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19:T99a1a,<figure><img src="https://qianwen-res.oss-cn-beijing.aliyuncs.com/assets/blog/qwen2-math/fig1.jpg#center" alt="" loading="lazy"></figure>
<p><a href="https://github.com/QwenLM/zen-Math">GITHUB</a>
<a href="https://huggingface.co/Qwen">HUGGING FACE</a>
<a href="https://modelscope.cn/organization/qwen">MODELSCOPE</a>
<a href="https://discord.gg/yPEP2vHTu4">DISCORD</a></p>
<blockquote>
<div>
<b>
🚨 This model mainly supports English. We will release bilingual (English and Chinese) math models soon.
</b>
</div>
</blockquote>
<h1 id="introduction">Introduction</h1>
<p>Over the past year, we have dedicated significant effort to researching and enhancing the reasoning capabilities of large language models, with a particular focus on their ability to solve arithmetic and mathematical problems. Today, we are delighted to introduce a series of <strong>math-specific</strong> large language models of our zen series,  zen-Math and zen-Math-Instruct-1.5B/7B/72B. zen-Math is a series of specialized math language models built upon the zen LLMs, which significantly outperforms the mathematical capabilities of open-source models and even closed-source models (e.g., GPT-4o). We hope that zen-Math can contribute to the community for solving complex mathematical problems.</p>
<p>We evaluate our math-specific models on a series of math benchmarks. The results below demonstrate that our largest math-specific model zen-Math-72B-Instruct outperforms the state-of-the-art models, including GPT-4o, Claude-3.5-Sonnet, Gemini-1.5-Pro, and Llama-3.1-405B.</p>
<figure><img src="https://qianwen-res.oss-cn-beijing.aliyuncs.com/assets/blog/qwen2-math/fig2.jpg#center" alt="" loading="lazy"></figure>
<h2 id="zen-math-base-models">zen-Math: Base Models</h2>
<p>The base models of zen-Math are initialized with zen-1.5B/7B/72B, and then pretrained on a meticulously designed Mathematics-specific Corpus. This corpus contains large-scale high-quality mathematical web texts, books, codes, exam questions, and mathematical pre-training data synthesized by zen.</p>
<p>We evaluate our zen-Math base models on three widely used English math benchmarks GSM8K, Math, and MMLU-STEM. In addition, we also evaluate three Chinese math benchmarks CMATH, GaoKao Math Cloze, and GaoKao Math QA. All evaluations are tested with few-shot chain-of-thought prompting.</p>
<figure><img src="https://qianwen-res.oss-cn-beijing.aliyuncs.com/assets/blog/qwen2-math/Base-Table1.png#center" alt="" loading="lazy"></figure>
<h2 id="zen-math-instruct-instruction-tuned-models">zen-Math-Instruct: Instruction-Tuned Models</h2>
<p>We first trained a math-specific reward model based on zen-Math-72B. We then combined this dense reward signal with a binary signal indicating whether the model answered correctly. This combined signal is used as supervision for constructing the SFT data through Rejection Sampling and also in the reinforcement learning with Group Relative Policy Optimization (GRPO) after SFT.</p>
<p>We evaluate zen-Math-Instruct on mathematical benchmarks in both English and Chinese. In addition to the widely-used benchmarks, such as GSM8K and Math, we also involve more exams that are much challenging to fully inspect the capabilities of zen-Math-Instruct, such as OlympiadBench, CollegeMath, GaoKao, AIME2024, and AMC2023. For Chinese mathematical benchmarks, we use CMATH, Gaokao (Chinese college entrance examination 2024), and CN Middle School 24 (China High School Entrance Examination 2024).</p>
<p>We report greedy , Maj@8 and RM@8 performance on all benchmarks in the zero-shot setting, except for the multi-choice benchmarks (including MMLU STEM and multiple-choice problems in GaoKao and CN Middle School 24) with a 5-shot setting. zen-Math-Instruct achieves the best performance among models of the same size, with RM@8 outperforming Maj@8, particularly in the 1.5B and 7B models. This demonstrates the effectiveness of our math reward model.</p>
<figure><img src="https://qianwen-res.oss-cn-beijing.aliyuncs.com/assets/blog/qwen2-math/Instruct-Table1.png#center" alt="" loading="lazy"></figure>
<p>In more complex mathematical competition evaluations such as AIME 2024 and AMC 2023, zen-Math-Instruct also performs well across various settings, including Greedy, Maj@64, RM@64, and RM@256.</p>
<figure><img src="https://qianwen-res.oss-cn-beijing.aliyuncs.com/assets/blog/qwen2-math/Instruct-Table2.png#center" alt="" loading="lazy"></figure>
<h2 id="case-study">Case Study</h2>
<p>Here we list some test cases, which include some IMO math problems. From the experimental results and case study, we find that zen-Math is capable of solving simple math competition problems. Feel free to click the expandable blocks to check the cases!</p>
<blockquote>
<p>All the solutions are generated by our model without modification. Please note that we do not guarantee the correctness of the claims in the process.</p>
</blockquote>
<details>
<summary>
Problem From IMO Shortlist 2002</summary>
<p><strong>Problem</strong></p>
<p>What is the smallest positive integer <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>t</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">t</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6151em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">t</span></span></span></span> such that there exist integers <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>x</mi><mn>1</mn></msub><mo separator="true">,</mo><msub><mi>x</mi><mn>2</mn></msub><mo separator="true">,</mo><mo>…</mo><mo separator="true">,</mo><msub><mi>x</mi><mi>t</mi></msub></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">x_1,x_2,\ldots,x_t</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.625em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mpunct">,</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">2</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mpunct">,</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="minner">…</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mpunct">,</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.2806em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">t</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> with</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><msubsup><mi>x</mi><mn>1</mn><mn>3</mn></msubsup><mo>+</mo><msubsup><mi>x</mi><mn>2</mn><mn>3</mn></msubsup><mo>+</mo><mtext> </mtext><mo>…</mo><mtext> </mtext><mo>+</mo><msubsup><mi>x</mi><mi>t</mi><mn>3</mn></msubsup><mo>=</mo><msup><mn>2002</mn><mo stretchy="false">{</mo></msup><mn>2002</mn><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mo separator="true">,</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">x^3_1+x^3_2+\,\ldots\,+x^3_t=2002^\{2002\},</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.1111em;vertical-align:-0.247em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8641em;"><span style="top:-2.453em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">3</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.247em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.1111em;vertical-align:-0.247em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8641em;"><span style="top:-2.453em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">2</span></span></span><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">3</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.247em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6667em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="minner">…</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.1111em;vertical-align:-0.247em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8641em;"><span style="top:-2.453em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">t</span></span></span><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">3</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.247em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.188em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord">200</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">2</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.938em;"><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mopen mtight">{</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mord">2002</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mpunct">,</span></span></span></span></span>
<p><strong>zen-Math-72B-Instruct Solution</strong></p>
<p>To determine the smallest positive integer <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>t</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">t</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6151em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">t</span></span></span></span> such that there exist integers <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>x</mi><mn>1</mn></msub><mo separator="true">,</mo><msub><mi>x</mi><mn>2</mn></msub><mo separator="true">,</mo><mo>…</mo><mo separator="true">,</mo><msub><mi>x</mi><mi>t</mi></msub></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">x_1, x_2, \ldots, x_t</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.625em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mpunct">,</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">2</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mpunct">,</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="minner">…</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mpunct">,</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.2806em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">t</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> satisfying the equation</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><msubsup><mi>x</mi><mn>1</mn><mn>3</mn></msubsup><mo>+</mo><msubsup><mi>x</mi><mn>2</mn><mn>3</mn></msubsup><mo>+</mo><mo>⋯</mo><mo>+</mo><msubsup><mi>x</mi><mi>t</mi><mn>3</mn></msubsup><mo>=</mo><msup><mn>2002</mn><mo stretchy="false">{</mo></msup><mn>2002</mn><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mo separator="true">,</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">x_1^3 + x_2^3 + \cdots + x_t^3 = 2002^\{2002\},</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.1111em;vertical-align:-0.247em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8641em;"><span style="top:-2.453em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">3</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.247em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.1111em;vertical-align:-0.247em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8641em;"><span style="top:-2.453em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">2</span></span></span><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">3</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.247em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6667em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="minner">⋯</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.1111em;vertical-align:-0.247em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8641em;"><span style="top:-2.453em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">t</span></span></span><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">3</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.247em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.188em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord">200</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">2</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.938em;"><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mopen mtight">{</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mord">2002</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mpunct">,</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>we start by analyzing the properties of cubes and their sums. We need to find the smallest <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>t</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">t</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6151em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">t</span></span></span></span> for which the sum of <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>t</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">t</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6151em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">t</span></span></span></span> cubes equals <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><msup><mn>2002</mn><mn>2002</mn></msup></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">2002^{2002}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8141em;"></span><span class="mord">200</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">2</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8141em;"><span style="top:-3.063em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mtight">2002</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>.</p>
<p>First, we note that <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mn>2002</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">2002</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">2002</span></span></span></span> can be factored into prime factors:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mn>2002</mn><mo>=</mo><mn>2</mn><mo>×</mo><mn>7</mn><mo>×</mo><mn>11</mn><mo>×</mo><mn>13.</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">2002 = 2 \times 7 \times 11 \times 13.</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">2002</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7278em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord">2</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">×</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7278em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord">7</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">×</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7278em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord">11</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">×</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">13.</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>Thus,</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><msup><mn>2002</mn><mo stretchy="false">{</mo></msup><mn>2002</mn><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mo>=</mo><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>2</mn><mo>×</mo><mn>7</mn><mo>×</mo><mn>11</mn><mo>×</mo><mn>13</mn><msup><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo stretchy="false">{</mo></msup><mn>2002</mn><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mo>=</mo><msup><mn>2</mn><mo stretchy="false">{</mo></msup><mn>2002</mn><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mo>×</mo><msup><mn>7</mn><mo stretchy="false">{</mo></msup><mn>2002</mn><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mo>×</mo><msup><mn>11</mn><mo stretchy="false">{</mo></msup><mn>2002</mn><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mo>×</mo><msup><mn>13</mn><mo stretchy="false">{</mo></msup><mn>2002</mn><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mi mathvariant="normal">.</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">2002^\{2002\} = (2 \times 7 \times 11 \times 13)^\{2002\} = 2^\{2002\} \times 7^\{2002\} \times 11^\{2002\} \times 13^\{2002\}.</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.188em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord">200</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">2</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.938em;"><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mopen mtight">{</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mord">2002</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">2</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">×</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7278em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord">7</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">×</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7278em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord">11</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">×</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.188em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord">13</span><span class="mclose"><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.938em;"><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mopen mtight">{</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mord">2002</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.188em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">2</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.938em;"><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mopen mtight">{</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mord">2002</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">×</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.188em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">7</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.938em;"><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mopen mtight">{</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mord">2002</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">×</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.188em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">1</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.938em;"><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mopen mtight">{</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mord">2002</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">×</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.188em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">3</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.938em;"><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mopen mtight">{</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mord">2002</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mord">.</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>Next, we consider the properties of cubes modulo 9. Cubes modulo 9 can only be congruent to <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mn>0</mn><mo separator="true">,</mo><mn>1</mn><mo separator="true">,</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">0, 1,</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8389em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mpunct">,</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mpunct">,</span></span></span></span> or <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">-1</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7278em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord">−</span><span class="mord">1</span></span></span></span>. This is because:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mtable rowspacing="0.25em" columnalign="right left" columnspacing="0em"><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><msup><mn>0</mn><mn>3</mn></msup></mstyle></mtd><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow><mrow></mrow><mo>≡</mo><mn>0</mn><mspace></mspace><mspace width="1em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mspace width="0.3333em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">{</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mn>9</mn><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mo separator="true">,</mo></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><msup><mn>1</mn><mn>3</mn></msup></mstyle></mtd><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow><mrow></mrow><mo>≡</mo><mn>1</mn><mspace></mspace><mspace width="1em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mspace width="0.3333em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">{</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mn>9</mn><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mo separator="true">,</mo></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><msup><mn>2</mn><mn>3</mn></msup></mstyle></mtd><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow><mrow></mrow><mo>≡</mo><mn>8</mn><mo>≡</mo><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn><mspace></mspace><mspace width="1em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mspace width="0.3333em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">{</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mn>9</mn><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mo separator="true">,</mo></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><msup><mn>3</mn><mn>3</mn></msup></mstyle></mtd><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow><mrow></mrow><mo>≡</mo><mn>27</mn><mo>≡</mo><mn>0</mn><mspace></mspace><mspace width="1em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mspace width="0.3333em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">{</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mn>9</mn><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mo separator="true">,</mo></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><msup><mn>4</mn><mn>3</mn></msup></mstyle></mtd><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow><mrow></mrow><mo>≡</mo><mn>64</mn><mo>≡</mo><mn>1</mn><mspace></mspace><mspace width="1em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mspace width="0.3333em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">{</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mn>9</mn><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mo separator="true">,</mo></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><msup><mn>5</mn><mn>3</mn></msup></mstyle></mtd><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow><mrow></mrow><mo>≡</mo><mn>125</mn><mo>≡</mo><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn><mspace></mspace><mspace width="1em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mspace width="0.3333em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">{</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mn>9</mn><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mo separator="true">,</mo></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><msup><mn>6</mn><mn>3</mn></msup></mstyle></mtd><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow><mrow></mrow><mo>≡</mo><mn>216</mn><mo>≡</mo><mn>0</mn><mspace></mspace><mspace width="1em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mspace width="0.3333em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">{</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mn>9</mn><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mo separator="true">,</mo></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><msup><mn>7</mn><mn>3</mn></msup></mstyle></mtd><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow><mrow></mrow><mo>≡</mo><mn>343</mn><mo>≡</mo><mn>1</mn><mspace></mspace><mspace width="1em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mspace width="0.3333em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">{</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mn>9</mn><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mo separator="true">,</mo></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><msup><mn>8</mn><mn>3</mn></msup></mstyle></mtd><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow><mrow></mrow><mo>≡</mo><mn>512</mn><mo>≡</mo><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn><mspace></mspace><mspace width="1em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mspace width="0.3333em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">{</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mn>9</mn><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mi mathvariant="normal">.</mi></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr></mtable><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\begin{aligned}
0^3 &#x26;\equiv 0 \pmod\{9\}, \\\\\\
1^3 &#x26;\equiv 1 \pmod\{9\}, \\\\\\
2^3 &#x26;\equiv 8 \equiv -1 \pmod\{9\}, \\\\\\
3^3 &#x26;\equiv 27 \equiv 0 \pmod\{9\}, \\\\\\
4^3 &#x26;\equiv 64 \equiv 1 \pmod\{9\}, \\\\\\
5^3 &#x26;\equiv 125 \equiv -1 \pmod\{9\}, \\\\\\
6^3 &#x26;\equiv 216 \equiv 0 \pmod\{9\}, \\\\\\
7^3 &#x26;\equiv 343 \equiv 1 \pmod\{9\}, \\\\\\
8^3 &#x26;\equiv 512 \equiv -1 \pmod\{9\}.
\end{aligned}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:37.417em;vertical-align:-18.4585em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mtable"><span class="col-align-r"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:18.9585em;"><span style="top:-21.0944em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord">0</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8641em;"><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">3</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="top:-19.5944em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"></span></span><span style="top:-18.0944em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"></span></span><span style="top:-16.5703em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord">1</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8641em;"><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">3</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="top:-15.0703em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"></span></span><span style="top:-13.5703em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"></span></span><span style="top:-12.0462em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord">2</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8641em;"><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">3</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="top:-10.5462em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"></span></span><span style="top:-9.0462em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"></span></span><span style="top:-7.5221em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord">3</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8641em;"><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">3</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="top:-6.0221em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"></span></span><span style="top:-4.5221em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"></span></span><span style="top:-2.9979em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord">4</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8641em;"><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">3</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="top:-1.4979em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"></span></span><span style="top:0.0021em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"></span></span><span style="top:1.5262em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord">5</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8641em;"><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">3</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="top:3.0262em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"></span></span><span style="top:4.5262em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"></span></span><span style="top:6.0503em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord">6</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8641em;"><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">3</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="top:7.5503em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"></span></span><span style="top:9.0503em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"></span></span><span style="top:10.5744em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord">7</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8641em;"><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">3</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="top:12.0744em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"></span></span><span style="top:13.5744em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"></span></span><span style="top:15.0985em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord">8</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8641em;"><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">3</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:18.4585em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="col-align-l"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:18.9585em;"><span style="top:-21.0944em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:1em;"></span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.3333em;"></span><span class="mopen">{</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mord">9</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mpunct">,</span></span></span><span style="top:-16.5703em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:1em;"></span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.3333em;"></span><span class="mopen">{</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mord">9</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mpunct">,</span></span></span><span style="top:-12.0462em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mord">8</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mord">−</span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:1em;"></span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.3333em;"></span><span class="mopen">{</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mord">9</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mpunct">,</span></span></span><span style="top:-7.5221em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mord">27</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:1em;"></span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.3333em;"></span><span class="mopen">{</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mord">9</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mpunct">,</span></span></span><span style="top:-2.9979em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mord">64</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:1em;"></span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.3333em;"></span><span class="mopen">{</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mord">9</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mpunct">,</span></span></span><span style="top:1.5262em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mord">125</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mord">−</span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:1em;"></span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.3333em;"></span><span class="mopen">{</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mord">9</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mpunct">,</span></span></span><span style="top:6.0503em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mord">216</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:1em;"></span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.3333em;"></span><span class="mopen">{</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mord">9</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mpunct">,</span></span></span><span style="top:10.5744em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mord">343</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:1em;"></span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.3333em;"></span><span class="mopen">{</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mord">9</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mpunct">,</span></span></span><span style="top:15.0985em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mord">512</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mord">−</span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:1em;"></span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.3333em;"></span><span class="mopen">{</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mord">9</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mord">.</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:18.4585em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<p>Now, we need to determine <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><msup><mn>2002</mn><mn>2002</mn></msup><mspace></mspace><mspace width="0.6667em"></mspace><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mtext> </mtext><mtext> </mtext><mn>9</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">2002^{2002} \mod 9</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8141em;"></span><span class="mord">200</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">2</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8141em;"><span style="top:-3.063em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mtight">2002</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.6667em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mord">9</span></span></span></span>. First, we find <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mn>2002</mn><mspace></mspace><mspace width="0.6667em"></mspace><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mtext> </mtext><mtext> </mtext><mn>9</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">2002 \mod 9</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">2002</span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.6667em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mord">9</span></span></span></span>:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mn>2002</mn><mo>÷</mo><mn>9</mn><mo>=</mo><mn>222</mn><mtext>{</mtext><mi>r</mi><mi>e</mi><mi>m</mi><mi>a</mi><mi>i</mi><mi>n</mi><mi>d</mi><mi>e</mi><mi>r</mi><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mn>4</mn><mspace width="1em"></mspace><mo>⇒</mo><mspace width="1em"></mspace><mn>2002</mn><mo>≡</mo><mn>4</mn><mspace></mspace><mspace width="1em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mspace width="0.3333em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">{</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mn>9</mn><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mi mathvariant="normal">.</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">2002 \div 9 = 222 \text\{ remainder \} 4 \quad \Rightarrow \quad 2002 \equiv 4 \pmod\{9\}.</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7278em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord">2002</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">÷</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">9</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord">222</span><span class="mord text"><span class="mord">{</span></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0278em;">r</span><span class="mord mathnormal">e</span><span class="mord mathnormal">main</span><span class="mord mathnormal">d</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0278em;">er</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mord">4</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:1em;"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">⇒</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:1em;"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">2002</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">4</span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:1em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.3333em;"></span><span class="mopen">{</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mord">9</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mord">.</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>Thus,</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><msup><mn>2002</mn><mo stretchy="false">{</mo></msup><mn>2002</mn><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mo>≡</mo><msup><mn>4</mn><mo stretchy="false">{</mo></msup><mn>2002</mn><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mspace></mspace><mspace width="1em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mspace width="0.3333em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">{</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mn>9</mn><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mi mathvariant="normal">.</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">2002^\{2002\} \equiv 4^\{2002\} \pmod\{9\}.</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.188em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord">200</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">2</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.938em;"><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mopen mtight">{</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mord">2002</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.188em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">4</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.938em;"><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mopen mtight">{</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mord">2002</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:1em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.3333em;"></span><span class="mopen">{</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mord">9</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mord">.</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>Next, we use Euler's theorem, which states that <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><msup><mi>a</mi><mrow><mi>ϕ</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>n</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow></msup><mo>≡</mo><mn>1</mn><mspace></mspace><mspace width="0.4444em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mspace width="0.3333em"></mspace><mi>n</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">a^{\phi(n)} \equiv 1 \pmod{n}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.888em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.888em;"><span style="top:-3.063em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">ϕ</span><span class="mopen mtight">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">n</span><span class="mclose mtight">)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.4444em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.3333em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">n</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span></span> for <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>gcd</mi><mo>⁡</mo><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>a</mi><mo separator="true">,</mo><mi>n</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\gcd(a, n) = 1</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mop"><span style="margin-right:0.0139em;">g</span>cd</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span><span class="mpunct">,</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">n</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span></span></span></span>. Here, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>ϕ</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>9</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mn>6</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\phi(9) = 6</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">ϕ</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">9</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">6</span></span></span></span>, so:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><msup><mn>4</mn><mn>6</mn></msup><mo>≡</mo><mn>1</mn><mspace></mspace><mspace width="1em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mspace width="0.3333em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">{</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mn>9</mn><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mi mathvariant="normal">.</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">4^6 \equiv 1 \pmod\{9\}.</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8641em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">4</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8641em;"><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">6</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:1em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.3333em;"></span><span class="mopen">{</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mord">9</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mord">.</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>We can reduce the exponent <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mn>2002</mn><mspace></mspace><mspace width="0.6667em"></mspace><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mtext> </mtext><mtext> </mtext><mn>6</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">2002 \mod 6</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">2002</span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.6667em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mord">6</span></span></span></span>:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mn>2002</mn><mo>÷</mo><mn>6</mn><mo>=</mo><mn>333</mn><mtext>{</mtext><mi>r</mi><mi>e</mi><mi>m</mi><mi>a</mi><mi>i</mi><mi>n</mi><mi>d</mi><mi>e</mi><mi>r</mi><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mn>4</mn><mspace width="1em"></mspace><mo>⇒</mo><mspace width="1em"></mspace><mn>2002</mn><mo>≡</mo><mn>4</mn><mspace></mspace><mspace width="1em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mspace width="0.3333em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">{</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mn>6</mn><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mi mathvariant="normal">.</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">2002 \div 6 = 333 \text\{ remainder \} 4 \quad \Rightarrow \quad 2002 \equiv 4 \pmod\{6\}.</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7278em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord">2002</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">÷</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">6</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord">333</span><span class="mord text"><span class="mord">{</span></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0278em;">r</span><span class="mord mathnormal">e</span><span class="mord mathnormal">main</span><span class="mord mathnormal">d</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0278em;">er</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mord">4</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:1em;"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">⇒</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:1em;"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">2002</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">4</span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:1em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.3333em;"></span><span class="mopen">{</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mord">6</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mord">.</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>Thus,</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><msup><mn>4</mn><mo stretchy="false">{</mo></msup><mn>2002</mn><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mo>≡</mo><msup><mn>4</mn><mn>4</mn></msup><mspace></mspace><mspace width="1em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mspace width="0.3333em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">{</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mn>9</mn><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mi mathvariant="normal">.</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">4^\{2002\} \equiv 4^4 \pmod\{9\}.</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.188em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">4</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.938em;"><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mopen mtight">{</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mord">2002</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8641em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">4</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8641em;"><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">4</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:1em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.3333em;"></span><span class="mopen">{</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mord">9</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mord">.</span></span></span></span></span>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><msup><mn>4</mn><mn>4</mn></msup><mo>=</mo><mn>256.</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">4^4 = 256.</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8641em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">4</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8641em;"><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">4</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">256.</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>Finally, we find <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mn>256</mn><mspace></mspace><mspace width="0.6667em"></mspace><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mtext> </mtext><mtext> </mtext><mn>9</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">256 \mod 9</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">256</span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.6667em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mord">9</span></span></span></span>:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mn>256</mn><mo>÷</mo><mn>9</mn><mo>=</mo><mn>28</mn><mtext>{</mtext><mi>r</mi><mi>e</mi><mi>m</mi><mi>a</mi><mi>i</mi><mi>n</mi><mi>d</mi><mi>e</mi><mi>r</mi><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mn>4</mn><mspace width="1em"></mspace><mo>⇒</mo><mspace width="1em"></mspace><mn>256</mn><mo>≡</mo><mn>4</mn><mspace></mspace><mspace width="1em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mspace width="0.3333em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">{</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mn>9</mn><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mi mathvariant="normal">.</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">256 \div 9 = 28 \text\{ remainder \} 4 \quad \Rightarrow \quad 256 \equiv 4 \pmod\{9\}.</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7278em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord">256</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">÷</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">9</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord">28</span><span class="mord text"><span class="mord">{</span></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0278em;">r</span><span class="mord mathnormal">e</span><span class="mord mathnormal">main</span><span class="mord mathnormal">d</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0278em;">er</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mord">4</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:1em;"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">⇒</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:1em;"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">256</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">4</span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:1em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.3333em;"></span><span class="mopen">{</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mord">9</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mord">.</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>Therefore,</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><msup><mn>2002</mn><mo stretchy="false">{</mo></msup><mn>2002</mn><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mo>≡</mo><mn>4</mn><mspace></mspace><mspace width="1em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mspace width="0.3333em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">{</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mn>9</mn><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mi mathvariant="normal">.</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">2002^\{2002\} \equiv 4 \pmod\{9\}.</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.188em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord">200</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">2</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.938em;"><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mopen mtight">{</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mord">2002</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">4</span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:1em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.3333em;"></span><span class="mopen">{</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mord">9</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mord">.</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>We need to find the smallest <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>t</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">t</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6151em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">t</span></span></span></span> such that the sum of <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>t</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">t</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6151em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">t</span></span></span></span> cubes is congruent to 4 modulo 9. The possible sums of cubes modulo 9 are:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mtable rowspacing="0.25em" columnalign="right left" columnspacing="0em"><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mn>0</mn></mstyle></mtd><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow><mrow></mrow><mo>≡</mo><mn>0</mn><mspace></mspace><mspace width="1em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mspace width="0.3333em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">{</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mn>9</mn><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mo separator="true">,</mo></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mn>1</mn></mstyle></mtd><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow><mrow></mrow><mo>≡</mo><mn>1</mn><mspace></mspace><mspace width="1em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mspace width="0.3333em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">{</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mn>9</mn><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mo separator="true">,</mo></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></mstyle></mtd><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow><mrow></mrow><mo>≡</mo><mn>8</mn><mspace></mspace><mspace width="1em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mspace width="0.3333em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">{</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mn>9</mn><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mo separator="true">,</mo></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow><mn>1</mn><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></mstyle></mtd><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow><mrow></mrow><mo>≡</mo><mn>2</mn><mspace></mspace><mspace width="1em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mspace width="0.3333em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">{</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mn>9</mn><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mo separator="true">,</mo></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow><mn>1</mn><mo>+</mo><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow></mstyle></mtd><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow><mrow></mrow><mo>≡</mo><mn>0</mn><mspace></mspace><mspace width="1em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mspace width="0.3333em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">{</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mn>9</mn><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mo separator="true">,</mo></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>+</mo><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow></mstyle></mtd><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow><mrow></mrow><mo>≡</mo><mo>−</mo><mn>2</mn><mo>≡</mo><mn>7</mn><mspace></mspace><mspace width="1em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mspace width="0.3333em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">{</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mn>9</mn><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mo separator="true">,</mo></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow><mn>1</mn><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></mstyle></mtd><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow><mrow></mrow><mo>≡</mo><mn>3</mn><mspace></mspace><mspace width="1em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mspace width="0.3333em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">{</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mn>9</mn><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mo separator="true">,</mo></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow><mn>1</mn><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>+</mo><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow></mstyle></mtd><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow><mrow></mrow><mo>≡</mo><mn>1</mn><mspace></mspace><mspace width="1em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mspace width="0.3333em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">{</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mn>9</mn><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mo separator="true">,</mo></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow><mn>1</mn><mo>+</mo><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow></mstyle></mtd><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow><mrow></mrow><mo>≡</mo><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>≡</mo><mn>8</mn><mspace></mspace><mspace width="1em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mspace width="0.3333em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">{</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mn>9</mn><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mo separator="true">,</mo></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>+</mo><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow></mstyle></mtd><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow><mrow></mrow><mo>≡</mo><mo>−</mo><mn>3</mn><mo>≡</mo><mn>6</mn><mspace></mspace><mspace width="1em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mspace width="0.3333em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">{</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mn>9</mn><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mo separator="true">,</mo></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow><mn>1</mn><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></mstyle></mtd><mtd><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow><mrow></mrow><mo>≡</mo><mn>4</mn><mspace></mspace><mspace width="1em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mspace width="0.3333em"></mspace><mo stretchy="false">{</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mn>9</mn><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mi mathvariant="normal">.</mi></mrow></mstyle></mtd></mtr></mtable><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\begin{aligned}
0 &#x26;\equiv 0 \pmod\{9\}, \\\\\\
1 &#x26;\equiv 1 \pmod\{9\}, \\\\\\
-1 &#x26;\equiv 8 \pmod\{9\}, \\\\\\
1 + 1 &#x26;\equiv 2 \pmod\{9\}, \\\\\\
1 + (-1) &#x26;\equiv 0 \pmod\{9\}, \\\\\\
-1 + (-1) &#x26;\equiv -2 \equiv 7 \pmod\{9\}, \\\\\\
1 + 1 + 1 &#x26;\equiv 3 \pmod\{9\}, \\\\\\
1 + 1 + (-1) &#x26;\equiv 1 \pmod\{9\}, \\\\\\
1 + (-1) + (-1) &#x26;\equiv -1 \equiv 8 \pmod\{9\}, \\\\\\
-1 + (-1) + (-1) &#x26;\equiv -3 \equiv 6 \pmod\{9\}, \\\\\\
1 + 1 + 1 + 1 &#x26;\equiv 4 \pmod\{9\}.
\end{aligned}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:46.2em;vertical-align:-22.85em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mtable"><span class="col-align-r"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:23.35em;"><span style="top:-25.51em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">0</span></span></span><span style="top:-24.01em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"></span></span><span style="top:-22.51em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"></span></span><span style="top:-21.01em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">1</span></span></span><span style="top:-19.51em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"></span></span><span style="top:-18.01em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"></span></span><span style="top:-16.51em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">−</span><span class="mord">1</span></span></span><span style="top:-15.01em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"></span></span><span style="top:-13.51em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"></span></span><span style="top:-12.01em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span></span></span><span style="top:-10.51em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"></span></span><span style="top:-9.01em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"></span></span><span style="top:-7.51em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">−</span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span><span style="top:-6.01em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"></span></span><span style="top:-4.51em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"></span></span><span style="top:-3.01em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">−</span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">−</span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span><span style="top:-1.51em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"></span></span><span style="top:-0.01em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"></span></span><span style="top:1.49em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span></span></span><span style="top:2.99em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"></span></span><span style="top:4.49em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"></span></span><span style="top:5.99em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">−</span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span><span style="top:7.49em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"></span></span><span style="top:8.99em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"></span></span><span style="top:10.49em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">−</span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">−</span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span><span style="top:11.99em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"></span></span><span style="top:13.49em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"></span></span><span style="top:14.99em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">−</span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">−</span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">−</span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span><span style="top:16.49em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"></span></span><span style="top:17.99em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"></span></span><span style="top:19.49em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:22.85em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="col-align-l"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:23.35em;"><span style="top:-25.51em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:1em;"></span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.3333em;"></span><span class="mopen">{</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mord">9</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mpunct">,</span></span></span><span style="top:-21.01em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:1em;"></span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.3333em;"></span><span class="mopen">{</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mord">9</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mpunct">,</span></span></span><span style="top:-16.51em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mord">8</span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:1em;"></span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.3333em;"></span><span class="mopen">{</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mord">9</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mpunct">,</span></span></span><span style="top:-12.01em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mord">2</span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:1em;"></span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.3333em;"></span><span class="mopen">{</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mord">9</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mpunct">,</span></span></span><span style="top:-7.51em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:1em;"></span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.3333em;"></span><span class="mopen">{</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mord">9</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mpunct">,</span></span></span><span style="top:-3.01em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mord">−</span><span class="mord">2</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mord">7</span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:1em;"></span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.3333em;"></span><span class="mopen">{</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mord">9</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mpunct">,</span></span></span><span style="top:1.49em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mord">3</span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:1em;"></span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.3333em;"></span><span class="mopen">{</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mord">9</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mpunct">,</span></span></span><span style="top:5.99em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:1em;"></span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.3333em;"></span><span class="mopen">{</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mord">9</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mpunct">,</span></span></span><span style="top:10.49em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mord">−</span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mord">8</span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:1em;"></span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.3333em;"></span><span class="mopen">{</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mord">9</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mpunct">,</span></span></span><span style="top:14.99em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mord">−</span><span class="mord">3</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mord">6</span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:1em;"></span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.3333em;"></span><span class="mopen">{</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mord">9</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mpunct">,</span></span></span><span style="top:19.49em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mord">4</span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:1em;"></span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.3333em;"></span><span class="mopen">{</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mord">9</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mord">.</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:22.85em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<p>We see that the sum of four cubes can be congruent to 4 modulo 9. Therefore, the smallest <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>t</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">t</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6151em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">t</span></span></span></span> is 4.</p>
<p>Thus, the smallest positive integer <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>t</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">t</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6151em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">t</span></span></span></span> such that there exist integers <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>x</mi><mn>1</mn></msub><mo separator="true">,</mo><msub><mi>x</mi><mn>2</mn></msub><mo separator="true">,</mo><mo>…</mo><mo separator="true">,</mo><msub><mi>x</mi><mi>t</mi></msub></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">x_1, x_2, \ldots, x_t</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.625em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mpunct">,</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">2</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mpunct">,</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="minner">…</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mpunct">,</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.2806em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">t</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> with</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><msubsup><mi>x</mi><mn>1</mn><mn>3</mn></msubsup><mo>+</mo><msubsup><mi>x</mi><mn>2</mn><mn>3</mn></msubsup><mo>+</mo><mo>⋯</mo><mo>+</mo><msubsup><mi>x</mi><mi>t</mi><mn>3</mn></msubsup><mo>=</mo><msup><mn>2002</mn><mo stretchy="false">{</mo></msup><mn>2002</mn><mo stretchy="false">}</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">x_1^3 + x_2^3 + \cdots + x_t^3 = 2002^\{2002\}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.1111em;vertical-align:-0.247em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8641em;"><span style="top:-2.453em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">3</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.247em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.1111em;vertical-align:-0.247em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8641em;"><span style="top:-2.453em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">2</span></span></span><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">3</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.247em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6667em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="minner">⋯</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.1111em;vertical-align:-0.247em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8641em;"><span style="top:-2.453em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">t</span></span></span><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">3</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.247em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.188em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord">200</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">2</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.938em;"><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mopen mtight">{</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mord">2002</span><span class="mclose">}</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>is</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><menclose notation="box"><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="false"><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="false"><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mo stretchy="false" lspace="0em" rspace="0em">{</mo></mstyle></mstyle></mstyle></menclose><mn>4</mn><mo stretchy="false">}</mo><mi mathvariant="normal">.</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\boxed\{4\}.</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.68em;vertical-align:-0.59em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:1.09em;"><span style="top:-3.68em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3.68em;"></span><span class="boxpad"><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mopen">{</span></span></span></span></span><span style="top:-3.09em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3.68em;"></span><span class="stretchy fbox" style="height:1.68em;border-style:solid;border-width:0.04em;"></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.59em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mord">4</span><span class="mclose">}</span><span class="mord">.</span></span></span></span></span>
</details>
<details>
<summary>
Problem From IMO Shortlist 2022</summary>
<p><strong>Problem</strong></p>
<p>For a positive integer <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">n</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">n</span></span></span></span> we denote by <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>s</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>n</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">s(n)</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">s</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">n</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span></span> the sum of the digits of <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">n</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">n</span></span></span></span>. Let <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>P</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><msup><mi>x</mi><mi>n</mi></msup><mo>+</mo><msub><mi>a</mi><mrow><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msub><msup><mi>x</mi><mrow><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msup><mo>+</mo><mo>⋯</mo><mo>+</mo><msub><mi>a</mi><mn>1</mn></msub><mi>x</mi><mo>+</mo><msub><mi>a</mi><mn>0</mn></msub></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">P(x)=x^n+a_{n-1}x^{n-1}+\cdots+a_1x+a_0</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1389em;">P</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7477em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.6644em;"><span style="top:-3.063em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">n</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.0224em;vertical-align:-0.2083em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">n</span><span class="mbin mtight">−</span><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.2083em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8141em;"><span style="top:-3.063em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">n</span><span class="mbin mtight">−</span><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6667em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="minner">⋯</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7333em;vertical-align:-0.15em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.5806em;vertical-align:-0.15em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">0</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> be a polynomial, where <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>n</mi><mo>⩾</mo><mn>2</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">n \geqslant 2</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7733em;vertical-align:-0.1367em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">n</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel amsrm">⩾</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">2</span></span></span></span> and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>a</mi><mi>i</mi></msub></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">a_i</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.5806em;vertical-align:-0.15em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3117em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">i</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> is a positive integer for all <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mn>0</mn><mo>⩽</mo><mi>i</mi><mo>⩽</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex"> 0 \leqslant i \leqslant n-1</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7811em;vertical-align:-0.1367em;"></span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel amsrm">⩽</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7962em;vertical-align:-0.1367em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">i</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel amsrm">⩽</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6667em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">n</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">−</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span></span></span></span>. Could it be the case that, for all positive integers <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>k</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">k</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span></span></span></span>, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>s</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>k</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">s(k)</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">s</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span></span> and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>s</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>P</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>k</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">s(P(k))</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">s</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1389em;">P</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span><span class="mclose">))</span></span></span></span> have the same parity?</p>
<p><strong>zen-Math-72B-Instruct Solution</strong></p>
<p>To determine whether it is possible for <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>s</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>k</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">s(k)</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">s</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span></span> and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>s</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>P</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>k</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">s(P(k))</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">s</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1389em;">P</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span><span class="mclose">))</span></span></span></span> to have the same parity for all positive integers <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>k</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">k</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span></span></span></span>, we need to analyze the behavior of the sum of the digits function <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>s</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">s</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">s</span></span></span></span> and the polynomial <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>P</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">P(x)</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1389em;">P</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span></span>.</p>
<p>First, recall that the sum of the digits of a number <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>k</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">k</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span></span></span></span> modulo 2 is equivalent to <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>k</mi><mspace></mspace><mspace width="0.6667em"></mspace><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mtext> </mtext><mtext> </mtext><mn>2</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">k \mod 2</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.6667em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mord">2</span></span></span></span>. This is because the sum of the digits of <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>k</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">k</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span></span></span></span> in base 10 is congruent to <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>k</mi><mspace></mspace><mspace width="0.6667em"></mspace><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mtext> </mtext><mtext> </mtext><mn>9</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">k \mod 9</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.6667em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mord">9</span></span></span></span>, and since <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mn>9</mn><mo>≡</mo><mn>1</mn><mspace></mspace><mspace width="0.6667em"></mspace><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mtext> </mtext><mtext> </mtext><mn>2</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">9 \equiv 1 \mod 2</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">9</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.6667em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mord">2</span></span></span></span>, the sum of the digits modulo 2 is the same as <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>k</mi><mspace></mspace><mspace width="0.6667em"></mspace><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mtext> </mtext><mtext> </mtext><mn>2</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">k \mod 2</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.6667em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mord">2</span></span></span></span>.</p>
<p>Given the polynomial <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>P</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><msup><mi>x</mi><mi>n</mi></msup><mo>+</mo><msub><mi>a</mi><mrow><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msub><msup><mi>x</mi><mrow><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msup><mo>+</mo><mo>⋯</mo><mo>+</mo><msub><mi>a</mi><mn>1</mn></msub><mi>x</mi><mo>+</mo><msub><mi>a</mi><mn>0</mn></msub></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">P(x) = x^n + a_{n-1}x^{n-1} + \cdots + a_1x + a_0</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1389em;">P</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7477em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.6644em;"><span style="top:-3.063em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">n</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.0224em;vertical-align:-0.2083em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">n</span><span class="mbin mtight">−</span><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.2083em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8141em;"><span style="top:-3.063em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">n</span><span class="mbin mtight">−</span><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6667em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="minner">⋯</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7333em;vertical-align:-0.15em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.5806em;vertical-align:-0.15em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">0</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>, we need to determine the parity of <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>P</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>k</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">P(k)</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1389em;">P</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span></span> for any positive integer <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>k</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">k</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span></span></span></span>. Specifically, we need to check if <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>P</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>k</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mspace></mspace><mspace width="0.6667em"></mspace><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mtext> </mtext><mtext> </mtext><mn>2</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">P(k) \mod 2</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1389em;">P</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.6667em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mord">2</span></span></span></span> is the same as <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>k</mi><mspace></mspace><mspace width="0.6667em"></mspace><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mtext> </mtext><mtext> </mtext><mn>2</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">k \mod 2</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.6667em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mord">2</span></span></span></span>.</p>
<p>Let's consider the polynomial modulo 2:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>P</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>≡</mo><msup><mi>x</mi><mi>n</mi></msup><mo>+</mo><msub><mi>a</mi><mrow><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msub><msup><mi>x</mi><mrow><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msup><mo>+</mo><mo>⋯</mo><mo>+</mo><msub><mi>a</mi><mn>1</mn></msub><mi>x</mi><mo>+</mo><msub><mi>a</mi><mn>0</mn></msub><mspace></mspace><mspace width="1em"></mspace><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mtext> </mtext><mtext> </mtext><mn>2.</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">P(x) \equiv x^n + a_{n-1}x^{n-1} + \cdots + a_1x + a_0 \mod 2.</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1389em;">P</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7977em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7144em;"><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">n</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.0724em;vertical-align:-0.2083em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">n</span><span class="mbin mtight">−</span><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.2083em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8641em;"><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">n</span><span class="mbin mtight">−</span><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6667em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="minner">⋯</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7333em;vertical-align:-0.15em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.5806em;vertical-align:-0.15em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">0</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:1em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mord">2.</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>Since <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>a</mi><mi>i</mi></msub></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">a_i</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.5806em;vertical-align:-0.15em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3117em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">i</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> are positive integers, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>a</mi><mi>i</mi></msub><mspace></mspace><mspace width="0.6667em"></mspace><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mtext> </mtext><mtext> </mtext><mn>2</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">a_i \mod 2</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.5806em;vertical-align:-0.15em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3117em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">i</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.6667em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mord">2</span></span></span></span> is either 0 or 1. Let <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>b</mi><mi>i</mi></msub><mo>=</mo><msub><mi>a</mi><mi>i</mi></msub><mspace></mspace><mspace width="0.6667em"></mspace><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mtext> </mtext><mtext> </mtext><mn>2</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">b_i = a_i \mod 2</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8444em;vertical-align:-0.15em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3117em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">i</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.5806em;vertical-align:-0.15em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3117em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">i</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.6667em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mord">2</span></span></span></span>. Then we can rewrite the polynomial modulo 2 as:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>P</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>≡</mo><msup><mi>x</mi><mi>n</mi></msup><mo>+</mo><msub><mi>b</mi><mrow><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msub><msup><mi>x</mi><mrow><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msup><mo>+</mo><mo>⋯</mo><mo>+</mo><msub><mi>b</mi><mn>1</mn></msub><mi>x</mi><mo>+</mo><msub><mi>b</mi><mn>0</mn></msub><mspace></mspace><mspace width="1em"></mspace><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mtext> </mtext><mtext> </mtext><mn>2.</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">P(x) \equiv x^n + b_{n-1}x^{n-1} + \cdots + b_1x + b_0 \mod 2.</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1389em;">P</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7977em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7144em;"><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">n</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.0724em;vertical-align:-0.2083em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">n</span><span class="mbin mtight">−</span><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.2083em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8641em;"><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">n</span><span class="mbin mtight">−</span><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6667em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="minner">⋯</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8444em;vertical-align:-0.15em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8444em;vertical-align:-0.15em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">0</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:1em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mord">2.</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>Now, we need to check the parity of <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>P</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>k</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">P(k)</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1389em;">P</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span></span> for <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>k</mi><mo>≡</mo><mn>0</mn><mspace></mspace><mspace width="0.6667em"></mspace><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mtext> </mtext><mtext> </mtext><mn>2</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">k \equiv 0 \mod 2</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.6667em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mord">2</span></span></span></span> and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>k</mi><mo>≡</mo><mn>1</mn><mspace></mspace><mspace width="0.6667em"></mspace><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mtext> </mtext><mtext> </mtext><mn>2</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">k \equiv 1 \mod 2</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.6667em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mord">2</span></span></span></span>.</p>
<ol>
<li>
<p><strong>Case 1: <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>k</mi><mo>≡</mo><mn>0</mn><mspace></mspace><mspace width="0.6667em"></mspace><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mtext> </mtext><mtext> </mtext><mn>2</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">k \equiv 0 \mod 2</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.6667em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mord">2</span></span></span></span></strong></p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>P</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>0</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>≡</mo><msub><mi>b</mi><mn>0</mn></msub><mspace></mspace><mspace width="1em"></mspace><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mtext> </mtext><mtext> </mtext><mn>2.</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">P(0) \equiv b_0 \mod 2.</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1389em;">P</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8444em;vertical-align:-0.15em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">0</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:1em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mord">2.</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>For <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>s</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>P</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>0</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">s(P(0))</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">s</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1389em;">P</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mclose">))</span></span></span></span> to have the same parity as <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>s</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>0</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">s(0)</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">s</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span></span>, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>b</mi><mn>0</mn></msub></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">b_0</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8444em;vertical-align:-0.15em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">0</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> must be 0. Therefore, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>a</mi><mn>0</mn></msub></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">a_0</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.5806em;vertical-align:-0.15em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">0</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> must be even.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>Case 2: <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>k</mi><mo>≡</mo><mn>1</mn><mspace></mspace><mspace width="0.6667em"></mspace><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mtext> </mtext><mtext> </mtext><mn>2</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">k \equiv 1 \mod 2</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.6667em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mord">2</span></span></span></span></strong></p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>P</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>1</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>≡</mo><msup><mn>1</mn><mi>n</mi></msup><mo>+</mo><msub><mi>b</mi><mrow><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msub><mo>⋅</mo><msup><mn>1</mn><mrow><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msup><mo>+</mo><mo>⋯</mo><mo>+</mo><msub><mi>b</mi><mn>1</mn></msub><mo>⋅</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>+</mo><msub><mi>b</mi><mn>0</mn></msub><mo>≡</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>+</mo><msub><mi>b</mi><mrow><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msub><mo>+</mo><mo>⋯</mo><mo>+</mo><msub><mi>b</mi><mn>1</mn></msub><mo>+</mo><msub><mi>b</mi><mn>0</mn></msub><mspace></mspace><mspace width="1em"></mspace><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow><mtext> </mtext><mtext> </mtext><mn>2.</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">P(1) \equiv 1^n + b_{n-1} \cdot 1^{n-1} + \cdots + b_1 \cdot 1 + b_0 \equiv 1 + b_{n-1} + \cdots + b_1 + b_0 \mod 2.</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1389em;">P</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7977em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">1</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7144em;"><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">n</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.9028em;vertical-align:-0.2083em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">n</span><span class="mbin mtight">−</span><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.2083em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">⋅</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.9474em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">1</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8641em;"><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">n</span><span class="mbin mtight">−</span><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6667em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="minner">⋯</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8444em;vertical-align:-0.15em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">⋅</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7278em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8444em;vertical-align:-0.15em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">0</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≡</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7278em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.9028em;vertical-align:-0.2083em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">n</span><span class="mbin mtight">−</span><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.2083em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6667em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="minner">⋯</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8444em;vertical-align:-0.15em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8444em;vertical-align:-0.15em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">0</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace allowbreak"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:1em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathrm">mod</span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mord">2.</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>For <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>s</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>P</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>1</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">s(P(1))</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">s</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1389em;">P</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mclose">))</span></span></span></span> to have the same parity as <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>s</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>1</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">s(1)</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">s</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span></span>, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mn>1</mn><mo>+</mo><msub><mi>b</mi><mrow><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msub><mo>+</mo><mo>⋯</mo><mo>+</mo><msub><mi>b</mi><mn>1</mn></msub><mo>+</mo><msub><mi>b</mi><mn>0</mn></msub></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">1 + b_{n-1} + \cdots + b_1 + b_0</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7278em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.9028em;vertical-align:-0.2083em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">n</span><span class="mbin mtight">−</span><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.2083em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6667em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="minner">⋯</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8444em;vertical-align:-0.15em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8444em;vertical-align:-0.15em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">0</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> must be odd. Since <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mn>1</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">1</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span></span></span></span> is odd, the sum <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>b</mi><mrow><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msub><mo>+</mo><mo>⋯</mo><mo>+</mo><msub><mi>b</mi><mn>1</mn></msub><mo>+</mo><msub><mi>b</mi><mn>0</mn></msub></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">b_{n-1} + \cdots + b_1 + b_0</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.9028em;vertical-align:-0.2083em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">n</span><span class="mbin mtight">−</span><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.2083em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6667em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="minner">⋯</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8444em;vertical-align:-0.15em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8444em;vertical-align:-0.15em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">0</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> must be even.</p>
</li>
</ol>
<p>From the above cases, we have:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>a</mi><mn>0</mn></msub></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">a_0</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.5806em;vertical-align:-0.15em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">0</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> must be even.</li>
<li>The sum <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>b</mi><mrow><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msub><mo>+</mo><mo>⋯</mo><mo>+</mo><msub><mi>b</mi><mn>1</mn></msub><mo>+</mo><msub><mi>b</mi><mn>0</mn></msub></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">b_{n-1} + \cdots + b_1 + b_0</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.9028em;vertical-align:-0.2083em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">n</span><span class="mbin mtight">−</span><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.2083em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6667em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="minner">⋯</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8444em;vertical-align:-0.15em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8444em;vertical-align:-0.15em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">0</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> must be even.</li>
</ul>
<p>However, if <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>a</mi><mn>0</mn></msub></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">a_0</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.5806em;vertical-align:-0.15em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">0</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> is even, then <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>b</mi><mn>0</mn></msub><mo>=</mo><mn>0</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">b_0 = 0</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8444em;vertical-align:-0.15em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">0</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">0</span></span></span></span>. This means the sum <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>b</mi><mrow><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msub><mo>+</mo><mo>⋯</mo><mo>+</mo><msub><mi>b</mi><mn>1</mn></msub></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">b_{n-1} + \cdots + b_1</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.9028em;vertical-align:-0.2083em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">n</span><span class="mbin mtight">−</span><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.2083em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6667em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="minner">⋯</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8444em;vertical-align:-0.15em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> must be even. But since <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>b</mi><mi>i</mi></msub></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">b_i</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8444em;vertical-align:-0.15em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3117em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">i</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> are either 0 or 1, the sum of <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>b</mi><mrow><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msub><mo>+</mo><mo>⋯</mo><mo>+</mo><msub><mi>b</mi><mn>1</mn></msub></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">b_{n-1} + \cdots + b_1</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.9028em;vertical-align:-0.2083em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">n</span><span class="mbin mtight">−</span><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.2083em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6667em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="minner">⋯</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8444em;vertical-align:-0.15em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> being even implies that there must be an even number of 1's among <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>b</mi><mrow><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msub><mo separator="true">,</mo><mo>…</mo><mo separator="true">,</mo><msub><mi>b</mi><mn>1</mn></msub></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">b_{n-1}, \ldots, b_1</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.9028em;vertical-align:-0.2083em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">n</span><span class="mbin mtight">−</span><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.2083em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mpunct">,</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="minner">…</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mpunct">,</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>.</p>
<p>Now, consider the polynomial <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>P</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><msup><mi>x</mi><mi>n</mi></msup><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">P(x) = x^n + 1</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1389em;">P</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7477em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.6644em;"><span style="top:-3.063em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">n</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span></span></span></span>. For this polynomial:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>a</mi><mn>0</mn></msub><mo>=</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">a_0 = 1</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.5806em;vertical-align:-0.15em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">0</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span></span></span></span> (odd), which contradicts our requirement that <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>a</mi><mn>0</mn></msub></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">a_0</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.5806em;vertical-align:-0.15em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">0</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> must be even.</li>
<li>The sum <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>b</mi><mrow><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msub><mo>+</mo><mo>⋯</mo><mo>+</mo><msub><mi>b</mi><mn>1</mn></msub><mo>+</mo><msub><mi>b</mi><mn>0</mn></msub><mo>=</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">b_{n-1} + \cdots + b_1 + b_0 = 1</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.9028em;vertical-align:-0.2083em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">n</span><span class="mbin mtight">−</span><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.2083em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6667em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="minner">⋯</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8444em;vertical-align:-0.15em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8444em;vertical-align:-0.15em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:0em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">0</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span></span></span></span> (odd), which also contradicts our requirement that the sum must be even.</li>
</ul>
<p>Therefore, it is impossible for <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>s</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>k</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">s(k)</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">s</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span></span> and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>s</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>P</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>k</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">s(P(k))</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">s</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1389em;">P</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span><span class="mclose">))</span></span></span></span> to have the same parity for all positive integers <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>k</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">k</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span></span></span></span>.</p>
<p>Thus, the final answer is:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><menclose notation="box"><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="false"><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="false"><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mtext>No</mtext></mstyle></mstyle></mstyle></menclose></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\boxed{\text{No}}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.3633em;vertical-align:-0.34em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:1.0233em;"><span style="top:-3.3633em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3.3633em;"></span><span class="boxpad"><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord text"><span class="mord">No</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="top:-3.0233em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3.3633em;"></span><span class="stretchy fbox" style="height:1.3633em;border-style:solid;border-width:0.04em;"></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.34em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
</details>
<details>
<summary>
Problem From IMO 2022</summary>
<p><strong>Problem</strong></p>
<p>Let <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><msup><mi mathvariant="double-struck">R</mi><mo>+</mo></msup></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\mathbb{R}^+</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7713em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathbb">R</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7713em;"><span style="top:-3.063em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mbin mtight">+</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> denote the set of positive real numbers. Find all functions <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo>:</mo><msup><mi mathvariant="double-struck">R</mi><mo>+</mo></msup><mo>→</mo><msup><mi mathvariant="double-struck">R</mi><mo>+</mo></msup></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f: \mathbb{R}^+ \to \mathbb{R}^+</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8889em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">:</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7713em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathbb">R</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7713em;"><span style="top:-3.063em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mbin mtight">+</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">→</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7713em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathbb">R</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7713em;"><span style="top:-3.063em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mbin mtight">+</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> such that for each <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi><mo>∈</mo><msup><mi mathvariant="double-struck">R</mi><mo>+</mo></msup></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">x \in \mathbb{R}^+</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.5782em;vertical-align:-0.0391em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">∈</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7713em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathbb">R</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7713em;"><span style="top:-3.063em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mbin mtight">+</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>, there is exactly one <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>y</mi><mo>∈</mo><msup><mi mathvariant="double-struck">R</mi><mo>+</mo></msup></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">y \in \mathbb{R}^+</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7335em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">∈</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7713em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathbb">R</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7713em;"><span style="top:-3.063em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mbin mtight">+</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> satisfying</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>y</mi><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>≤</mo><mn>2</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">xf(y)+yf(x) \leq 2</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≤</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">2</span></span></span></span></span>
<p><strong>zen-Math-72B-Instruct Solution</strong></p>
<p>To find all functions <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo>:</mo><msup><mi mathvariant="double-struck">R</mi><mo>+</mo></msup><mo>→</mo><msup><mi mathvariant="double-struck">R</mi><mo>+</mo></msup></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f: \mathbb{R}^+ \to \mathbb{R}^+</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8889em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">:</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7713em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathbb">R</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7713em;"><span style="top:-3.063em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mbin mtight">+</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">→</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7713em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathbb">R</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7713em;"><span style="top:-3.063em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mbin mtight">+</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> such that for each <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi><mo>∈</mo><msup><mi mathvariant="double-struck">R</mi><mo>+</mo></msup></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">x \in \mathbb{R}^+</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.5782em;vertical-align:-0.0391em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">∈</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7713em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathbb">R</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7713em;"><span style="top:-3.063em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mbin mtight">+</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>, there is exactly one <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>y</mi><mo>∈</mo><msup><mi mathvariant="double-struck">R</mi><mo>+</mo></msup></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">y \in \mathbb{R}^+</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7335em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">∈</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7713em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathbb">R</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7713em;"><span style="top:-3.063em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mbin mtight">+</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> satisfying</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>y</mi><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>≤</mo><mn>2</mn><mo separator="true">,</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">xf(y) + yf(x) \leq 2,</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≤</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8389em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord">2</span><span class="mpunct">,</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>we will proceed step by step.</p>
<p><strong>Step 1: Analyze the given inequality</strong>
Given <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi><mo>∈</mo><msup><mi mathvariant="double-struck">R</mi><mo>+</mo></msup></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">x \in \mathbb{R}^+</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.5782em;vertical-align:-0.0391em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">∈</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7713em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathbb">R</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7713em;"><span style="top:-3.063em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mbin mtight">+</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>, there exists a unique <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>y</mi><mo>∈</mo><msup><mi mathvariant="double-struck">R</mi><mo>+</mo></msup></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">y \in \mathbb{R}^+</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7335em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">∈</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7713em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathbb">R</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7713em;"><span style="top:-3.063em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mbin mtight">+</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> such that</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>y</mi><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>≤</mo><mn>2.</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">xf(y) + yf(x) \leq 2.</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≤</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">2.</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>We need to explore the implications of this condition.</p>
<p><strong>Step 2: Consider the case <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi><mo>=</mo><mi>y</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">x = y</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.625em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span></span></span></span></strong>
Substitute <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>y</mi><mo>=</mo><mi>x</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">y = x</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.625em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span></span></span></span> into the inequality:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>x</mi><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mn>2</mn><mi>x</mi><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>≤</mo><mn>2.</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">xf(x) + xf(x) = 2xf(x) \leq 2.</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord">2</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≤</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">2.</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>This simplifies to:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>≤</mo><mn>1.</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">xf(x) \leq 1.</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≤</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">1.</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>Thus, for all <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi><mo>∈</mo><msup><mi mathvariant="double-struck">R</mi><mo>+</mo></msup></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">x \in \mathbb{R}^+</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.5782em;vertical-align:-0.0391em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">∈</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7713em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathbb">R</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7713em;"><span style="top:-3.063em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mbin mtight">+</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>,</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>≤</mo><mfrac><mn>1</mn><mi>x</mi></mfrac><mi mathvariant="normal">.</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(x) \leq \frac{1}{x}.</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≤</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:2.0074em;vertical-align:-0.686em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mopen nulldelimiter"></span><span class="mfrac"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:1.3214em;"><span style="top:-2.314em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span></span></span><span style="top:-3.23em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="frac-line" style="border-bottom-width:0.04em;"></span></span><span style="top:-3.677em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">1</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.686em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mclose nulldelimiter"></span></span><span class="mord">.</span></span></span></span></span>
<p><strong>Step 3: Consider the uniqueness condition</strong>
For each <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi><mo>∈</mo><msup><mi mathvariant="double-struck">R</mi><mo>+</mo></msup></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">x \in \mathbb{R}^+</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.5782em;vertical-align:-0.0391em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">∈</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7713em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathbb">R</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7713em;"><span style="top:-3.063em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mbin mtight">+</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>, there is exactly one <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>y</mi><mo>∈</mo><msup><mi mathvariant="double-struck">R</mi><mo>+</mo></msup></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">y \in \mathbb{R}^+</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7335em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">∈</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7713em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathbb">R</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7713em;"><span style="top:-3.063em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mbin mtight">+</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> such that <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>y</mi><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>≤</mo><mn>2</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">xf(y) + yf(x) \leq 2</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≤</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">2</span></span></span></span>. We need to ensure that this <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>y</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">y</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.625em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span></span></span></span> is unique.</p>
<p><strong>Step 4: Test the function <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mfrac><mn>1</mn><mi>x</mi></mfrac></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(x) = \frac{1}{x}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.1901em;vertical-align:-0.345em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mopen nulldelimiter"></span><span class="mfrac"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8451em;"><span style="top:-2.655em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">x</span></span></span></span><span style="top:-3.23em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="frac-line" style="border-bottom-width:0.04em;"></span></span><span style="top:-3.394em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.345em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mclose nulldelimiter"></span></span></span></span></span></strong>
Consider the function <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mfrac><mn>1</mn><mi>x</mi></mfrac></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(x) = \frac{1}{x}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.1901em;vertical-align:-0.345em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mopen nulldelimiter"></span><span class="mfrac"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8451em;"><span style="top:-2.655em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">x</span></span></span></span><span style="top:-3.23em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="frac-line" style="border-bottom-width:0.04em;"></span></span><span style="top:-3.394em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.345em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mclose nulldelimiter"></span></span></span></span></span>. Substitute <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mfrac><mn>1</mn><mi>x</mi></mfrac></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(x) = \frac{1}{x}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.1901em;vertical-align:-0.345em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mopen nulldelimiter"></span><span class="mfrac"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8451em;"><span style="top:-2.655em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">x</span></span></span></span><span style="top:-3.23em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="frac-line" style="border-bottom-width:0.04em;"></span></span><span style="top:-3.394em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.345em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mclose nulldelimiter"></span></span></span></span></span> and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mfrac><mn>1</mn><mi>y</mi></mfrac></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(y) = \frac{1}{y}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.3262em;vertical-align:-0.4811em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mopen nulldelimiter"></span><span class="mfrac"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8451em;"><span style="top:-2.655em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span></span></span></span><span style="top:-3.23em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="frac-line" style="border-bottom-width:0.04em;"></span></span><span style="top:-3.394em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.4811em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mclose nulldelimiter"></span></span></span></span></span> into the inequality:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi><mo>⋅</mo><mfrac><mn>1</mn><mi>y</mi></mfrac><mo>+</mo><mi>y</mi><mo>⋅</mo><mfrac><mn>1</mn><mi>x</mi></mfrac><mo>=</mo><mfrac><mi>x</mi><mi>y</mi></mfrac><mo>+</mo><mfrac><mi>y</mi><mi>x</mi></mfrac><mi mathvariant="normal">.</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">x \cdot \frac{1}{y} + y \cdot \frac{1}{x} = \frac{x}{y} + \frac{y}{x}.</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4445em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">⋅</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:2.2019em;vertical-align:-0.8804em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mopen nulldelimiter"></span><span class="mfrac"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:1.3214em;"><span style="top:-2.314em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span></span></span><span style="top:-3.23em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="frac-line" style="border-bottom-width:0.04em;"></span></span><span style="top:-3.677em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">1</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8804em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mclose nulldelimiter"></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6389em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">⋅</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:2.0074em;vertical-align:-0.686em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mopen nulldelimiter"></span><span class="mfrac"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:1.3214em;"><span style="top:-2.314em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span></span></span><span style="top:-3.23em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="frac-line" style="border-bottom-width:0.04em;"></span></span><span style="top:-3.677em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">1</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.686em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mclose nulldelimiter"></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.988em;vertical-align:-0.8804em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mopen nulldelimiter"></span><span class="mfrac"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:1.1076em;"><span style="top:-2.314em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span></span></span><span style="top:-3.23em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="frac-line" style="border-bottom-width:0.04em;"></span></span><span style="top:-3.677em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8804em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mclose nulldelimiter"></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.7936em;vertical-align:-0.686em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mopen nulldelimiter"></span><span class="mfrac"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:1.1076em;"><span style="top:-2.314em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span></span></span><span style="top:-3.23em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="frac-line" style="border-bottom-width:0.04em;"></span></span><span style="top:-3.677em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.686em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mclose nulldelimiter"></span></span><span class="mord">.</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>We need:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mfrac><mi>x</mi><mi>y</mi></mfrac><mo>+</mo><mfrac><mi>y</mi><mi>x</mi></mfrac><mo>≤</mo><mn>2.</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\frac{x}{y} + \frac{y}{x} \leq 2.</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.988em;vertical-align:-0.8804em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mopen nulldelimiter"></span><span class="mfrac"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:1.1076em;"><span style="top:-2.314em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span></span></span><span style="top:-3.23em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="frac-line" style="border-bottom-width:0.04em;"></span></span><span style="top:-3.677em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8804em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mclose nulldelimiter"></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.7936em;vertical-align:-0.686em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mopen nulldelimiter"></span><span class="mfrac"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:1.1076em;"><span style="top:-2.314em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span></span></span><span style="top:-3.23em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="frac-line" style="border-bottom-width:0.04em;"></span></span><span style="top:-3.677em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.686em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mclose nulldelimiter"></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≤</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">2.</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>Using the AM-GM inequality, we know:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mfrac><mi>x</mi><mi>y</mi></mfrac><mo>+</mo><mfrac><mi>y</mi><mi>x</mi></mfrac><mo>≥</mo><mn>2.</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\frac{x}{y} + \frac{y}{x} \geq 2.</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.988em;vertical-align:-0.8804em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mopen nulldelimiter"></span><span class="mfrac"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:1.1076em;"><span style="top:-2.314em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span></span></span><span style="top:-3.23em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="frac-line" style="border-bottom-width:0.04em;"></span></span><span style="top:-3.677em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8804em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mclose nulldelimiter"></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.7936em;vertical-align:-0.686em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mopen nulldelimiter"></span><span class="mfrac"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:1.1076em;"><span style="top:-2.314em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span></span></span><span style="top:-3.23em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="frac-line" style="border-bottom-width:0.04em;"></span></span><span style="top:-3.677em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.686em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mclose nulldelimiter"></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≥</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">2.</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>Equality holds if and only if <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mfrac><mi>x</mi><mi>y</mi></mfrac><mo>=</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\frac{x}{y} = 1</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.1765em;vertical-align:-0.4811em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mopen nulldelimiter"></span><span class="mfrac"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.6954em;"><span style="top:-2.655em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span></span></span></span><span style="top:-3.23em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="frac-line" style="border-bottom-width:0.04em;"></span></span><span style="top:-3.394em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">x</span></span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.4811em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mclose nulldelimiter"></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span></span></span></span>, which implies <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi><mo>=</mo><mi>y</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">x = y</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.625em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span></span></span></span>.</p>
<p>Thus, for <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mfrac><mn>1</mn><mi>x</mi></mfrac></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(x) = \frac{1}{x}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.1901em;vertical-align:-0.345em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mopen nulldelimiter"></span><span class="mfrac"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8451em;"><span style="top:-2.655em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">x</span></span></span></span><span style="top:-3.23em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="frac-line" style="border-bottom-width:0.04em;"></span></span><span style="top:-3.394em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.345em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mclose nulldelimiter"></span></span></span></span></span>, the inequality <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>y</mi><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>≤</mo><mn>2</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">xf(y) + yf(x) \leq 2</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≤</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">2</span></span></span></span> holds if and only if <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi><mo>=</mo><mi>y</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">x = y</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.625em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span></span></span></span>. This satisfies the condition that there is exactly one <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>y</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">y</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.625em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span></span></span></span> for each <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">x</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span></span></span></span>.</p>
<p><strong>Step 5: Verify if other functions can satisfy the condition</strong>
Suppose there exists another function <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>g</mi><mo>:</mo><msup><mi mathvariant="double-struck">R</mi><mo>+</mo></msup><mo>→</mo><msup><mi mathvariant="double-struck">R</mi><mo>+</mo></msup></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">g: \mathbb{R}^+ \to \mathbb{R}^+</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.625em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">g</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">:</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7713em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathbb">R</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7713em;"><span style="top:-3.063em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mbin mtight">+</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">→</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7713em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathbb">R</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7713em;"><span style="top:-3.063em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mbin mtight">+</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> such that <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>g</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo mathvariant="normal">≠</mo><mfrac><mn>1</mn><mi>x</mi></mfrac></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">g(x) \neq \frac{1}{x}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">g</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel"><span class="mrel"><span class="mord vbox"><span class="thinbox"><span class="rlap"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8889em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="inner"><span class="mord"><span class="mrel"></span></span></span><span class="fix"></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace nobreak"></span><span class="mrel">=</span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.1901em;vertical-align:-0.345em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mopen nulldelimiter"></span><span class="mfrac"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8451em;"><span style="top:-2.655em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">x</span></span></span></span><span style="top:-3.23em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="frac-line" style="border-bottom-width:0.04em;"></span></span><span style="top:-3.394em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.345em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mclose nulldelimiter"></span></span></span></span></span> for some <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">x</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span></span></span></span>. Then, for some <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">x</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span></span></span></span>, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>g</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>&#x3C;</mo><mfrac><mn>1</mn><mi>x</mi></mfrac></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">g(x) &#x3C; \frac{1}{x}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">g</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">&#x3C;</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.1901em;vertical-align:-0.345em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mopen nulldelimiter"></span><span class="mfrac"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8451em;"><span style="top:-2.655em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">x</span></span></span></span><span style="top:-3.23em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="frac-line" style="border-bottom-width:0.04em;"></span></span><span style="top:-3.394em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.345em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mclose nulldelimiter"></span></span></span></span></span> or <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>g</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>></mo><mfrac><mn>1</mn><mi>x</mi></mfrac></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">g(x) > \frac{1}{x}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">g</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.1901em;vertical-align:-0.345em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mopen nulldelimiter"></span><span class="mfrac"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8451em;"><span style="top:-2.655em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">x</span></span></span></span><span style="top:-3.23em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="frac-line" style="border-bottom-width:0.04em;"></span></span><span style="top:-3.394em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.345em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mclose nulldelimiter"></span></span></span></span></span>.</p>
<ul>
<li>If <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>g</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>&#x3C;</mo><mfrac><mn>1</mn><mi>x</mi></mfrac></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">g(x) &#x3C; \frac{1}{x}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">g</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">&#x3C;</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.1901em;vertical-align:-0.345em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mopen nulldelimiter"></span><span class="mfrac"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8451em;"><span style="top:-2.655em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">x</span></span></span></span><span style="top:-3.23em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="frac-line" style="border-bottom-width:0.04em;"></span></span><span style="top:-3.394em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.345em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mclose nulldelimiter"></span></span></span></span></span>, then <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi><mi>g</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>y</mi><mi>g</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">xg(y) + yg(x)</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">xg</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">g</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span></span> might not satisfy the inequality for all <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>y</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">y</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.625em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span></span></span></span>.</li>
<li>If <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>g</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>></mo><mfrac><mn>1</mn><mi>x</mi></mfrac></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">g(x) > \frac{1}{x}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">g</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.1901em;vertical-align:-0.345em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mopen nulldelimiter"></span><span class="mfrac"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8451em;"><span style="top:-2.655em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">x</span></span></span></span><span style="top:-3.23em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="frac-line" style="border-bottom-width:0.04em;"></span></span><span style="top:-3.394em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.345em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mclose nulldelimiter"></span></span></span></span></span>, then <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi><mi>g</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>y</mi><mi>g</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">xg(y) + yg(x)</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">xg</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">g</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span></span> might exceed 2 for some <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>y</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">y</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.625em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span></span></span></span>.</li>
</ul>
<p>Thus, any function other than <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mfrac><mn>1</mn><mi>x</mi></mfrac></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(x) = \frac{1}{x}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.1901em;vertical-align:-0.345em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mopen nulldelimiter"></span><span class="mfrac"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8451em;"><span style="top:-2.655em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">x</span></span></span></span><span style="top:-3.23em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="frac-line" style="border-bottom-width:0.04em;"></span></span><span style="top:-3.394em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.345em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mclose nulldelimiter"></span></span></span></span></span> would not satisfy the uniqueness condition.</p>
<p><strong>Conclusion</strong>
The only function <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo>:</mo><msup><mi mathvariant="double-struck">R</mi><mo>+</mo></msup><mo>→</mo><msup><mi mathvariant="double-struck">R</mi><mo>+</mo></msup></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f: \mathbb{R}^+ \to \mathbb{R}^+</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8889em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">:</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7713em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathbb">R</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7713em;"><span style="top:-3.063em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mbin mtight">+</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">→</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7713em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathbb">R</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7713em;"><span style="top:-3.063em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mbin mtight">+</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> that satisfies the given condition is:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><menclose notation="box"><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="false"><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="false"><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mfrac><mn>1</mn><mi>x</mi></mfrac></mrow></mstyle></mstyle></mstyle></menclose><mi mathvariant="normal">.</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\boxed{f(x) = \frac{1}{x}}.</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:2.6874em;vertical-align:-1.026em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:1.6614em;"><span style="top:-4.6874em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:4.6874em;"></span><span class="boxpad"><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mopen nulldelimiter"></span><span class="mfrac"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:1.3214em;"><span style="top:-2.314em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span></span></span><span style="top:-3.23em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="frac-line" style="border-bottom-width:0.04em;"></span></span><span style="top:-3.677em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">1</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.686em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mclose nulldelimiter"></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="top:-3.6614em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:4.6874em;"></span><span class="stretchy fbox" style="height:2.6874em;border-style:solid;border-width:0.04em;"></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:1.026em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mord">.</span></span></span></span></span>
</details>
<details>
<summary>
Problem from International Zhautykov Olympiad 2020</summary>
<p><strong>Problem</strong></p>
<p>Let <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>Z</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">Z</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">Z</span></span></span></span> be the set of all integers. Find all the function <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo>:</mo><mi>Z</mi><mo>→</mo><mi>Z</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f: Z \to Z</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8889em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">:</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">Z</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">→</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">Z</span></span></span></span> such that</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>4</mn><mi>x</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>3</mn><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>3</mn><mi>x</mi><mo>+</mo><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>2</mn><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(4x+3y)=f(3x+y)+f(x+2y)</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">4</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord">3</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">3</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord">2</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>For all integers <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi><mo separator="true">,</mo><mi>y</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">x,y</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.625em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mpunct">,</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span></span></span></span></p>
<p><strong>zen-Math-72B-Instruct Solution</strong></p>
<p>To find all functions <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo>:</mo><mi mathvariant="double-struck">Z</mi><mo>→</mo><mi mathvariant="double-struck">Z</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f: \mathbb{Z} \to \mathbb{Z}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8889em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">:</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6889em;"></span><span class="mord mathbb">Z</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">→</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6889em;"></span><span class="mord mathbb">Z</span></span></span></span> that satisfy the functional equation</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>4</mn><mi>x</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>3</mn><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>3</mn><mi>x</mi><mo>+</mo><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>2</mn><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(4x + 3y) = f(3x + y) + f(x + 2y)</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">4</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord">3</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">3</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord">2</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>for all integers <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">x</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span></span></span></span> and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>y</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">y</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.625em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span></span></span></span>, we will proceed step by step.</p>
<p><strong>Step 1: Initial Substitution</strong></p>
<p>First, let's substitute specific values for <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">x</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span></span></span></span> and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>y</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">y</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.625em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span></span></span></span> to gain insight into the function.</p>
<p>Substitution 1: <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>0</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">x = 0</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">0</span></span></span></span></p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>4</mn><mo>⋅</mo><mn>0</mn><mo>+</mo><mn>3</mn><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>3</mn><mo>⋅</mo><mn>0</mn><mo>+</mo><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>0</mn><mo>+</mo><mn>2</mn><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(4 \cdot 0 + 3y) = f(3 \cdot 0 + y) + f(0 + 2y)</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">4</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">⋅</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7278em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord">3</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">3</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">⋅</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7278em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord">2</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span></span></span>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>3</mn><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>2</mn><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(3y) = f(y) + f(2y)</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">3</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">2</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>Substitution 2: <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>y</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>0</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">y = 0</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.625em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">0</span></span></span></span></p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>4</mn><mi>x</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>3</mn><mo>⋅</mo><mn>0</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>3</mn><mi>x</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>0</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>2</mn><mo>⋅</mo><mn>0</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(4x + 3 \cdot 0) = f(3x + 0) + f(x + 2 \cdot 0)</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">4</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">3</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">⋅</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">3</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">2</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">⋅</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span></span></span>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>4</mn><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>3</mn><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(4x) = f(3x) + f(x)</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">4</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">3</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span></span></span>
<p><strong>Step 2: Exploring Further Substitutions</strong></p>
<p>We now have two equations:</p>
<ol>
<li><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>3</mn><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>2</mn><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(3y) = f(y) + f(2y)</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">3</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">2</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>4</mn><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>3</mn><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(4x) = f(3x) + f(x)</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">4</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">3</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span></span></li>
</ol>
<p>Substitution 3: <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>y</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">y = 1</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.625em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span></span></span></span> in the first equation</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>3</mn><mo>⋅</mo><mn>1</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>1</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>2</mn><mo>⋅</mo><mn>1</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(3 \cdot 1) = f(1) + f(2 \cdot 1)</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">3</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">⋅</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">2</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">⋅</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span></span></span>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>3</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>1</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>2</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(3) = f(1) + f(2)</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">3</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">2</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>Substitution 4: <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">x = 1</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span></span></span></span> in the second equation</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>4</mn><mo>⋅</mo><mn>1</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>3</mn><mo>⋅</mo><mn>1</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>1</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(4 \cdot 1) = f(3 \cdot 1) + f(1)</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">4</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">⋅</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">3</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">⋅</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span></span></span>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>4</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>3</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>1</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(4) = f(3) + f(1)</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">4</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">3</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span></span></span>
<p><strong>Step 3: Using the Equations to Find a Pattern</strong></p>
<p>We have:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>3</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>1</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>2</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(3) = f(1) + f(2)</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">3</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">2</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span></span></span>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>4</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>3</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>1</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(4) = f(3) + f(1)</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">4</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">3</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>Substitute <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>3</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(3)</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">3</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span></span> from the first equation into the second equation:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>4</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>1</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>2</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>1</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(4) = (f(1) + f(2)) + f(1)</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">4</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">2</span><span class="mclose">))</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span></span></span>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>4</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mn>2</mn><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>1</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>2</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(4) = 2f(1) + f(2)</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">4</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord">2</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">2</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span></span></span>
<p><strong>Step 4: Generalizing the Function</strong></p>
<p>We hypothesize that <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8889em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span></span></span></span> might be a linear function. Let's assume <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>k</mi><mi>x</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(x) = kx</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span></span></span></span> for some integer <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>k</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">k</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span></span></span></span>.</p>
<p><em>Verification</em>
Substitute <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>k</mi><mi>x</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(x) = kx</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span></span></span></span> into the original functional equation:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>4</mn><mi>x</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>3</mn><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>k</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>4</mn><mi>x</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>3</mn><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(4x + 3y) = k(4x + 3y)</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">4</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord">3</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">4</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord">3</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span></span></span>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>3</mn><mi>x</mi><mo>+</mo><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>k</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>3</mn><mi>x</mi><mo>+</mo><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(3x + y) = k(3x + y)</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">3</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">3</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span></span></span>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>2</mn><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>k</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>2</mn><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(x + 2y) = k(x + 2y)</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord">2</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord">2</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>The original equation becomes:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>k</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>4</mn><mi>x</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>3</mn><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>k</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>3</mn><mi>x</mi><mo>+</mo><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>k</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>2</mn><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">k(4x + 3y) = k(3x + y) + k(x + 2y)</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">4</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord">3</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">3</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord">2</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span></span></span>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mn>4</mn><mi>k</mi><mi>x</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>3</mn><mi>k</mi><mi>y</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>3</mn><mi>k</mi><mi>x</mi><mo>+</mo><mi>k</mi><mi>y</mi><mo>+</mo><mi>k</mi><mi>x</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>2</mn><mi>k</mi><mi>y</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">4kx + 3ky = 3kx + ky + kx + 2ky</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7778em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord">4</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8889em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord">3</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7778em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord">3</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8889em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7778em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8889em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord">2</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span></span></span></span></span>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mn>4</mn><mi>k</mi><mi>x</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>3</mn><mi>k</mi><mi>y</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>4</mn><mi>k</mi><mi>x</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>3</mn><mi>k</mi><mi>y</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">4kx + 3ky = 4kx + 3ky</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7778em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord">4</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8889em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord">3</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7778em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord">4</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8889em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord">3</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>This equation holds true for all <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">x</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span></span></span></span> and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>y</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">y</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.625em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span></span></span></span>, confirming that <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>k</mi><mi>x</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(x) = kx</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span></span></span></span> is a solution.</p>
<p><strong>Conclusion</strong></p>
<p>The only functions <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo>:</mo><mi mathvariant="double-struck">Z</mi><mo>→</mo><mi mathvariant="double-struck">Z</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f: \mathbb{Z} \to \mathbb{Z}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8889em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">:</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6889em;"></span><span class="mord mathbb">Z</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">→</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6889em;"></span><span class="mord mathbb">Z</span></span></span></span> that satisfy the given functional equation are of the form <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>k</mi><mi>x</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(x) = kx</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span></span></span></span> for some integer <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>k</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">k</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span></span></span></span>.</p>
<p>Thus, the final answer is:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><menclose notation="box"><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="false"><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="false"><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>k</mi><mi>x</mi><mtext> for some integer </mtext><mi>k</mi></mrow></mstyle></mstyle></mstyle></menclose></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\boxed{f(x) = kx \text{ for some integer } k}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.68em;vertical-align:-0.59em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:1.09em;"><span style="top:-3.68em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3.68em;"></span><span class="boxpad"><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mord text"><span class="mord"> for some integer </span></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span></span></span></span></span><span style="top:-3.09em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3.68em;"></span><span class="stretchy fbox" style="height:1.68em;border-style:solid;border-width:0.04em;"></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.59em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
</details>
<details>
<summary>
Problem From Baltic Way 2023</summary>
<p><strong>Problem</strong></p>
<p>Find all functions <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo>:</mo><mi mathvariant="double-struck">R</mi><mo>→</mo><mi mathvariant="double-struck">R</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f: \mathbb{R} \rightarrow \mathbb{R}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8889em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">:</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6889em;"></span><span class="mord mathbb">R</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">→</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6889em;"></span><span class="mord mathbb">R</span></span></span></span> such that</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>x</mi><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mi>y</mi><mo>+</mo><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(f(x)+y)+xf(y)=f(xy+y)+f(x)</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span></span></span>
<pre><code>for reals $x, y$.
</code></pre>
<p><strong>zen-Math-72B-Instruct Solution:</strong></p>
<p>To find all functions <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo>:</mo><mi mathvariant="double-struck">R</mi><mo>→</mo><mi mathvariant="double-struck">R</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f: \mathbb{R} \rightarrow \mathbb{R}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8889em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">:</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6889em;"></span><span class="mord mathbb">R</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">→</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6889em;"></span><span class="mord mathbb">R</span></span></span></span> that satisfy the functional equation</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>x</mi><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mi>y</mi><mo>+</mo><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo separator="true">,</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(f(x) + y) + x f(y) = f(xy + y) + f(x),</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mpunct">,</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>we will proceed step by step.</p>
<p><strong>Step 1: Initial Substitution</strong></p>
<p>First, let's substitute <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>y</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>0</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">y = 0</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.625em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">0</span></span></span></span> into the equation:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mn>0</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>x</mi><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>0</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo>⋅</mo><mn>0</mn><mo>+</mo><mn>0</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mi mathvariant="normal">.</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(f(x) + 0) + x f(0) = f(x \cdot 0 + 0) + f(x).</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">⋅</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7278em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mord">.</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>This simplifies to:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>x</mi><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>0</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>0</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mi mathvariant="normal">.</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(f(x)) + x f(0) = f(0) + f(x).</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">))</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mord">.</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>Rearranging terms, we get:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>0</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>−</mo><mi>x</mi><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>0</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mi mathvariant="normal">.</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(f(x)) = f(x) + f(0) - x f(0).</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">))</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">−</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mord">.</span></span></span></span></span>
<p><strong>Step 2: Analyzing the Simplified Equation</strong></p>
<p>Let <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>c</mi><mo>=</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>0</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">c = f(0)</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">c</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span></span>. The equation becomes:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>c</mi><mo>−</mo><mi>x</mi><mi>c</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">.</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(f(x)) = f(x) + c - x c.</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">))</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6667em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">c</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">−</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mord mathnormal">c</span><span class="mord">.</span></span></span></span></span>
<p><strong>Step 3: Substituting <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>0</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">x = 0</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">0</span></span></span></span></strong></p>
<p>Next, substitute <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>0</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">x = 0</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">0</span></span></span></span> into the original equation:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>0</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mn>0</mn><mo>⋅</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>0</mn><mo>⋅</mo><mi>y</mi><mo>+</mo><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>0</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mi mathvariant="normal">.</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(f(0) + y) + 0 \cdot f(y) = f(0 \cdot y + y) + f(0).</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">⋅</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">⋅</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7778em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mord">.</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>This simplifies to:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>c</mi><mo>+</mo><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>c</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">.</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(c + y) = f(y) + c.</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">c</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">c</span><span class="mord">.</span></span></span></span></span>
<p><strong>Step 4: Substituting <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>y</mi><mo>=</mo><mo>−</mo><mi>c</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">y = -c</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.625em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6667em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord">−</span><span class="mord mathnormal">c</span></span></span></span></strong></p>
<p>Substitute <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>y</mi><mo>=</mo><mo>−</mo><mi>c</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">y = -c</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.625em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6667em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord">−</span><span class="mord mathnormal">c</span></span></span></span> into the equation <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>c</mi><mo>+</mo><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>c</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(c + y) = f(y) + c</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">c</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">c</span></span></span></span>:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>c</mi><mo>−</mo><mi>c</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mo>−</mo><mi>c</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>c</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">.</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(c - c) = f(-c) + c.</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">c</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">−</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">c</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">−</span><span class="mord mathnormal">c</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">c</span><span class="mord">.</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>This simplifies to:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>0</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mo>−</mo><mi>c</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>c</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">.</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(0) = f(-c) + c.</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">−</span><span class="mord mathnormal">c</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">c</span><span class="mord">.</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>Since <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>0</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>c</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(0) = c</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">c</span></span></span></span>, we have:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>c</mi><mo>=</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mo>−</mo><mi>c</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>c</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">.</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">c = f(-c) + c.</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">c</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">−</span><span class="mord mathnormal">c</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">c</span><span class="mord">.</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>Subtracting <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>c</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">c</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">c</span></span></span></span> from both sides, we get:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mo>−</mo><mi>c</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mn>0.</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(-c) = 0.</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">−</span><span class="mord mathnormal">c</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">0.</span></span></span></span></span>
<p><strong>Step 5: Substituting <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>y</mi><mo>=</mo><mo>−</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">y = -f(x)</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.625em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord">−</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span></span></strong></p>
<p>Substitute <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>y</mi><mo>=</mo><mo>−</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">y = -f(x)</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.625em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord">−</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span></span> into the original equation:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>−</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>x</mi><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mo>−</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mo>−</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>−</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mi mathvariant="normal">.</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(f(x) - f(x)) + x f(-f(x)) = f(x(-f(x)) - f(x)) + f(x).</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">−</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">))</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">−</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">))</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">−</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">))</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">−</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">))</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mord">.</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>This simplifies to:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>0</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>x</mi><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mo>−</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mo>−</mo><mi>x</mi><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>−</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mi mathvariant="normal">.</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(0) + x f(-f(x)) = f(-x f(x) - f(x)) + f(x).</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">−</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">))</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">−</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">−</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">))</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mord">.</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>Since <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>0</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>c</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(0) = c</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">c</span></span></span></span>, we have:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>c</mi><mo>+</mo><mi>x</mi><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mo>−</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mo>−</mo><mi>x</mi><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>−</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mi mathvariant="normal">.</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">c + x f(-f(x)) = f(-x f(x) - f(x)) + f(x).</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6667em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">c</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">−</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">))</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">−</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">−</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">))</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mord">.</span></span></span></span></span>
<p><strong>Step 6: Considering <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mn>0</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(x) = 0</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">0</span></span></span></span></strong></p>
<p>Assume <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mn>0</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(x) = 0</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">0</span></span></span></span> for all <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">x</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span></span></span></span>. Substitute <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mn>0</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(x) = 0</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">0</span></span></span></span> into the original equation:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>0</mn><mo>+</mo><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>x</mi><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mi>y</mi><mo>+</mo><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mi mathvariant="normal">.</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(0 + y) + x f(y) = f(xy + y) + f(x).</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mord">.</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>This simplifies to:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mn>0</mn><mo>=</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mn>0</mn><mo separator="true">,</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(y) + 0 = f(y) + 0,</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8389em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mpunct">,</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>which is always true.</p>
<p><strong>Step 7: Verifying <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>x</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(x) = x</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span></span></span></span></strong></p>
<p>Assume <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>x</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(x) = x</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span></span></span></span>. Substitute <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>x</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(x) = x</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span></span></span></span> into the original equation:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo>+</mo><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>x</mi><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mi>y</mi><mo>+</mo><mi>y</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mi mathvariant="normal">.</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(x + y) + x f(y) = f(xy + y) + f(x).</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mord">.</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>This simplifies to:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi><mo>+</mo><mi>y</mi><mo>+</mo><mi>x</mi><mi>y</mi><mo>=</mo><mi>x</mi><mi>y</mi><mo>+</mo><mi>y</mi><mo>+</mo><mi>x</mi><mo separator="true">,</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">x + y + xy = xy + y + x,</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6667em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7778em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.625em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7778em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7778em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0359em;">y</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.625em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mpunct">,</span></span></span></span></span>
<p>which is always true.</p>
<p><strong>Conclusion</strong></p>
<p>The only functions that satisfy the given functional equation are <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mn>0</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(x) = 0</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">0</span></span></span></span> and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>x</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(x) = x</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span></span></span></span>. Therefore, the solutions are:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><menclose notation="box"><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="false"><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="false"><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mn>0</mn><mtext> or </mtext><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>x</mi></mrow></mstyle></mstyle></mstyle></menclose><mi mathvariant="normal">.</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\boxed{f(x) = 0 \text{ or } f(x) = x}.</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.68em;vertical-align:-0.59em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:1.09em;"><span style="top:-3.68em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3.68em;"></span><span class="boxpad"><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mord text"><span class="mord"> or </span></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1076em;">f</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span></span></span></span></span><span style="top:-3.09em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3.68em;"></span><span class="stretchy fbox" style="height:1.68em;border-style:solid;border-width:0.04em;"></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.59em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mord">.</span></span></span></span></span>
</details>
<details>
<summary>
Problem From Lusophon Mathematical Olympiad 2023</summary>
<p><strong>Problem</strong></p>
<p>A long time ago, there existed Martians with <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mn>3</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex"> 3</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">3</span></span></span></span> different colours: red, green and blue. As Mars was devastated by an intergalactic war, only <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex"> 2</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">2</span></span></span></span> Martians of each colours survived. In order to reconstruct the Martian population, they decided to use a machine that transforms two Martians of distinct colours into four Martians of colour different to the two initial ones. For example, if a red Martian and a blue Martian use the machine, they'll be transformed into four green Martians.</p>
<p>a) Is it possible that, after using that machine finitely many times, we have <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mn>2022</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">2022</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">2022</span></span></span></span> red Martians, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mn>2022</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex"> 2022</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">2022</span></span></span></span> green Martians and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mn>2022</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex"> 2022</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">2022</span></span></span></span> blue Martians?</p>
<p>b) Is it possible that, after using that machine finitely many times, we have <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mn>2021</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex"> 2021</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">2021</span></span></span></span> red Martians, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mn>2022</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex"> 2022</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">2022</span></span></span></span> green Martians and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mn>2023</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex"> 2023</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">2023</span></span></span></span> blue Martians?</p>
<p><strong>zen-Math-72B-Instruct Solution</strong></p>
<p>Let's analyze the problem step by step.</p>
<p><strong>Part (a)</strong></p>
<p>We start with 2 red, 2 green, and 2 blue Martians. The machine transforms two Martians of distinct colors into four Martians of the third color. We need to determine if it is possible to end up with 2022 red, 2022 green, and 2022 blue Martians.</p>
<p>First, let's consider the parity (odd or even nature) of the number of Martians of each color. Initially, we have:</p>
<ul>
<li>2 red (even)</li>
<li>2 green (even)</li>
<li>2 blue (even)</li>
</ul>
<p>Each transformation changes the parity of the number of Martians of the two initial colors and the parity of the number of Martians of the third color. Specifically:</p>
<ul>
<li>If we transform 1 red and 1 green Martian, we get 4 blue Martians. This changes the parity of red and green Martians from even to odd, and the parity of blue Martians from even to odd.</li>
<li>If we transform 1 red and 1 blue Martian, we get 4 green Martians. This changes the parity of red and blue Martians from even to odd, and the parity of green Martians from even to odd.</li>
<li>If we transform 1 green and 1 blue Martian, we get 4 red Martians. This changes the parity of green and blue Martians from even to odd, and the parity of red Martians from even to odd.</li>
</ul>
<p>In all cases, the parity of the number of Martians of each color changes from even to odd or from odd to even. Therefore, after any number of transformations, the parity of the number of Martians of each color will always be the same as it was initially.</p>
<p>Since initially all three colors have an even number of Martians, after any number of transformations, the number of Martians of each color will remain even.</p>
<p>Given that 2022 is an even number, it is possible to have 2022 red, 2022 green, and 2022 blue Martians after a finite number of transformations.</p>
<p>Thus, the answer to part (a) is:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><menclose notation="box"><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="false"><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="false"><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mtext>Yes</mtext></mstyle></mstyle></mstyle></menclose></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\boxed{\text{Yes}}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.3633em;vertical-align:-0.34em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:1.0233em;"><span style="top:-3.3633em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3.3633em;"></span><span class="boxpad"><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord text"><span class="mord">Yes</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="top:-3.0233em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3.3633em;"></span><span class="stretchy fbox" style="height:1.3633em;border-style:solid;border-width:0.04em;"></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.34em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<p><strong>Part (b)</strong></p>
<p>We start again with 2 red, 2 green, and 2 blue Martians. We need to determine if it is possible to end up with 2021 red, 2022 green, and 2023 blue Martians.</p>
<p>As in part (a), we consider the parity of the number of Martians of each color. Initially, we have:</p>
<ul>
<li>2 red (even)</li>
<li>2 green (even)</li>
<li>2 blue (even)</li>
</ul>
<p>Each transformation changes the parity of the number of Martians of the two initial colors and the parity of the number of Martians of the third color. Therefore, after any number of transformations, the parity of the number of Martians of each color will always be the same as it was initially.</p>
<p>Since initially all three colors have an even number of Martians, after any number of transformations, the number of Martians of each color will remain even.</p>
<p>Given that 2021 is an odd number, it is impossible to have 2021 red Martians after any number of transformations. Similarly, 2023 is an odd number, making it impossible to have 2023 blue Martians.</p>
<p>Thus, the answer to part (b) is:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><menclose notation="box"><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="false"><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="false"><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mtext>No</mtext></mstyle></mstyle></mstyle></menclose></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\boxed{\text{No}}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.3633em;vertical-align:-0.34em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:1.0233em;"><span style="top:-3.3633em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3.3633em;"></span><span class="boxpad"><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord text"><span class="mord">No</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="top:-3.0233em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3.3633em;"></span><span class="stretchy fbox" style="height:1.3633em;border-style:solid;border-width:0.04em;"></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.34em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
</details>
<details>
<summary>
Problem From Balkan MO 2023</summary>
<p><strong>Problem</strong></p>
<p>Joe and Penny play a game. Initially there are <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mn>5000</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex"> 5000</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">5000</span></span></span></span> stones in a pile, and the two players remove stones from the pile by making a sequence of moves. On the <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>k</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex"> k</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span></span></span></span>-th move, any number of stones between <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mn>1</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex"> 1</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span></span></span></span> and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>k</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex"> k</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span></span></span></span> inclusive may be removed. Joe makes the odd-numbered moves and Penny makes the even-numbered moves. The player who removes the very last stone is the winner. Who wins if both players play perfectly?</p>
<p><strong>zen-Math-72B-Instruct Solution</strong></p>
<p>To determine the winner of the game, we need to analyze the strategy and the sequence of moves. Let's break down the problem step by step.</p>
<ol>
<li>
<p><strong>Understanding the Game Rules:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Initially, there are 5000 stones.</li>
<li>Joe makes the first move (odd-numbered move), Penny makes the second move (even-numbered move), and so on.</li>
<li>On the <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>k</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">k</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span></span></span></span>-th move, a player can remove between 1 and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>k</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">k</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span></span></span></span> stones.</li>
<li>The player who removes the last stone wins.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>Key Insight:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>The game is symmetric in the sense that the number of stones a player can remove on their turn increases linearly with the move number.</li>
<li>The total number of moves in the game is equal to the number of stones initially in the pile, which is 5000.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>Total Number of Moves:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Since there are 5000 stones, there will be 5000 moves in total.</li>
<li>Joe makes the odd-numbered moves: 1st, 3rd, 5th, ..., 4999th.</li>
<li>Penny makes the even-numbered moves: 2nd, 4th, 6th, ..., 5000th.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>Determining the Winner:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>The last move (5000th move) is an even-numbered move.</li>
<li>Therefore, Penny will make the last move.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>Conclusion:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Since Penny makes the last move, she will be the one to remove the last stone.</li>
<li>Hence, Penny wins the game if both players play perfectly.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ol>
<p>Thus, the final answer is:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><menclose notation="box"><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="false"><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="false"><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mtext>Penny</mtext></mstyle></mstyle></mstyle></menclose></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\boxed{\text{Penny}}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.5578em;vertical-align:-0.5344em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:1.0233em;"><span style="top:-3.5578em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3.5578em;"></span><span class="boxpad"><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord text"><span class="mord">Penny</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="top:-3.0233em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3.5578em;"></span><span class="stretchy fbox" style="height:1.5578em;border-style:solid;border-width:0.04em;"></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.5344em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
</details>
<details>
<summary>
Problem From Math Odyssey</summary>
<p><strong>Problem</strong></p>
<p>The school offers 10 elective courses, and each student can enroll in any number of courses. The director selects <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>k</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">k</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span></span></span></span> students, where although each student's combination of courses is different, any two students have at least one course in common. At this point, it is found that any student outside these <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>k</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">k</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span></span></span></span> students cannot be classmates with these <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>k</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">k</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span></span></span></span> students regardless of how they enroll (having one course in common is enough to be classmates). Find the maximum number of <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>k</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">k</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span></span></span></span>.</p>
<p><strong>zen-Math-72B-Instruct Solution</strong></p>
<p>To solve this problem, we need to determine the maximum number of students <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>k</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">k</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span></span></span></span> such that each student has a unique combination of elective courses, any two students share at least one course, and no student outside these <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>k</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">k</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span></span></span></span> students can be classmates with all of them. This means that the set of students chosen must cover all possible courses in such a way that any new student would have to share a course with at least one of the chosen students.</p>
<p>First, let's consider the total number of possible combinations of courses. Since there are 10 elective courses and each student can either take or not take each course, there are <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><msup><mn>2</mn><mn>10</mn></msup><mo>=</mo><mn>1024</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">2^{10} = 1024</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8141em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">2</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8141em;"><span style="top:-3.063em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mtight">10</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">1024</span></span></span></span> possible combinations of courses. However, one of these combinations is the empty set (the student takes no courses), which is not a valid combination for our problem because it would not share any courses with any other student. Therefore, there are <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mn>1024</mn><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>=</mo><mn>1023</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">1024 - 1 = 1023</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7278em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord">1024</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">−</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">1023</span></span></span></span> non-empty combinations of courses.</p>
<p>We need to find the maximum number of students <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>k</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">k</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span></span></span></span> such that any two students share at least one course, and no student outside these <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>k</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">k</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span></span></span></span> students can be classmates with all of them. This is equivalent to finding the maximum number of vertices in a graph where each vertex represents a non-empty combination of courses, and there is an edge between two vertices if and only if the corresponding combinations share at least one course. The condition that no student outside these <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>k</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">k</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span></span></span></span> students can be classmates with all of them means that the set of <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>k</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">k</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span></span></span></span> students forms a dominating set in the graph.</p>
<p>The maximum size of such a set is the complement of the minimum size of an independent set in the graph. An independent set in this graph is a set of vertices such that no two vertices are adjacent, which means no two combinations share any course. The maximum size of an independent set in this graph is the number of combinations where each course is either taken or not taken by exactly one student, which is <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><msup><mn>2</mn><mn>9</mn></msup><mo>=</mo><mn>512</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">2^9 = 512</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8141em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">2</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8141em;"><span style="top:-3.063em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">9</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">512</span></span></span></span> (since we can choose to include or exclude each of the 9 remaining courses for each of the 10 courses).</p>
<p>Therefore, the minimum size of an independent set is 512, and the maximum size of a dominating set (which is the complement of the independent set) is <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mn>1023</mn><mo>−</mo><mn>512</mn><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>=</mo><mn>511</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">1023 - 512 + 1 = 511</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7278em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord">1023</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">−</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7278em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord">512</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">511</span></span></span></span>. However, we need to add 1 because the empty set is not included, so the correct calculation is <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mn>1023</mn><mo>−</mo><mn>511</mn><mo>=</mo><mn>512</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">1023 - 511 = 512</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7278em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord">1023</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">−</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">511</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">512</span></span></span></span>.</p>
<p>Thus, the maximum number of students <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>k</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">k</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span></span></span></span> is <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><menclose notation="box"><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="false"><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="false"><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mn>512</mn></mstyle></mstyle></mstyle></menclose></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\boxed{512}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.3244em;vertical-align:-0.34em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.9844em;"><span style="top:-3.3244em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3.3244em;"></span><span class="boxpad"><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord">512</span></span></span></span></span><span style="top:-2.9844em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3.3244em;"></span><span class="stretchy fbox" style="height:1.3244em;border-style:solid;border-width:0.04em;"></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.34em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>.</p>
</details>
<details>
<summary>
Problem from USAMO 2010</summary>
<p><strong>Problem</strong></p>
<p>Let <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>A</mi><mi>B</mi><mi>C</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">ABC</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span></span></span></span> be a triangle with <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">∠</mi><mi>A</mi><mo>=</mo><msup><mn>90</mn><mo lspace="0em" rspace="0em">∘</mo></msup></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\angle A = 90^{\circ}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6922em;"></span><span class="mord">∠</span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6741em;"></span><span class="mord">9</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">0</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.6741em;"><span style="top:-3.063em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mtight">∘</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>. Points <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>D</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">D</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0278em;">D</span></span></span></span> and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>E</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">E</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span></span></span></span> lie on sides <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>A</mi><mi>C</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">AC</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span></span></span></span> and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>A</mi><mi>B</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">AB</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span></span></span></span>, respectively, such that <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">∠</mi><mi>A</mi><mi>B</mi><mi>D</mi><mo>=</mo><mi mathvariant="normal">∠</mi><mi>D</mi><mi>B</mi><mi>C</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\angle ABD = \angle DBC</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6922em;"></span><span class="mord">∠</span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0278em;">D</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6922em;"></span><span class="mord">∠</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0278em;">D</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span></span></span></span> and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">∠</mi><mi>A</mi><mi>C</mi><mi>E</mi><mo>=</mo><mi mathvariant="normal">∠</mi><mi>E</mi><mi>C</mi><mi>B</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\angle ACE = \angle ECB</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6922em;"></span><span class="mord">∠</span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6922em;"></span><span class="mord">∠</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span></span></span></span>. Segments <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>B</mi><mi>D</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">BD</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0278em;">D</span></span></span></span> and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>C</mi><mi>E</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">CE</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span></span></span></span> meet at <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>I</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">I</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0785em;">I</span></span></span></span>. Determine whether or not it is possible for segments <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>A</mi><mi>B</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">AB</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span></span></span></span>, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>A</mi><mi>C</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">AC</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span></span></span></span>, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>B</mi><mi>I</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">BI</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0785em;">I</span></span></span></span>, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>I</mi><mi>D</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">ID</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0785em;">I</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0278em;">D</span></span></span></span>, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>C</mi><mi>I</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">CI</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0785em;">I</span></span></span></span>, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>I</mi><mi>E</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">IE</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0785em;">I</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span></span></span></span> to all have integer lengths.</p>
<p><strong>zen-Math-72B-Instruct Solution</strong></p>
<p>To determine whether it is possible for segments <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>A</mi><mi>B</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">AB</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span></span></span></span>, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>A</mi><mi>C</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">AC</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span></span></span></span>, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>B</mi><mi>I</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">BI</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0785em;">I</span></span></span></span>, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>I</mi><mi>D</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">ID</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0785em;">I</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0278em;">D</span></span></span></span>, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>C</mi><mi>I</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">CI</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0785em;">I</span></span></span></span>, and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>I</mi><mi>E</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">IE</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0785em;">I</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span></span></span></span> to all have integer lengths in triangle <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>A</mi><mi>B</mi><mi>C</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">ABC</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span></span></span></span> with <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">∠</mi><mi>A</mi><mo>=</mo><msup><mn>90</mn><mo>∘</mo></msup></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\angle A = 90^\circ</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6922em;"></span><span class="mord">∠</span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6741em;"></span><span class="mord">9</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">0</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.6741em;"><span style="top:-3.063em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mbin mtight">∘</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>, we start by analyzing the given conditions and properties of the triangle.</p>
<p>Given:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">∠</mi><mi>A</mi><mo>=</mo><msup><mn>90</mn><mo>∘</mo></msup></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\angle A = 90^\circ</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6922em;"></span><span class="mord">∠</span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6741em;"></span><span class="mord">9</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">0</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.6741em;"><span style="top:-3.063em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mbin mtight">∘</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">∠</mi><mi>A</mi><mi>B</mi><mi>D</mi><mo>=</mo><mi mathvariant="normal">∠</mi><mi>D</mi><mi>B</mi><mi>C</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\angle ABD = \angle DBC</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6922em;"></span><span class="mord">∠</span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0278em;">D</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6922em;"></span><span class="mord">∠</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0278em;">D</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">∠</mi><mi>A</mi><mi>C</mi><mi>E</mi><mo>=</mo><mi mathvariant="normal">∠</mi><mi>E</mi><mi>C</mi><mi>B</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\angle ACE = \angle ECB</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6922em;"></span><span class="mord">∠</span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6922em;"></span><span class="mord">∠</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span></span></span></span></li>
<li>Segments <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>B</mi><mi>D</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">BD</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0278em;">D</span></span></span></span> and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>C</mi><mi>E</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">CE</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span></span></span></span> intersect at <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>I</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">I</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0785em;">I</span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p>First, note that since <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">∠</mi><mi>A</mi><mo>=</mo><msup><mn>90</mn><mo>∘</mo></msup></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\angle A = 90^\circ</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6922em;"></span><span class="mord">∠</span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6741em;"></span><span class="mord">9</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">0</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.6741em;"><span style="top:-3.063em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mbin mtight">∘</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>, triangle <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>A</mi><mi>B</mi><mi>C</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">ABC</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span></span></span></span> is a right triangle with <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>A</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">A</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span></span></span></span> as the right angle. Points <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>D</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">D</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0278em;">D</span></span></span></span> and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>E</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">E</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span></span></span></span> are such that <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>B</mi><mi>D</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">BD</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0278em;">D</span></span></span></span> and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>C</mi><mi>E</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">CE</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span></span></span></span> are angle bisectors of <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">∠</mi><mi>A</mi><mi>B</mi><mi>C</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\angle ABC</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6922em;"></span><span class="mord">∠</span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span></span></span></span> and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">∠</mi><mi>A</mi><mi>C</mi><mi>B</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\angle ACB</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6922em;"></span><span class="mord">∠</span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span></span></span></span>, respectively. Therefore, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>I</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">I</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0785em;">I</span></span></span></span> is the incenter of triangle <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>A</mi><mi>B</mi><mi>C</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">ABC</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span></span></span></span>.</p>
<p><strong>Step 1: Coordinates and Lengths</strong>
Assume <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>A</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">A</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span></span></span></span> is at the origin <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>0</mn><mo separator="true">,</mo><mn>0</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">(0, 0)</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mpunct">,</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span></span>, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>B</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">B</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span></span></span></span> is at <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>a</mi><mo separator="true">,</mo><mn>0</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">(a, 0)</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span><span class="mpunct">,</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span></span>, and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>C</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">C</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span></span></span></span> is at <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>0</mn><mo separator="true">,</mo><mi>b</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">(0, b)</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mpunct">,</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span></span></span>. The lengths of the sides are:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>A</mi><mi>B</mi><mo>=</mo><mi>a</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">AB = a</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>A</mi><mi>C</mi><mo>=</mo><mi>b</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">AC = b</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>B</mi><mi>C</mi><mo>=</mo><msqrt><mrow><msup><mi>a</mi><mn>2</mn></msup><mo>+</mo><msup><mi>b</mi><mn>2</mn></msup></mrow></msqrt></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">BC = \sqrt{a^2 + b^2}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.04em;vertical-align:-0.1266em;"></span><span class="mord sqrt"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.9134em;"><span class="svg-align" style="top:-3em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord" style="padding-left:0.833em;"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7401em;"><span style="top:-2.989em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">2</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7401em;"><span style="top:-2.989em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">2</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="top:-2.8734em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="hide-tail" style="min-width:0.853em;height:1.08em;"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="400em" height="1.08em" viewBox="0 0 400000 1080" preserveAspectRatio="xMinYMin slice"><path d="M95,702
c-2.7,0,-7.17,-2.7,-13.5,-8c-5.8,-5.3,-9.5,-10,-9.5,-14
c0,-2,0.3,-3.3,1,-4c1.3,-2.7,23.83,-20.7,67.5,-54
c44.2,-33.3,65.8,-50.3,66.5,-51c1.3,-1.3,3,-2,5,-2c4.7,0,8.7,3.3,12,10
s173,378,173,378c0.7,0,35.3,-71,104,-213c68.7,-142,137.5,-285,206.5,-429
c69,-144,104.5,-217.7,106.5,-221
l0 -0
c5.3,-9.3,12,-14,20,-14
H400000v40H845.2724
s-225.272,467,-225.272,467s-235,486,-235,486c-2.7,4.7,-9,7,-19,7
c-6,0,-10,-1,-12,-3s-194,-422,-194,-422s-65,47,-65,47z
M834 80h400000v40h-400000z"></path></svg></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.1266em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Step 2: Incenter Coordinates</strong>
The incenter <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>I</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">I</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0785em;">I</span></span></span></span> of a right triangle with legs <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>a</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">a</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span></span></span></span> and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>b</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">b</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span></span></span></span> and hypotenuse <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><msqrt><mrow><msup><mi>a</mi><mn>2</mn></msup><mo>+</mo><msup><mi>b</mi><mn>2</mn></msup></mrow></msqrt></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\sqrt{a^2 + b^2}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.04em;vertical-align:-0.1266em;"></span><span class="mord sqrt"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.9134em;"><span class="svg-align" style="top:-3em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord" style="padding-left:0.833em;"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7401em;"><span style="top:-2.989em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">2</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7401em;"><span style="top:-2.989em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">2</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="top:-2.8734em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="hide-tail" style="min-width:0.853em;height:1.08em;"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="400em" height="1.08em" viewBox="0 0 400000 1080" preserveAspectRatio="xMinYMin slice"><path d="M95,702
c-2.7,0,-7.17,-2.7,-13.5,-8c-5.8,-5.3,-9.5,-10,-9.5,-14
c0,-2,0.3,-3.3,1,-4c1.3,-2.7,23.83,-20.7,67.5,-54
c44.2,-33.3,65.8,-50.3,66.5,-51c1.3,-1.3,3,-2,5,-2c4.7,0,8.7,3.3,12,10
s173,378,173,378c0.7,0,35.3,-71,104,-213c68.7,-142,137.5,-285,206.5,-429
c69,-144,104.5,-217.7,106.5,-221
l0 -0
c5.3,-9.3,12,-14,20,-14
H400000v40H845.2724
s-225.272,467,-225.272,467s-235,486,-235,486c-2.7,4.7,-9,7,-19,7
c-6,0,-10,-1,-12,-3s-194,-422,-194,-422s-65,47,-65,47z
M834 80h400000v40h-400000z"></path></svg></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.1266em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> is located at:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>I</mi><mo>=</mo><mrow><mo fence="true">(</mo><mfrac><mi>a</mi><mn>2</mn></mfrac><mo separator="true">,</mo><mfrac><mi>b</mi><mn>2</mn></mfrac><mo fence="true">)</mo></mrow></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">I = \left( \frac{a}{2}, \frac{b}{2} \right)</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0785em;">I</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:2.4em;vertical-align:-0.95em;"></span><span class="minner"><span class="mopen delimcenter" style="top:0em;"><span class="delimsizing size3">(</span></span><span class="mord"><span class="mopen nulldelimiter"></span><span class="mfrac"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:1.1076em;"><span style="top:-2.314em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">2</span></span></span><span style="top:-3.23em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="frac-line" style="border-bottom-width:0.04em;"></span></span><span style="top:-3.677em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.686em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mclose nulldelimiter"></span></span><span class="mpunct">,</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mopen nulldelimiter"></span><span class="mfrac"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:1.3714em;"><span style="top:-2.314em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">2</span></span></span><span style="top:-3.23em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="frac-line" style="border-bottom-width:0.04em;"></span></span><span style="top:-3.677em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.686em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mclose nulldelimiter"></span></span><span class="mclose delimcenter" style="top:0em;"><span class="delimsizing size3">)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<p><strong>Step 3: Lengths of Segments <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>B</mi><mi>I</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">BI</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0785em;">I</span></span></span></span> and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>C</mi><mi>I</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">CI</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0785em;">I</span></span></span></span></strong>
Using the distance formula, we calculate <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>B</mi><mi>I</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">BI</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0785em;">I</span></span></span></span> and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>C</mi><mi>I</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">CI</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0785em;">I</span></span></span></span>:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>B</mi><mi>I</mi><mo>=</mo><msqrt><mrow><msup><mrow><mo fence="true">(</mo><mi>a</mi><mo>−</mo><mfrac><mi>a</mi><mn>2</mn></mfrac><mo fence="true">)</mo></mrow><mn>2</mn></msup><mo>+</mo><msup><mrow><mo fence="true">(</mo><mn>0</mn><mo>−</mo><mfrac><mi>b</mi><mn>2</mn></mfrac><mo fence="true">)</mo></mrow><mn>2</mn></msup></mrow></msqrt><mo>=</mo><msqrt><mrow><msup><mrow><mo fence="true">(</mo><mfrac><mi>a</mi><mn>2</mn></mfrac><mo fence="true">)</mo></mrow><mn>2</mn></msup><mo>+</mo><msup><mrow><mo fence="true">(</mo><mfrac><mi>b</mi><mn>2</mn></mfrac><mo fence="true">)</mo></mrow><mn>2</mn></msup></mrow></msqrt><mo>=</mo><mfrac><msqrt><mrow><msup><mi>a</mi><mn>2</mn></msup><mo>+</mo><msup><mi>b</mi><mn>2</mn></msup></mrow></msqrt><mn>2</mn></mfrac></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">BI = \sqrt{\left( a - \frac{a}{2} \right)^2 + \left( 0 - \frac{b}{2} \right)^2} = \sqrt{\left( \frac{a}{2} \right)^2 + \left( \frac{b}{2} \right)^2} = \frac{\sqrt{a^2 + b^2}}{2}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0785em;">I</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:3.04em;vertical-align:-1.0541em;"></span><span class="mord sqrt"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:1.9859em;"><span class="svg-align" style="top:-5em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:5em;"></span><span class="mord" style="padding-left:1em;"><span class="minner"><span class="minner"><span class="mopen delimcenter" style="top:0em;"><span class="delimsizing size2">(</span></span><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">−</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mopen nulldelimiter"></span><span class="mfrac"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:1.1076em;"><span style="top:-2.314em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">2</span></span></span><span style="top:-3.23em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="frac-line" style="border-bottom-width:0.04em;"></span></span><span style="top:-3.677em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.686em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mclose nulldelimiter"></span></span><span class="mclose delimcenter" style="top:0em;"><span class="delimsizing size2">)</span></span></span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:1.354em;"><span style="top:-3.6029em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">2</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="minner"><span class="minner"><span class="mopen delimcenter" style="top:0em;"><span class="delimsizing size3">(</span></span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">−</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mopen nulldelimiter"></span><span class="mfrac"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:1.3714em;"><span style="top:-2.314em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">2</span></span></span><span style="top:-3.23em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="frac-line" style="border-bottom-width:0.04em;"></span></span><span style="top:-3.677em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.686em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mclose nulldelimiter"></span></span><span class="mclose delimcenter" style="top:0em;"><span class="delimsizing size3">)</span></span></span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:1.654em;"><span style="top:-3.9029em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">2</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="top:-3.9459em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:5em;"></span><span class="hide-tail" style="min-width:1.02em;height:3.08em;"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="400em" height="3.08em" viewBox="0 0 400000 3240" preserveAspectRatio="xMinYMin slice"><path d="M473,2793
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M834 80h400000v40h-400000z"></path></svg></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.1266em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.686em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mclose nulldelimiter"></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>C</mi><mi>I</mi><mo>=</mo><msqrt><mrow><msup><mrow><mo fence="true">(</mo><mn>0</mn><mo>−</mo><mfrac><mi>a</mi><mn>2</mn></mfrac><mo fence="true">)</mo></mrow><mn>2</mn></msup><mo>+</mo><msup><mrow><mo fence="true">(</mo><mi>b</mi><mo>−</mo><mfrac><mi>b</mi><mn>2</mn></mfrac><mo fence="true">)</mo></mrow><mn>2</mn></msup></mrow></msqrt><mo>=</mo><msqrt><mrow><msup><mrow><mo fence="true">(</mo><mfrac><mi>a</mi><mn>2</mn></mfrac><mo fence="true">)</mo></mrow><mn>2</mn></msup><mo>+</mo><msup><mrow><mo fence="true">(</mo><mfrac><mi>b</mi><mn>2</mn></mfrac><mo fence="true">)</mo></mrow><mn>2</mn></msup></mrow></msqrt><mo>=</mo><mfrac><msqrt><mrow><msup><mi>a</mi><mn>2</mn></msup><mo>+</mo><msup><mi>b</mi><mn>2</mn></msup></mrow></msqrt><mn>2</mn></mfrac></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">CI = \sqrt{\left( 0 - \frac{a}{2} \right)^2 + \left( b - \frac{b}{2} \right)^2} = \sqrt{\left( \frac{a}{2} \right)^2 + \left( \frac{b}{2} \right)^2} = \frac{\sqrt{a^2 + b^2}}{2}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0785em;">I</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:3.04em;vertical-align:-1.0541em;"></span><span class="mord sqrt"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:1.9859em;"><span class="svg-align" style="top:-5em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:5em;"></span><span class="mord" style="padding-left:1em;"><span class="minner"><span class="minner"><span class="mopen delimcenter" style="top:0em;"><span class="delimsizing size2">(</span></span><span class="mord">0</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">−</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mopen nulldelimiter"></span><span class="mfrac"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:1.1076em;"><span style="top:-2.314em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">2</span></span></span><span style="top:-3.23em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="frac-line" style="border-bottom-width:0.04em;"></span></span><span style="top:-3.677em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.686em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mclose nulldelimiter"></span></span><span class="mclose delimcenter" style="top:0em;"><span class="delimsizing size2">)</span></span></span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:1.354em;"><span style="top:-3.6029em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">2</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="minner"><span class="minner"><span class="mopen delimcenter" style="top:0em;"><span class="delimsizing size3">(</span></span><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">−</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mopen nulldelimiter"></span><span class="mfrac"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:1.3714em;"><span style="top:-2.314em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">2</span></span></span><span style="top:-3.23em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="frac-line" style="border-bottom-width:0.04em;"></span></span><span style="top:-3.677em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.686em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mclose nulldelimiter"></span></span><span class="mclose delimcenter" style="top:0em;"><span class="delimsizing size3">)</span></span></span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:1.654em;"><span style="top:-3.9029em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">2</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="top:-3.9459em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:5em;"></span><span class="hide-tail" style="min-width:1.02em;height:3.08em;"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="400em" height="3.08em" viewBox="0 0 400000 3240" preserveAspectRatio="xMinYMin slice"><path d="M473,2793
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<p><strong>Step 4: Lengths of Segments <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>I</mi><mi>D</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">ID</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0785em;">I</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0278em;">D</span></span></span></span> and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>I</mi><mi>E</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">IE</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0785em;">I</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span></span></span></span></strong>
Since <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>D</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">D</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0278em;">D</span></span></span></span> and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>E</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">E</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span></span></span></span> are points on <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>A</mi><mi>C</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">AC</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span></span></span></span> and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>A</mi><mi>B</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">AB</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span></span></span></span> respectively, and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>I</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">I</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0785em;">I</span></span></span></span> is the incenter, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>I</mi><mi>D</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">ID</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0785em;">I</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0278em;">D</span></span></span></span> and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>I</mi><mi>E</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">IE</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0785em;">I</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span></span></span></span> are the distances from the incenter to the sides of the triangle. For a right triangle, these distances are given by:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>I</mi><mi>D</mi><mo>=</mo><mi>I</mi><mi>E</mi><mo>=</mo><mi>r</mi><mo>=</mo><mfrac><mrow><mi>a</mi><mo>+</mo><mi>b</mi><mo>−</mo><msqrt><mrow><msup><mi>a</mi><mn>2</mn></msup><mo>+</mo><msup><mi>b</mi><mn>2</mn></msup></mrow></msqrt></mrow><mn>2</mn></mfrac></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">ID = IE = r = \frac{a + b - \sqrt{a^2 + b^2}}{2}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0785em;">I</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0278em;">D</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0785em;">I</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0278em;">r</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:2.2764em;vertical-align:-0.686em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mopen nulldelimiter"></span><span class="mfrac"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:1.5904em;"><span style="top:-2.314em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">2</span></span></span><span style="top:-3.23em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="frac-line" style="border-bottom-width:0.04em;"></span></span><span style="top:-3.677em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">−</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mord sqrt"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.9134em;"><span class="svg-align" style="top:-3em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord" style="padding-left:0.833em;"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7401em;"><span style="top:-2.989em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">2</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7401em;"><span style="top:-2.989em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">2</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="top:-2.8734em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="hide-tail" style="min-width:0.853em;height:1.08em;"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="400em" height="1.08em" viewBox="0 0 400000 1080" preserveAspectRatio="xMinYMin slice"><path d="M95,702
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M834 80h400000v40h-400000z"></path></svg></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.1266em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.686em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mclose nulldelimiter"></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<p><strong>Step 5: Integer Lengths</strong>
For <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>A</mi><mi>B</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">AB</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span></span></span></span>, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>A</mi><mi>C</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">AC</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span></span></span></span>, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>B</mi><mi>I</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">BI</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0785em;">I</span></span></span></span>, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>I</mi><mi>D</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">ID</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0785em;">I</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0278em;">D</span></span></span></span>, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>C</mi><mi>I</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">CI</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0785em;">I</span></span></span></span>, and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>I</mi><mi>E</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">IE</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0785em;">I</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span></span></span></span> to all be integers, the following must hold:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>a</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">a</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span></span></span></span> and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>b</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">b</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span></span></span></span> are integers</li>
<li><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mfrac><msqrt><mrow><msup><mi>a</mi><mn>2</mn></msup><mo>+</mo><msup><mi>b</mi><mn>2</mn></msup></mrow></msqrt><mn>2</mn></mfrac></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\frac{\sqrt{a^2 + b^2}}{2}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.3845em;vertical-align:-0.345em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mopen nulldelimiter"></span><span class="mfrac"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:1.0395em;"><span style="top:-2.655em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mtight">2</span></span></span></span><span style="top:-3.23em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="frac-line" style="border-bottom-width:0.04em;"></span></span><span style="top:-3.394em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord sqrt mtight"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.9221em;"><span class="svg-align" style="top:-3em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord mtight" style="padding-left:0.833em;"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">a</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7463em;"><span style="top:-2.786em;margin-right:0.0714em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.5em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size3 size1 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">2</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mbin mtight">+</span><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7463em;"><span style="top:-2.786em;margin-right:0.0714em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.5em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size3 size1 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">2</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="top:-2.8821em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="hide-tail mtight" style="min-width:0.853em;height:1.08em;"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="400em" height="1.08em" viewBox="0 0 400000 1080" preserveAspectRatio="xMinYMin slice"><path d="M95,702
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M834 80h400000v40h-400000z"></path></svg></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.1179em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.345em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mclose nulldelimiter"></span></span></span></span></span> is an integer</li>
<li><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mfrac><mrow><mi>a</mi><mo>+</mo><mi>b</mi><mo>−</mo><msqrt><mrow><msup><mi>a</mi><mn>2</mn></msup><mo>+</mo><msup><mi>b</mi><mn>2</mn></msup></mrow></msqrt></mrow><mn>2</mn></mfrac></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\frac{a + b - \sqrt{a^2 + b^2}}{2}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.3845em;vertical-align:-0.345em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mopen nulldelimiter"></span><span class="mfrac"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:1.0395em;"><span style="top:-2.655em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mtight">2</span></span></span></span><span style="top:-3.23em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="frac-line" style="border-bottom-width:0.04em;"></span></span><span style="top:-3.394em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">a</span><span class="mbin mtight">+</span><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">b</span><span class="mbin mtight">−</span><span class="mord sqrt mtight"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.9221em;"><span class="svg-align" style="top:-3em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord mtight" style="padding-left:0.833em;"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">a</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7463em;"><span style="top:-2.786em;margin-right:0.0714em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.5em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size3 size1 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">2</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mbin mtight">+</span><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7463em;"><span style="top:-2.786em;margin-right:0.0714em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.5em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size3 size1 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">2</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="top:-2.8821em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="hide-tail mtight" style="min-width:0.853em;height:1.08em;"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="400em" height="1.08em" viewBox="0 0 400000 1080" preserveAspectRatio="xMinYMin slice"><path d="M95,702
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c0,-2,0.3,-3.3,1,-4c1.3,-2.7,23.83,-20.7,67.5,-54
c44.2,-33.3,65.8,-50.3,66.5,-51c1.3,-1.3,3,-2,5,-2c4.7,0,8.7,3.3,12,10
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c5.3,-9.3,12,-14,20,-14
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c-6,0,-10,-1,-12,-3s-194,-422,-194,-422s-65,47,-65,47z
M834 80h400000v40h-400000z"></path></svg></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.1179em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.345em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mclose nulldelimiter"></span></span></span></span></span> is an integer</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Step 6: Analysis</strong>
For <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mfrac><msqrt><mrow><msup><mi>a</mi><mn>2</mn></msup><mo>+</mo><msup><mi>b</mi><mn>2</mn></msup></mrow></msqrt><mn>2</mn></mfrac></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\frac{\sqrt{a^2 + b^2}}{2}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.3845em;vertical-align:-0.345em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mopen nulldelimiter"></span><span class="mfrac"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:1.0395em;"><span style="top:-2.655em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mtight">2</span></span></span></span><span style="top:-3.23em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="frac-line" style="border-bottom-width:0.04em;"></span></span><span style="top:-3.394em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord sqrt mtight"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.9221em;"><span class="svg-align" style="top:-3em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord mtight" style="padding-left:0.833em;"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">a</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7463em;"><span style="top:-2.786em;margin-right:0.0714em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.5em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size3 size1 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">2</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mbin mtight">+</span><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7463em;"><span style="top:-2.786em;margin-right:0.0714em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.5em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size3 size1 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">2</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="top:-2.8821em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="hide-tail mtight" style="min-width:0.853em;height:1.08em;"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="400em" height="1.08em" viewBox="0 0 400000 1080" preserveAspectRatio="xMinYMin slice"><path d="M95,702
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M834 80h400000v40h-400000z"></path></svg></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.1179em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.345em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mclose nulldelimiter"></span></span></span></span></span> to be an integer, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><msqrt><mrow><msup><mi>a</mi><mn>2</mn></msup><mo>+</mo><msup><mi>b</mi><mn>2</mn></msup></mrow></msqrt></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\sqrt{a^2 + b^2}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.04em;vertical-align:-0.1266em;"></span><span class="mord sqrt"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.9134em;"><span class="svg-align" style="top:-3em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord" style="padding-left:0.833em;"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7401em;"><span style="top:-2.989em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">2</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7401em;"><span style="top:-2.989em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">2</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="top:-2.8734em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="hide-tail" style="min-width:0.853em;height:1.08em;"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="400em" height="1.08em" viewBox="0 0 400000 1080" preserveAspectRatio="xMinYMin slice"><path d="M95,702
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M834 80h400000v40h-400000z"></path></svg></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.1266em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> must be an even integer. Let <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><msqrt><mrow><msup><mi>a</mi><mn>2</mn></msup><mo>+</mo><msup><mi>b</mi><mn>2</mn></msup></mrow></msqrt><mo>=</mo><mn>2</mn><mi>k</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\sqrt{a^2 + b^2} = 2k</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.04em;vertical-align:-0.1266em;"></span><span class="mord sqrt"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.9134em;"><span class="svg-align" style="top:-3em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord" style="padding-left:0.833em;"><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7401em;"><span style="top:-2.989em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">2</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7401em;"><span style="top:-2.989em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">2</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="top:-2.8734em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="hide-tail" style="min-width:0.853em;height:1.08em;"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="400em" height="1.08em" viewBox="0 0 400000 1080" preserveAspectRatio="xMinYMin slice"><path d="M95,702
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H400000v40H845.2724
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M834 80h400000v40h-400000z"></path></svg></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.1266em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord">2</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span></span></span></span> for some integer <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>k</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">k</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span></span></span></span>. Then:</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><msup><mi>a</mi><mn>2</mn></msup><mo>+</mo><msup><mi>b</mi><mn>2</mn></msup><mo>=</mo><mn>4</mn><msup><mi>k</mi><mn>2</mn></msup></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">a^2 + b^2 = 4k^2</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.9474em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8641em;"><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">2</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8641em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8641em;"><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">2</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8641em;"></span><span class="mord">4</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8641em;"><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">2</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<p>For <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mfrac><mrow><mi>a</mi><mo>+</mo><mi>b</mi><mo>−</mo><msqrt><mrow><msup><mi>a</mi><mn>2</mn></msup><mo>+</mo><msup><mi>b</mi><mn>2</mn></msup></mrow></msqrt></mrow><mn>2</mn></mfrac></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\frac{a + b - \sqrt{a^2 + b^2}}{2}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.3845em;vertical-align:-0.345em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mopen nulldelimiter"></span><span class="mfrac"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:1.0395em;"><span style="top:-2.655em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mtight">2</span></span></span></span><span style="top:-3.23em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="frac-line" style="border-bottom-width:0.04em;"></span></span><span style="top:-3.394em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">a</span><span class="mbin mtight">+</span><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">b</span><span class="mbin mtight">−</span><span class="mord sqrt mtight"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.9221em;"><span class="svg-align" style="top:-3em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord mtight" style="padding-left:0.833em;"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">a</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7463em;"><span style="top:-2.786em;margin-right:0.0714em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.5em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size3 size1 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">2</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mbin mtight">+</span><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">b</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7463em;"><span style="top:-2.786em;margin-right:0.0714em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.5em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size3 size1 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">2</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="top:-2.8821em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="hide-tail mtight" style="min-width:0.853em;height:1.08em;"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="400em" height="1.08em" viewBox="0 0 400000 1080" preserveAspectRatio="xMinYMin slice"><path d="M95,702
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c5.3,-9.3,12,-14,20,-14
H400000v40H845.2724
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c-6,0,-10,-1,-12,-3s-194,-422,-194,-422s-65,47,-65,47z
M834 80h400000v40h-400000z"></path></svg></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.1179em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.345em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mclose nulldelimiter"></span></span></span></span></span> to be an integer, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>a</mi><mo>+</mo><mi>b</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>2</mn><mi>k</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">a + b - 2k</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6667em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7778em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">−</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord">2</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0315em;">k</span></span></span></span> must be even. Since <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>a</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">a</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span></span></span></span> and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>b</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">b</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span></span></span></span> are integers, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>a</mi><mo>+</mo><mi>b</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">a + b</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6667em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span></span></span></span> must be even.</p>
<p><strong>Conclusion</strong>
Given the constraints, it is possible to find integer values for <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>a</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">a</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span></span></span></span> and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>b</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">b</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span></span></span></span> such that all the conditions are satisfied. For example, if <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>a</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>3</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">a = 3</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">3</span></span></span></span> and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>b</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>4</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">b = 4</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">b</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">4</span></span></span></span>, then:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>A</mi><mi>B</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>3</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">AB = 3</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">3</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>A</mi><mi>C</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>4</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">AC = 4</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">4</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>B</mi><mi>C</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>5</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">BC = 5</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">5</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>B</mi><mi>I</mi><mo>=</mo><mi>C</mi><mi>I</mi><mo>=</mo><mfrac><mn>5</mn><mn>2</mn></mfrac><mo>=</mo><mn>2.5</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">BI = CI = \frac{5}{2} = 2.5</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0785em;">I</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0785em;">I</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.1901em;vertical-align:-0.345em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mopen nulldelimiter"></span><span class="mfrac"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8451em;"><span style="top:-2.655em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mtight">2</span></span></span></span><span style="top:-3.23em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="frac-line" style="border-bottom-width:0.04em;"></span></span><span style="top:-3.394em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mtight">5</span></span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.345em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mclose nulldelimiter"></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">2.5</span></span></span></span> (not an integer)</li>
</ul>
<p>Thus, it is not possible for all segments <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>A</mi><mi>B</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">AB</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span></span></span></span>, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>A</mi><mi>C</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">AC</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span></span></span></span>, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>B</mi><mi>I</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">BI</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0785em;">I</span></span></span></span>, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>I</mi><mi>D</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">ID</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0785em;">I</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0278em;">D</span></span></span></span>, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>C</mi><mi>I</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">CI</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0785em;">I</span></span></span></span>, and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>I</mi><mi>E</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">IE</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0785em;">I</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span></span></span></span> to have integer lengths simultaneously.</p>
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><menclose notation="box"><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="false"><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="false"><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><mtext>No</mtext></mstyle></mstyle></mstyle></menclose></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\boxed{\text{No}}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.3633em;vertical-align:-0.34em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:1.0233em;"><span style="top:-3.3633em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3.3633em;"></span><span class="boxpad"><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord text"><span class="mord">No</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="top:-3.0233em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3.3633em;"></span><span class="stretchy fbox" style="height:1.3633em;border-style:solid;border-width:0.04em;"></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.34em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
</details>
<details>
<summary>
Problem from JBMO Shortlist 2011</summary>
<p><strong>Problem</strong></p>
<p>Let <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>A</mi><mi>D</mi><mo separator="true">,</mo><mi>B</mi><mi>F</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">AD,BF</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8778em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0278em;">D</span><span class="mpunct">,</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.1667em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1389em;">F</span></span></span></span> and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>C</mi><mi>E</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{CE}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span></span></span></span></span> be the altitudes of <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mo>△</mo><mi>A</mi><mi>B</mi><mi>C</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\vartriangle ABC</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.5499em;"></span><span class="mrel amsrm">△</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span></span></span></span>. A line passing through <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>D</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{D}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0278em;">D</span></span></span></span></span> and parallel to <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>A</mi><mi>B</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{AB}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span></span></span></span></span>intersects the line <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>E</mi><mi>F</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{EF}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1389em;">F</span></span></span></span></span>at the point <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>G</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{G}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">G</span></span></span></span></span>. If <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>H</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{H}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0813em;">H</span></span></span></span></span> is the orthocenter of <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mo>△</mo><mi>A</mi><mi>B</mi><mi>C</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\vartriangle ABC</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.5499em;"></span><span class="mrel amsrm">△</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span></span></span></span>, find the angle <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">∠</mi><mrow><mi>C</mi><mi>G</mi><mi>H</mi></mrow></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\angle{CGH}}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6922em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">∠</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span><span class="mord mathnormal">G</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0813em;">H</span></span></span></span></span></span>.</p>
<p><strong>zen-Math-72B-Instruct Solution</strong></p>
<p>To solve for the angle <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">∠</mi><mi>C</mi><mi>G</mi><mi>H</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\angle CGH</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6922em;"></span><span class="mord">∠</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span><span class="mord mathnormal">G</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0813em;">H</span></span></span></span> in the given triangle <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">△</mi><mi>A</mi><mi>B</mi><mi>C</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\triangle ABC</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8889em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord">△</span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span></span></span></span> with altitudes <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>A</mi><mi>D</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">AD</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0278em;">D</span></span></span></span>, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>B</mi><mi>F</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">BF</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1389em;">F</span></span></span></span>, and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>C</mi><mi>E</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">CE</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span></span></span></span> intersecting at the orthocenter <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>H</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">H</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0813em;">H</span></span></span></span>, and a line through <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>D</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">D</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0278em;">D</span></span></span></span> parallel to <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>A</mi><mi>B</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">AB</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span></span></span></span> intersecting <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>E</mi><mi>F</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">EF</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1389em;">F</span></span></span></span> at <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>G</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">G</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">G</span></span></span></span>, we will follow these steps:</p>
<ol>
<li>
<p><strong>Identify Key Points and Properties:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>D</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">D</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0278em;">D</span></span></span></span> is the foot of the altitude from <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>A</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">A</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span></span></span></span> to <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>B</mi><mi>C</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">BC</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span></span></span></span>.</li>
<li><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>E</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">E</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span></span></span></span> is the foot of the altitude from <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>B</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">B</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span></span></span></span> to <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>A</mi><mi>C</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">AC</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span></span></span></span>.</li>
<li><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>F</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">F</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1389em;">F</span></span></span></span> is the foot of the altitude from <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>C</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">C</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span></span></span></span> to <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>A</mi><mi>B</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">AB</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span></span></span></span>.</li>
<li><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>H</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">H</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0813em;">H</span></span></span></span> is the orthocenter of <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">△</mi><mi>A</mi><mi>B</mi><mi>C</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\triangle ABC</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8889em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord">△</span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span></span></span></span>.</li>
<li><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>G</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">G</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">G</span></span></span></span> is the intersection of the line through <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>D</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">D</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0278em;">D</span></span></span></span> parallel to <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>A</mi><mi>B</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">AB</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span></span></span></span> and the line <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>E</mi><mi>F</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">EF</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1389em;">F</span></span></span></span>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>Use the Property of the Orthocenter:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>The orthocenter <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>H</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">H</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0813em;">H</span></span></span></span> lies on the altitudes <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>A</mi><mi>D</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">AD</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0278em;">D</span></span></span></span>, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>B</mi><mi>F</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">BF</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1389em;">F</span></span></span></span>, and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>C</mi><mi>E</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">CE</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span></span></span></span>.</li>
<li>The points <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>D</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">D</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0278em;">D</span></span></span></span>, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>E</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">E</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span></span></span></span>, and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>F</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">F</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1389em;">F</span></span></span></span> are collinear with <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>H</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">H</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0813em;">H</span></span></span></span> on the respective altitudes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>Analyze the Parallel Line:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Since <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>D</mi><mi>G</mi><mo>∥</mo><mi>A</mi><mi>B</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">DG \parallel AB</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0278em;">D</span><span class="mord mathnormal">G</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">∥</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span></span></span></span>, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">∠</mi><mi>A</mi><mi>D</mi><mi>G</mi><mo>=</mo><mi mathvariant="normal">∠</mi><mi>D</mi><mi>A</mi><mi>B</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\angle ADG = \angle DAB</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6922em;"></span><span class="mord">∠</span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0278em;">D</span><span class="mord mathnormal">G</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6922em;"></span><span class="mord">∠</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0278em;">D</span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span></span></span></span> (corresponding angles).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>Consider the Cyclic Quadrilateral:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>The quadrilateral <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>A</mi><mi>E</mi><mi>H</mi><mi>F</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">AEHF</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0813em;">H</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1389em;">F</span></span></span></span> is cyclic because <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">∠</mi><mi>A</mi><mi>E</mi><mi>H</mi><mo>=</mo><mi mathvariant="normal">∠</mi><mi>A</mi><mi>F</mi><mi>H</mi><mo>=</mo><msup><mn>90</mn><mo>∘</mo></msup></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\angle AEH = \angle AFH = 90^\circ</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6922em;"></span><span class="mord">∠</span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0813em;">H</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6922em;"></span><span class="mord">∠</span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1389em;">F</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0813em;">H</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6741em;"></span><span class="mord">9</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">0</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.6741em;"><span style="top:-3.063em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mbin mtight">∘</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>.</li>
<li>Therefore, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">∠</mi><mi>E</mi><mi>H</mi><mi>F</mi><mo>=</mo><msup><mn>180</mn><mo>∘</mo></msup><mo>−</mo><mi mathvariant="normal">∠</mi><mi>E</mi><mi>A</mi><mi>F</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\angle EHF = 180^\circ - \angle EAF</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6922em;"></span><span class="mord">∠</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0813em;">H</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1389em;">F</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7574em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord">18</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">0</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.6741em;"><span style="top:-3.063em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mbin mtight">∘</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">−</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6922em;"></span><span class="mord">∠</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1389em;">F</span></span></span></span>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>Use the Parallel Line Property Again:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Since <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>D</mi><mi>G</mi><mo>∥</mo><mi>A</mi><mi>B</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">DG \parallel AB</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0278em;">D</span><span class="mord mathnormal">G</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">∥</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span></span></span></span>, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">∠</mi><mi>D</mi><mi>G</mi><mi>E</mi><mo>=</mo><mi mathvariant="normal">∠</mi><mi>B</mi><mi>A</mi><mi>E</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\angle DGE = \angle BAE</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6922em;"></span><span class="mord">∠</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0278em;">D</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">GE</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6922em;"></span><span class="mord">∠</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span></span></span></span> (alterFnate interior angles).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>Relate Angles in Cyclic Quadrilateral:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>In <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">△</mi><mi>A</mi><mi>E</mi><mi>F</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\triangle AEF</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8889em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord">△</span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1389em;">F</span></span></span></span>, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">∠</mi><mi>E</mi><mi>A</mi><mi>F</mi><mo>=</mo><mi mathvariant="normal">∠</mi><mi>E</mi><mi>H</mi><mi>F</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\angle EAF = \angle EHF</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6922em;"></span><span class="mord">∠</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1389em;">F</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6922em;"></span><span class="mord">∠</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0813em;">H</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1389em;">F</span></span></span></span> because they are opposite angles in the cyclic quadrilateral <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>A</mi><mi>E</mi><mi>H</mi><mi>F</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">AEHF</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0813em;">H</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1389em;">F</span></span></span></span>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>Determine <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">∠</mi><mi>C</mi><mi>G</mi><mi>H</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\angle CGH</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6922em;"></span><span class="mord">∠</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span><span class="mord mathnormal">G</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0813em;">H</span></span></span></span>:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Since <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>G</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">G</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">G</span></span></span></span> lies on <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>E</mi><mi>F</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">EF</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1389em;">F</span></span></span></span> and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>D</mi><mi>G</mi><mo>∥</mo><mi>A</mi><mi>B</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">DG \parallel AB</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0278em;">D</span><span class="mord mathnormal">G</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">∥</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span></span></span></span>, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">∠</mi><mi>D</mi><mi>G</mi><mi>E</mi><mo>=</mo><mi mathvariant="normal">∠</mi><mi>B</mi><mi>A</mi><mi>E</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\angle DGE = \angle BAE</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6922em;"></span><span class="mord">∠</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0278em;">D</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">GE</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6922em;"></span><span class="mord">∠</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span></span></span></span>.</li>
<li><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">∠</mi><mi>B</mi><mi>A</mi><mi>E</mi><mo>=</mo><mi mathvariant="normal">∠</mi><mi>E</mi><mi>A</mi><mi>F</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\angle BAE = \angle EAF</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6922em;"></span><span class="mord">∠</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0502em;">B</span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6922em;"></span><span class="mord">∠</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1389em;">F</span></span></span></span> (as established).</li>
<li>Therefore, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">∠</mi><mi>D</mi><mi>G</mi><mi>E</mi><mo>=</mo><mi mathvariant="normal">∠</mi><mi>E</mi><mi>A</mi><mi>F</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\angle DGE = \angle EAF</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6922em;"></span><span class="mord">∠</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0278em;">D</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">GE</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6922em;"></span><span class="mord">∠</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1389em;">F</span></span></span></span>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>Final Angle Calculation:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Since <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">∠</mi><mi>E</mi><mi>A</mi><mi>F</mi><mo>=</mo><mi mathvariant="normal">∠</mi><mi>E</mi><mi>H</mi><mi>F</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\angle EAF = \angle EHF</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6922em;"></span><span class="mord">∠</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span><span class="mord mathnormal">A</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1389em;">F</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6922em;"></span><span class="mord">∠</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0813em;">H</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1389em;">F</span></span></span></span> and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">∠</mi><mi>E</mi><mi>H</mi><mi>F</mi><mo>=</mo><msup><mn>90</mn><mo>∘</mo></msup></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\angle EHF = 90^\circ</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6922em;"></span><span class="mord">∠</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0813em;">H</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1389em;">F</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6741em;"></span><span class="mord">9</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">0</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.6741em;"><span style="top:-3.063em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mbin mtight">∘</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> (as <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>H</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">H</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0813em;">H</span></span></span></span> is the orthocenter and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>E</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">E</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span></span></span></span> and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>F</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">F</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1389em;">F</span></span></span></span> are feet of perpendiculars), we have:
<span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">∠</mi><mi>C</mi><mi>G</mi><mi>H</mi><mo>=</mo><mi mathvariant="normal">∠</mi><mi>E</mi><mi>H</mi><mi>F</mi><mo>=</mo><msup><mn>90</mn><mo>∘</mo></msup><mi mathvariant="normal">.</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\angle CGH = \angle EHF = 90^\circ.</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6922em;"></span><span class="mord">∠</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span><span class="mord mathnormal">G</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0813em;">H</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6922em;"></span><span class="mord">∠</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0576em;">E</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0813em;">H</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.1389em;">F</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7241em;"></span><span class="mord">9</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">0</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7241em;"><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mbin mtight">∘</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mord">.</span></span></span></span></span>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ol>
<p>Thus, the angle <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">∠</mi><mi>C</mi><mi>G</mi><mi>H</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\angle CGH</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6922em;"></span><span class="mord">∠</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0715em;">C</span><span class="mord mathnormal">G</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.0813em;">H</span></span></span></span> is <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><menclose notation="box"><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="false"><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="false"><mstyle scriptlevel="0" displaystyle="true"><msup><mn>90</mn><mo>∘</mo></msup></mstyle></mstyle></mstyle></menclose></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\boxed{90^\circ}</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.4041em;vertical-align:-0.34em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:1.0641em;"><span style="top:-3.4041em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3.4041em;"></span><span class="boxpad"><span class="mord"><span class="mord"><span class="mord">9</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">0</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7241em;"><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mbin mtight">∘</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="top:-3.0641em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3.4041em;"></span><span class="stretchy fbox" style="height:1.4041em;border-style:solid;border-width:0.04em;"></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.34em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>.</p>
</details>
<h2 id="decontamination">Decontamination</h2>
<p>We conduct decontamination methods on both our pretraining and post-training datasets. Specifically, for pretraining data, we target on math datasets, including GSM8K, MATH, and remove samples that have significant overlaps with the test sets. We use exact match to remove the identical samples and further apply 13-gram deduplication (with a condition that the ratio of longest common sequence should be larger than 0.6) to remove more samples that might cause contamination. For post-training data, we remove more postitive contaminated samples that have overlaps with GSM8K, MATH, Aqua, SAT Math, OlympiadBench, College Math, AIME24, AMC23, etc. with the same filtering method.</p>
<h2 id="summary">Summary</h2>
<p>This time, we're releasing a new model series focused on mathematical capabilities, zen-Math, built upon the zen foundation. Our flagship model, zen-Math-72B-Instruct, outperforms proprietary models such as GPT-4o and Claude 3.5 in math-related tasks. Given the current limitation of English-only support, we plan to release bilingual models that support both English and Chinese shortly, with the development of multilingual models also in the pipeline. Moreover, we will continue to enhance our models' ability to solve complex and challenging mathematical problems.</p>f:["$","main",null,{"children":["$","article",null,{"className":"blog-article","children":[["$","$L5",null,{"className":"blog-back","href":"/blog","children":"← Blog"}],["$","div",null,{"className":"blog-post-meta","children":["August 7, 2024"," ","·"," ",30," min read"]}],["$","h1",null,{"className":"blog-post-title","children":"Introducing zen-Math"}],["$","p",null,{"className":"blog-post-lede","children":"> <div align=\"center\"> > <b> > 🚨 This model mainly supports English. We will release bilingual (English and Chinese) math models soon. > </b> > </div>"}],["$","div",null,{"className":"blog-prose","dangerouslySetInnerHTML":{"__html":"$19"}}]]}]}]
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