MathDB

Problems(2)

Guessing fixed point geometry

Source: MEMO 2024 I3

8/26/2024
Let ABCABC be an acute scalene triangle. Choose a circle ω\omega passing through BB and CC which intersects the segments ABAB and ACAC at the interior points DD and EE, respectively. The lines BEBE and CDCD intersects at FF. Let GG be a point on the circumcircle of ABFABF such that GBGB is tangent to ω\omega and let HH be a point on the circumcircle of ACFACF such that HCHC is tangent to ω\omega. Prove that there exists a point TAT\neq A, independent of the choice of ω\omega, such that the circumcircle of triangle AGHAGH passes through TT.
geometryFixed pointcirclecircumcircleAngle Chasing
Marvin just wants to know everything

Source: MEMO 2024 T3

8/27/2024
There are 20242024 mathematicians sitting in a row next to the river Tisza. Each of them is working on exactly one research topic, and if two mathematicians are working on the same topic, everyone sitting between them is also working on it. Marvin is trying to figure out for each pair of mathematicians whether they are working on the same topic. He is allowed to ask each mathematician the following question: “How many of these 2024 mathematicians are working on your topic?” He asks the questions one by one, so he knows all previous answers before he asks the next one. Determine the smallest positive integer kk such that Marvin can always accomplish his goal with at most kk questions.
combinatoricscombinatorics proposedgamegame strategy