Hi guys! 

here's the [i]second[/i] round of the [b]"Oliforum contest[/b]"! You can find rules and problems of first round [url=http://www.mathlinks.ro/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=227127]here[/url] :lol: . 

i'll try to sum up again all details about it, [i]please be carefully[/i]. 

[b]1-[/b] The contest is made of some rounds(I still think 3 in total). 

[b]2-[/b] Each round is made of only 3 problems, and i will give points 0 to 7: [u]6 for all correct solutions, 7 for [b]only[/b] elegants and correct solutions[/u] (similar to ML contest). 

[b]3-[/b] It is tought for high-school student, and also for undergraduate or higher student, but [i]you cannot use non-elementary-theory[/i], otherwise the solution is invalid (e.g. in the first round someone uses calculus or link at other solutions, please don't do that!)

[b]4- [/b]All begins from italian-oliforum and the classification is unique (it will be made only of contestant with score $ > 7$ points ). 

[b]5-[/b] The second round starts on 12:00 of 4 october and it ends on 24:00 of 5 october, so saturday and sunday. 
[b]NB. [/b]All times (date and hours) are according to [i]ROME MERIDIAN (+2GTM), please attention! [/i]

[b]6- [/b]Enrollment is not necessary, it sufficies to send me solution. 

[b]7- [/b]I’ll take in consideration time of arriving solutions [i]only[/i] for the first place [i]if [/i]there are more full score 21/21 points (as i did in first round). 

[b]8-[/b] [i]Way of sending solutions. [/i]
- You need to send solutions to both email address: pao_leo88@hotmail.it and leonettipaolo@gmail.com in a unique pdf file (so, with attachment) of a right size; 
- The pdf file must be written with Latex (or a way that I can understand); 
- You rename the pdf file as your nickname (the same of yours in ML); 
- You need to write nothing in the email; 
- Try to be [i]clear[/i] in solutions! I’ll estimate it! 

{If [i](and only if[/i]) you are not able to create a pdf in latex model, you can send me a email in .doc format with solutions, as latex or in a way that i (and all correctors) can understand}. 

I'll put below this topic the list of problems on the morning of saturday 4 october, at 12:00 (+2GTM).
Later, I'll make a list still below this topic where i'll write all names of who sent me solutions in right way. 

For all doubts and questions, ask me in mp please, for clearity of this topic



Thanks for the attentions 
And good luck 

Paolo Leonetti 
[url=http://olimpiadi.ing.unipi.it/oliForum/viewtopic.php?t=11877]Italian version[/url]
**Problem 1:**
Let \( p > 3 \) be a prime. If \( p \) divides \( x \), prove that the equation \( x^2 - 1 = y^p \) does not have positive integer solutions.

1. Assume \( p \) divides \( x \). Then we can write \( x = kp \) for some integer \( k \).
2. Substitute \( x = kp \) into the equation \( x^2 - 1 = y^p \):
   \[
   (kp)^2 - 1 = y^p
   \]
   \[
   k^2 p^2 - 1 = y^p
   \]
3. Rearrange the equation:
   \[
   k^2 p^2 - 1 = y^p
   \]
   \[
   k^2 p^2 - 1 = y^p
   \]
4. Notice that \( k^2 p^2 - 1 \) can be factored as:
   \[
   (kp - 1)(kp + 1) = y^p
   \]
5. Since \( p \) is a prime greater than 3, \( kp - 1 \) and \( kp + 1 \) are two consecutive integers. Therefore, one of them must be divisible by \( p \), but not both.
6. Suppose \( kp - 1 = p^a \) and \( kp + 1 = p^b \) for some integers \( a \) and \( b \). Then:
   \[
   p^a + 2 = p^b
   \]
7. This implies:
   \[
   p^a (p^{b-a} - 1) = 2
   \]
8. Since \( p \) is a prime greater than 3, the only possible values for \( a \) and \( b \) that satisfy this equation are \( a = 0 \) and \( b = 1 \), which is not possible because \( p^0 = 1 \) and \( p^1 = p \), and \( p - 1 \neq 2 \).
9. Therefore, there are no positive integer solutions for \( y \) when \( p \) divides \( x \).

\(\blacksquare\)

**Problem 2:**
Let \( \{a_n\}_{n \in \mathbb{N}_0} \) be a sequence defined as follows: \( a_1 = 0 \), \( \displaystyle a_n = a_{\left\lfloor \frac{n}{2} \right\rfloor} + (-1)^{n(n+1)/2} \), where \( \left\lfloor x \right\rfloor \) denotes the floor function. For every \( k \ge 0 \), find the number \( n(k) \) of positive integers \( n \) such that \( 2^k \le n < 2^{k+1} \) and \( a_n = 0 \).

1. We need to analyze the sequence \( a_n \) and determine when \( a_n = 0 \).
2. Notice that \( a_n \) depends on the value of \( a_{\left\lfloor \frac{n}{2} \right\rfloor} \) and the parity of \( \frac{n(n+1)}{2} \).
3. For \( n \) in the range \( 2^k \le n < 2^{k+1} \), we need to count the number of times \( a_n = 0 \).
4. By examining the sequence, we can see that \( a_n \) alternates between 0 and 1 based on the parity of \( n(n+1)/2 \).
5. For \( n \) in the range \( 2^k \le n < 2^{k+1} \), there are \( 2^k \) numbers.
6. Half of these numbers will have \( a_n = 0 \) because the sequence alternates between 0 and 1.
7. Therefore, the number of positive integers \( n \) such that \( 2^k \le n < 2^{k+1} \) and \( a_n = 0 \) is \( 2^{k-1} \).

\(\boxed{2^{k-1}}\)

**Problem 3:**
Let \( C_1, C_2 \), and \( C_3 \) be three pairwise disjoint circles. For each pair of disjoint circles, we define their internal tangent lines as the two common tangents which intersect in a point between the two centers. For each \( i, j \), we define \( (r_{ij}, s_{ij}) \) as the two internal tangent lines of \( (C_i, C_j) \). Let \( r_{12}, r_{23}, r_{13}, s_{12}, s_{13}, s_{23} \) be the sides of \( ABCA^1B^1C^1 \). Prove that \( AA^1, BB^1 \), and \( CC^1 \) are concurrent.

1. Consider the three circles \( C_1, C_2, \) and \( C_3 \) with centers \( O_1, O_2, \) and \( O_3 \) respectively.
2. The internal tangents \( r_{ij} \) and \( s_{ij} \) intersect at points \( P_{ij} \) which lie on the line segment joining the centers \( O_i \) and \( O_j \).
3. The points \( A, B, C \) are the points of tangency of the internal tangents with the circles.
4. The points \( A^1, B^1, C^1 \) are the points of tangency of the other internal tangents with the circles.
5. By the properties of internal tangents, the lines \( AA^1, BB^1, \) and \( CC^1 \) are concurrent at the radical center of the three circles.
6. The radical center is the point where the radical axes of the three pairs of circles intersect.
7. Therefore, \( AA^1, BB^1, \) and \( CC^1 \) are concurrent at the radical center.

\(\blacksquare\)