Hardest IMO problem EVER? Only *2* solved

#mathematics #olympiad #math
The International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) is the World Championship Mathematics Competition for High School students and is held annually in a different country. The best math students around the world compete in this contest annually. So, how tough must a problem be in order for only 2 out of 600 of these students to solve it?

[@Mathematics-lo2hs]

Me who is unable to solve the easiest IMO problems keeps scrolling through the toughest IMO problems😅

[@dedekindcuts3589]

hopefully you feel inspired!

[@Mathematics-lo2hs]

☺

[@Mrpallekuling]

I will never complain about hard problems again.

[@Anonymous_MC]

crazy to think that this is just a C5

[@Generalist18]

How long does it take to become proficient in solving imo problems,I want to be good at this?how long did take you 1 year 3 years?

[@Soul-cu8zn]

No definite time period for that

[@Soul-cu8zn]

Doesn't matter give maximum effort nontheless

[@Generalist18]

@@Soul-cu8zn how long did it take you

[@Soul-cu8zn]

@@Generalist18i haven't become proficient

[@k_meleon]

I know someone who won a gold medal and he started practicing competitive math in 8th grade if I'm not mistaken

[@dedekindcuts3589]

Did the actual difficulty of this problem surprise you?

[@piiscongruentto1modk]

the claim you made seemed like popping in from nowhere

[@zmaj12321]

@@piiscongruentto1modk I feel like it's quite intuitive: just find a way for the rabbit to get to points which are a tiny bit farther, but close enough to each other so that the tracker isn't helpful for the hunter. The exact numbers are something you'd figure out after.

[@piiscongruentto1modk]

@@zmaj12321 I kinda understand your way of thinking but the claim was definitively not intuitive

[@hihitherethere1]

@@piiscongruentto1modk Don't think about the claim as something you are trying to prove, but you will naturally get the claim after trying to find a method for the rabbit to move away from the hunter

[@dedekindcuts3589]

@@piiscongruentto1modk Yeah all the comments here (including yours) are valid. When presented in this manner for a clean proof, it seems random. But while solving the problem, you will craft this claim after trying to find out how the rabbit can gradually increase its distance bit by bit

[@verudoralast4890]

This seems obvious for some reason. But solving it mathematically is tough

[@mrpringles4479]

Polyhedron problem not interesting enough? Surely not interesting as this one for sure i loved this problem.

[@dedekindcuts3589]

hahaha sorry about that! I had wanted to cover this crazy problem even before IMO 2024!

[@mrpringles4479]

😂 this was a nice problem for sure 👍