Let $a$ be a positive real number, $n$ a positive integer, and define the [i]power tower[/i] $a\uparrow n$ recursively with $a\uparrow 1=a$, and $a\uparrow(i+1)=a^{a\uparrow i}$ for $i=1,2,3,\ldots$. For example, we have $4\uparrow 3=4^{(4^4)}=4^{256}$, a number which has $155$ digits. For each positive integer $k$, let $x_k$ denote the unique positive real number solution of the equation $x\uparrow k=10\uparrow (k+1)$. Which is larger: $x_{42}$ or $x_{43}$?

Let $n$ be a positive integer relatively prime to $6$. We paint the vertices of a regular $n$-gon with three colours so that there is an odd number of vertices of each colour. Show that there exists an isosceles triangle whose three vertices are of different colours.

Positive integer numbers $n$ and $k > 1$ are given. Losyash likes some of the cells of the $n \times n$ checkerboard. In addition, he is interested in any checkered rectangle with a perimeter of $2n + 2$, the upper-left corner of which coincides with the upper-left corner of the board (there are $n$ such rectangles in total). Given $n$ and $k$, determine whether Losyash can color each cell he likes in one of $k$ colors so that in any rectangle of interest to him the number of cells of any two colors differ by no more than $1$.

Find all functions $ f: \mathbb{R}^{ \plus{} }\to\mathbb{R}^{ \plus{} }$ satisfying $ f\left(x \plus{} f\left(y\right)\right) \equal{} f\left(x \plus{} y\right) \plus{} f\left(y\right)$ for all pairs of positive reals $ x$ and $ y$. Here, $ \mathbb{R}^{ \plus{} }$ denotes the set of all positive reals. [i]Proposed by Paisan Nakmahachalasint, Thailand[/i]

Let $OABC$ be a trihedral angle such that \[ \angle BOC = \alpha, \quad \angle COA = \beta, \quad \angle AOB = \gamma , \quad \alpha + \beta + \gamma = \pi . \] For any interior point $P$ of the trihedral angle let $P_1$, $P_2$ and $P_3$ be the projections of $P$ on the three faces. Prove that $OP \geq PP_1+PP_2+PP_3$. [i]Constantin Cocea[/i]

Find the maximal $x$ such that the expression $4^{27} + 4^{1000} + 4^x$ is the exact square.

In a triangle $ABC$, points $P, Q$ and $ R$ distinct from the vertices of the triangle are chosen on sides $AB, BC$ and $CA$, respectively. The circumcircles of the triangles $APR$, $BPQ$, and $CQR$ are drawn. Prove that the centers of these circles are the vertices of a triangle similar to triangle $ABC$.

In lawn-tennis the player who scores at least four points, while his opponent scores at least two points less, wins a game. The player who wins at least six games, while his opponent wins at least two games less, wins a set. What minimum percentage of all points does the winner have to score in a set?

Let $a>1$ be a positive integer and $f\in \mathbb{Z}[x]$ with positive leading coefficient. Let $S$ be the set of integers $n$ such that \[n \mid a^{f(n)}-1.\] Prove that $S$ has density $0$; that is, prove that $\lim_{n\rightarrow \infty} \frac{|S\cap \{1,...,n\}|}{n}=0$.

The pyramid $VABCD$ has base the rectangle ABCD, and the side edges are congruent. Prove that the plane $(VCD)$ forms congruent angles with the planes $(VAC)$ and $(BAC)$ if and only if $\angle VAC = \angle BAC $.

Suppose that $a$ is an integer and that $n! + a$ divides $(2n)!$ for infinitely many positive integers $n$. Prove that $a = 0$.

$ABCDEF$ is a regular hexagon. Let $R$ be the overlap between $\vartriangle ACE$ and $\vartriangle BDF$. What is the area of $R$ divided by the area of $ABCDEF$?

A fly and $k$ spiders are placed in some vertices of $2012 \times 2012$ lattice. One move consists of following: firstly, fly goes to some adjacent vertex or stays where it is and then every spider goes to some adjacent vertex or stays where it is (more than one spider can be in the same vertex). Spiders and fly knows where are the others all the time. a) Find the smallest $k$ so that spiders can catch the fly in finite number of moves, regardless of their initial position. b) Answer the same question for three-dimensional lattice $2012\times 2012\times 2012$. (Vertices in lattice are adjacent if exactly one coordinate of one vertex is different from the same coordinate of the other vertex, and their difference is equal to $1$. Spider catches a fly if they are in the same vertex.)

Let $AD$ be a bisector of triangle $ABC$. Points $M$ and $N$ are projections of $B$ and $C$ respectively to $AD$. The circle with diameter $MN$ intersects $BC$ at points $X$ and $Y$. Prove that $\angle BAX = \angle CAY$.

For which digits $a$ do exist integers $n \geq 4$ such that each digit of $\frac{n(n+1)}{2}$ equals $a \ ?$

Find all triples $(a,b,c)$ of real numbers such that $|2a + b| \ge 4$ and $|ax^2 + bx + c| \le 1$ $ \forall x \in [-1, 1]$.

A harmonic progression is a sequence of numbers such that their reciprocals are in arithmetic progression. Let $S_n$ represent the sum of the first $n$ terms of the harmonic progression; for example $S_3$ represents the sum of the first three terms. If the first three terms of a harmonic progression are $3,4,6$, then: $ \textbf{(A)}\ S_4=20 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ S_4=25\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ S_5=49\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ S_6=49\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ S_2=\frac12 S_4 $

Show that any graph with $6$ points has a triangle or three points which are not joined to each other.

Let $x_{1}$ be a positive real number and for every integer $n \geq 1$ let $x_{n+1} = 1 + x_{1}x_{2}\ldots x_{n-1}x_{n}$. If $x_{5} = 43$, what is the sum of digits of the largest prime factors of $x_{6}$?

A particle is located on the coordinate plane at $ (5,0)$. Define a [i]move[/i] for the particle as a counterclockwise rotation of $ \pi/4$ radians about the origin followed by a translation of $ 10$ units in the positive $ x$-direction. Given that the particle's position after $ 150$ moves is $ (p,q)$, find the greatest integer less than or equal to $ |p|\plus{}|q|$.

A rook is randomly placed on an otherwise empty $8 \times 8$ chessboard. Owen makes moves with the rook by randomly choosing $1$ of the $14$ possible moves. Find the expected value of the number of moves it takes Owen to move the rook to the top left square. Note that a rook can move any number of squares either in the horizontal or vertical direction each move.

[b]p1.[/b] If $a \diamond b = ab - a + b$, find $(3 \diamond 4) \diamond 5$ [b]p2.[/b] If $5$ chickens lay $5$ eggs in $5$ days, how many chickens are needed to lay $10$ eggs in $10$ days? [b]p3.[/b] As Alissa left her house to go to work one hour away, she noticed that her odometer read $16261$ miles. This number is a "special" number for Alissa because it is a palindrome and it contains exactly $1$ prime digit. When she got home that evening, it had changed to the next greatest "special" number. What was Alissa's average speed, in miles per hour, during her two hour trip? [b]p4.[/b] How many $1$ in by $3$ in by $8$ in blocks can be placed in a $4$ in by $4$ in by $9$ in box? [b]p5.[/b] Apple loves eating bananas, but she prefers unripe ones. There are $12$ bananas in each bunch sold. Given any bunch, if there is a $\frac13$ probability that there are $4$ ripe bananas, a $\frac16$ probability that there are $6$ ripe bananas, and a $\frac12$ probability that there are $10$ ripe bananas, what is the expected number of unripe bananas in $12$ bunches of bananas? [b]p6.[/b] The sum of the digits of a $3$-digit number $n$ is equal to the same number without the hundreds digit. What is the tens digit of $n$? [b]p7.[/b] How many ordered pairs of positive integers $(a, b)$ satisfy $a \le 20$, $b \le 20$, $ab > 15$? [b]p8.[/b] Let $z(n)$ represent the number of trailing zeroes of $n!$. What is $z(z(6!))?$ (Note: $n! = n\cdot (n-1) \cdot\cdot\cdot 2 \cdot 1$) [b]p9.[/b] On the Cartesian plane, points $A = (-1, 3)$, $B = (1, 8)$, and $C = (0, 10)$ are marked. $\vartriangle ABC$ is reflected over the line $y = 2x + 3$ to obtain $\vartriangle A'B'C'$. The sum of the $x$-coordinates of the vertices of $\vartriangle A'B'C'$ can be expressed as $\frac{a}{b}$ for relatively prime positive integers $a$, $b$. Compute $a + b$. [b]p10.[/b] How many ways can Bill pick three distinct points from the figure so that the points form a non-degenerate triangle? [img]https://cdn.artofproblemsolving.com/attachments/6/a/8b06f70d474a071b75556823f70a2535317944.png[/img] [b]p11.[/b] Say piece $A$ is attacking piece $B$ if the piece $B$ is on a square that piece $A$ can move to. How many ways are there to place a king and a rook on an $8\times 8$ chessboard such that the rook isn't attacking the king, and the king isn't attacking the rook? Consider rotations of the board to be indistinguishable. (Note: rooks move horizontally or vertically by any number of squares, while kings move $1$ square adjacent horizontally, vertically, or diagonally). [b]p12.[/b] Let the remainder when $P(x) = x^{2020} - x^{2017} - 1$ is divided by $S(x) = x^3 - 7$ be the polynomial $R(x) = ax^2 + bx + c$ for integers $a$, $b$, $c$. Find the remainder when $R(1)$ is divided by $1000$. [b]p13.[/b] Let $S(x) = \left \lfloor \frac{2020}{x} \right\rfloor + \left \lfloor \frac{2020}{x + 1} \right\rfloor$. Find the number of distinct values $S(x)$ achieves for integers $x$ in the interval $[1, 2020]$. [b]p14.[/b] Triangle $\vartriangle ABC$ is inscribed in a circle with center $O$ and has sides $AB = 24$, $BC = 25$, $CA = 26$. Let $M$ be the midpoint of $\overline{AB}$. Points $K$ and $L$ are chosen on sides $\overline{BC}$ and $\overline{CA}$, respectively such that $BK < KC$ and $CL < LA$. Given that $OM = OL = OK$, the area of triangle $\vartriangle MLK$ can be expressed as $\frac{a\sqrt{b}}{c}$ where $a, b, c$ are positive integers, $gcd(a, c) = 1$ and $b$ is not divisible by the square of any prime. Find $a + b + c$. [b]p15.[/b] Euler's totient function, $\phi (n)$, is defined as the number of positive integers less than $n$ that are relatively prime to $n$. Let $S(n)$ be the set of composite divisors of $n$. Evaluate $$\sum^{50}_{k=1}\left( k - \sum_{d\in S(k)} \phi (d) \right)$$ PS. You should use hide for answers. Collected [url=https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c5h2760506p24143309]here[/url].

Call a positive integer "useful but not optimized " (!), if it can be written as a sum of distinct powers of $3$ and powers of $5$. Prove that there exist infinitely many positive integers which they are not "useful but not optimized". (e.g. $37=(3^0+3^1+3^3)+(5^0+5^1)$ is a " useful but not optimized" number) [i]Proposed by Mohsen Jamali[/i]

What is the largest number of acute angles that a convex hexagon can have? $ \textbf{(A)}\ 2 \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 3 \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 4\qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 5 \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 6$

10.7 A quadrilateral $ABCD$ is circumscribed around the circle $\omega$ centered at $I$ and inscribed into the circle $\Gamma$. The lines $AB, CD$ meet at point $P$, and the lines $BC, AD$ meet at point $Q$. Prove that the circles $\odot(PIQ)$ and $\Gamma$ are orthogonal.