac{1}{x}$. From here, one gets the quadratic $6y^2+y-16=0$, which gives $y = \frac{-1 \pm \sqrt{385}}{12}$. Since we want the maximum absolute value, we have $$|\frac{a^2b^2c^2+1}{abc}| = |x+\frac{1}{x}| = |y| = \frac{1+\sqrt{385}}{12}$$giving the answer of $\boxed{398}$.
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