About

Hewo! My name is Sunaina Pati, and I am a first year undergraduate student in CMI.

I started this blog to discuss my math ideas, to share my experiences, my own notes(both school and olympiad) and many more. I would call this blog, heavily mathematics-biased. I do post a few non-math posts. Moreover, this blog is where I put a lot of problems I solved. So I post the solutions here, to verify my solution and practice proof writing.

Also, these problems are really perfect and not heavy theory-based. The difficulty range is however quite large. In general, it's IMO P1 level or higher.

Though there is no guarantee about when I will post, so if you are interested, then do subscribe 😄, so that you don't miss out on anything new!

Here's a little about me:

I would describe myself as a math enthusiast, who likes learning new theories and applying them to various problems.
I am a three times IMOTC qualifier and EGMO 2023 silver medalist.
My MBTI type is INTJ-T.
I love solving Olympiad math problems and teaching math to other kids.
I run a very cool math club called The Philomath club.
I don't have a favourite area in Olympiad mathematics, however, I tend to solve some of the geometry problems in the test, thanks to the amazing book EGMO.
Apart from doing olympiad math, I usually spend my time studying school books, watching k-dramas, reading webtoons and making digital art.
I love listening to K-POP ( TXT, Enhypen, BTS, Seventeen, Exo, G-Idle, Kard, Mamamoo, Black Pink, New Jeans, Lessarafim, NCT, Stray Kids, Red Velvet, Eric Nam, Woostein, Woosung, Sunmi, Somi) and Indian Indies( Western Ghats and Zaeden are my favs)

Total problems discussed: 330
Total Posts: 52

Some fun FAQs:

0. How should I use this blog?

Ans: I won't be biased. You can subscribe to this blog if you want to (you can unsubscribe whenever you want to)!

The content I will be sharing is probably me writing solutions to ISLs and many more Math contest problems. And maybe rate them according to me. I personally prefer walkthroughs ( And I agree it's easier to write too, but I need to practice my proof-writing too! )
You can simply binge-read my posts! ~~It's quite fun to see me suffering~~
I am a human. I won't post only math. I will be posting non-math too. The non-math content is pretty random. Sometimes I just post cat memes or sometimes some serious talk. But I assure you, this won't be boring.
If you are a high-school student who wants to do good on Boards and in the olympiads too. I understand how much pressure you must be going through, so don't worry about the school. I have made notes for a few of the chapters of Class 10, which I used for myself! They are pretty nice ( sufficient enough for scoring 95% I guess?). Read them before you read the book. After reading the notes, read the book. You are set!

I think you can refer to my Humanities area and Bio notes! They are actually pretty good. Rest depends on how good you can "bend and write the answers with beauty."
You can get them on my Notes and Problem Sets page.
I have a Post log page. The main motivation to make such a page was to help other people to use this blog in the best possible way!
The archive widget and categories could possibly help, but this page is quite systematic. Moreover, I have given a basic preview of the blog post too!

1. What's your favourite K-POP band?

Ans: Currently Tomorrow x Together. I really love them. However musically, I am really into Enhypen!

2. What's your favourite colour?

Ans: Aquamarine and ochre. Bright yellow and pastel shades too.

3. What's your Zodiac sign?

Ans: Capricorn ( And I am a true Capricorn)

4. What's your favourite genre in music?

Ans: K-PoP, J-PoP and Indian Indies.

Lastly, I am Sunaina Pati in MSE, Jelena_ivanchic in AOPS, Sun_Prime#7400 in Discord and Sunaina Pati in Linkedin.

See y'all soon!

Sunaina 💜

My experiences at EGMO, IMOTC and PROMYS experience

Yes, I know. This post should have been posted like 2 months ago. Okay okay, sorry. But yeah, I was just waiting for everything to be over and I was lazy. ( sorry ) You know, the transitioning period from high school to college is very weird. I will join CMI( Chennai Mathematical Institue) for bsc maths and cs degree. And I am very scared. Like very very scared. No, not about making new friends and all. I don't care about that part because I know a decent amount of CMI people already. What I am scared of is whether I will be able to handle the coursework and get good grades T_T Anyways, here's my EGMO PDC, EGMO, IMOTC and PROMYS experience. Yes, a lot of stuff. My EGMO experience is a lot and I wrote a lot of details, IMOTC and PROMYS is just a few paras. Oh to those, who don't know me or are reading for the first time. I am Sunaina Pati. I was IND2 at EGMO 2023 which was held in Slovenia. I was also invited to the IMOTC or International Mathematical Olympiad Training Cam...

Orders and Primitive roots

Theory We know what Fermat's little theorem states. If $p$ is a prime number, then for any integer $a$, the number $a^p − a$ is an integer multiple of $p$. In the notation of modular arithmetic, this is expressed as \[a^{p}\equiv a{\pmod {p}}.\] So, essentially, for every $(a,m)=1$, ${a}^{\phi (m)}\equiv 1 \pmod {m}$. But $\phi (m)$ isn't necessarily the smallest exponent. For example, we know $4^{12}\equiv 1\mod 13$ but so is $4^6$. So, we care about the "smallest" exponent $d$ such that $a^d\equiv 1\mod m$ given $(a,m)=1$. Orders Given a prime $p$, the order of an integer $a$ modulo $p$, $p\nmid a$, is the smallest positive integer $d$, such that $a^d \equiv 1 \pmod p$. This is denoted $\text{ord}_p(a) = d$. If $p$ is a primes and $p\nmid a$, let $d$ be order of $a$ mod $p$. Then $a^n\equiv 1\pmod p\implies d|n$. Let $n=pd+r, r\ll d$. Which implies $a^r\equiv 1\pmod p.$ But $d$ is the smallest natural number. So $r=0$. So $d|n$. Show that $n$ divid...

IMO Shortlist 2022 C1

Today we shall try IMO Shortlist $2022$ C1. A $\pm 1$-sequence is a sequence of $2022$ numbers $a_1, \ldots, a_{2022},$ each equal to either $+1$ or $-1$. Determine the largest $C$ so that, for any $\pm 1$-sequence, there exists an integer $k$ and indices $1 \le t_1 < \ldots < t_k \le 2022$ so that $t_{i+1} - t_i \le 2$ for all $i$, and$$\left| \sum_{i = 1}^{k} a_{t_i} \right| \ge C.$$ We claim that the answer is $\boxed{506}$. $506$ is the upper bound. Just consider the sequence $$+1,-1,-1,+1,+1,-1,-1,+1\dots,-1,-1,+1,+1,-1.$$ Here $1, -1, -1, 1$ is repeated $505$ times and $1,-1$ is concatted to it. Now,our sequence would be $a_1,a_3,a_4,a_5,a_7,\dots$ which on summing would give $506$. And clearly, this would give the upper bound. Now, we show that $506$ is attainable by every sequence. WLOG there are at least $1011$ positive numbers in the sequence. Then we choose $+1$ whenever we can. Let the sequence be $c_1,b_1,\dots, c_n,b_n$ where $c_i$ are ...

Geometry ( Finally!!!)

This is just such an unfair blog. Like if one goes through this blog, one can notice how dominated Algebra is!! Like 6 out of 9 blog post is Algebra dominated -_- Where as I am not a fan of Algebra, compared to other genres of Olympiad Math(as of now). And this was just injustice for Synthetic Geo. So this time , go geo!!!!!!!!!!! These problems are randomly from A Beautiful Journey through Olympiad Geometry. Also perhaps I will post geo after March, because I am studying combi. Problem: Let $ABC$ be an acute triangle where $\angle BAC = 60^{\circ}$. Prove that if the Euler’s line of $\triangle ABC$ intersects $AB$ and $AC$ at $D$ and $E$, respectively, then $\triangle ADE$ is equilateral. Solution: Since $\angle A=60^{\circ}$ , we get $AH=2R\cos A=R=AO$. So $\angle EHA=\angle DOA.$ Also it's well known that $H$ and $O $ isogonal conjugates.$\angle OAD =\angle EAH.$ By $ASA$ congruence, we get $AE=AD.$ Hence $\triangle ADE$ is equilateral....

IMO Shortlist 2021 C1

I am planning to do at least one ISL every day so that I do not lose my Olympiad touch (and also they are fun to think about!). Today, I tried the 2021 IMO shortlist C1. (2021 ISL C1) Let $S$ be an infinite set of positive integers, such that there exist four pairwise distinct $a,b,c,d \in S$ with $\gcd(a,b) \neq \gcd(c,d)$. Prove that there exist three pairwise distinct $x,y,z \in S$ such that $\gcd(x,y)=\gcd(y,z) \neq \gcd(z,x)$. Suppose not. Then any $3$ elements $x,y,z\in S$ will be $(x,y)=(y,z)=(x,z)$ or $(x,y)\ne (y,z)\ne (x,z)$. There exists an infinite set $T$ such that $\forall x,y\in T,(x,y)=d,$ where $d$ is constant. Fix a random element $a$. Note that $(x,a)|a$. So $(x,a)\le a$.Since there are infinite elements and finite many possibilities for the gcd (atmost $a$). So $\exists$ set $T$ which is infinite such that $\forall b_1,b_2\in T$ $$(a,b_1)=(a,b_2)=d.$$ Note that if $(b_1,b_2)\ne d$ then we get a contradiction as we get a set satisfying the proble...

Symmetric Polynomials #week 6

Well... I haven't seen much symmetric polynomials in Olympiads, but still I am learning, because I found them cute. And I am basically using this blog as my notes :P What are symmetric polynomials? One can understand this with examples. If we are considering over 3 variables, $x_1,x_2,x_3$ then $$\sum_{sym}x_1^2\cdot x_2^3\cdot x_3=x_1^2\cdot x_2^3\cdot x_3+x_1^2\cdot x_3^3\cdot x_2+x_2^2\cdot x_1^3\cdot x_3+x_2^2\cdot x_3^3\cdot x_1+x_3^2\cdot x_1^3\cdot x_2.$$ See? $3!$ terms! Let's take one more example with again over 3 variables, $x_1,x_2,x_3$ then $$\sum_{sym}x_1^2\cdot x_2^2= x_1^2\cdot x_2^2+x_1^2\cdot x_3^2+x_2^2\cdot x_1^2+x_2^2\cdot x_3^2+x_3^2\cdot x_1^2+x_3^2\cdot x_2^2$$ Wait.. why 2 times ? So basically what happens in symmetrictric sums, is we go through all $n!$ possible permutations. So, here we have $a^2\cdot b^2\cdot c^0$ as like the "general" form type, right? Now, list down all the $3!=6$ permutations of $x_1,x_2,x_3$, and put them in the gene...

Number Theory Revise part 1

I thought to revise David Burton and try out some problems which I didn't do. It's been almost 2 years since I touched that book so let's see! Also, this set of problems/notes is quite weird since it's actually a memory lane. You will get to know on your own! I started with proving a problem, remembered another problem and then another and so on! It was quite fun cause all these questions were the ones I really wanted to solve! And this is part1 or else the post would be too long. Problem1: Prove that for $n\ge 1$ $$\binom{n}{r}<\binom{n}{r+1}$$ iff $0\le r\le \frac{n-1}{2}$ Proof: We show that $\binom{n}{r}<\binom{n}{r+1}$ for $0\le r\le \frac{n-1}{2}$ and use the fact that $$\binom{n}{n-r}=\binom{n}{r}$$ Note that $\binom{n}{r}= \frac{n!}{r!(n-r)!}, \binom{n}{r+1}=\frac{n!}{(r+1)!(n-r-1)!}$ Comparing, it's enough to show that $$\frac{1}{n-r}<\frac{1}{r+1}\text{ or show } n-r>r+1$$ which is true as $0\le r\le \frac{n-1}{2}$ Problem2: Show that the exp...

IMO 2023 P2

IMO 2023 P2 Well, IMO 2023 Day 1 problems are out and I thought of trying the geometry problem which was P2. Problem: Let $ABC$ be an acute-angled triangle with $AB < AC$. Let $\Omega$ be the circumcircle of $ABC$. Let $S$ be the midpoint of the arc $CB$ of $\Omega$ containing $A$. The perpendicular from $A$ to $BC$ meets $BS$ at $D$ and meets $\Omega$ again at $E \neq A$. The line through $D$ parallel to $BC$ meets line $BE$ at $L$. Denote the circumcircle of triangle $BDL$ by $\omega$. Let $\omega$ meet $\Omega$ again at $P \neq B$. Prove that the line tangent to $\omega$ at $P$ meets line $BS$ on the internal angle bisector of $\angle BAC$. Well, here's my proof, but I would rather call this my rough work tbh. There are comments in the end! Proof Define $A'$ as the antipode of $A$. And redefine $P=A'D\cap (ABC)$. Define $L=SP\cap (PDB)$. Claim1: $L-B-E$ collinear Proof: Note that $$\angle SCA=\angle SCB-\angle ACB=90-A/2-C.$$ So $$\angle SPA=90-A/2-C\implies \ang...

Reflecting on past

INMO Scores are out!! I am now a two times INMO awardee :) I got 16|0|1, so 17 in total! Yes, 16 in P1 T_T. I was thinking I would lose marks because of the way I wrote. Lemme tell ya'll what happened that day but first I should share a few thoughts I had before the exam. My thoughts Honestly, my preparation for INMO was bad. In fact, I should say I didn't work hard at all. As I have said earlier, I had lost all my hopes for INMO and Olympiads as a whole after EGMO TSTs happened. Art by Jelena Janic EGMO TSTs i.e European Girl's Mathematical Olympiad Team selection Tests 2022. Literally my thoughts after EGMO TSTs I feel very ashamed to share but I got 1 mark in my EGMO TSTs. Tests in which I literally gave my whole life. I did so many ISLs ( like SO MANY), I mocked EGMO 2021 TST where my score was 28/42 and I perfected Day 2. 1 mark in the TST just showed my true potential. There are way better people than me in olys. A friend even said to me, "If I wouldn't...

INMO Scores and Results

Heya! INMO Results are out! Well, I am now a 3 times IMOTCer :D. Very excited to meet every one of you! My INMO score was exactly 26 with a distribution of 17|0|0|0|0|9, which was a fair grading cause after problem 1, I tried problem 6 next. I was hoping for some partials in problem 4 but didn't get any. I am so so so excited to meet everyone! Can't believe my olympiad journey is going to end soon.. I thought to continue the improvement table I made last year! ( I would still have to add my EGMO performance and also IMO TST performance too) 2018-2019[ grade 8]: Cleared PRMO, Cleared RMO[ State rank 4], Wrote INMO 2019-2020[ grade 9]: Cleared PRMO, Cleared RMO[ State topper], Wrote INMO ( but flopped it) 2020-2021[grade 10]: Cleared IOQM, Cleared INMO [ Through Girl's Quota] 2021-2022[grade 11]: Wrote EGMO 2022 TST[ Rank 8], Qualified for IOQM part B directly, Cleared IOQM-B ( i.e INMO) [Through general quota], 2022-2023 [grade 12]: Wrote E...

Sunaina thinks absurd

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