The biggest frustration for self-studying students is getting stuck on a problem with no teacher to ask. This book’s solutions are not just answers; they are lecture notes. They explain the thought process—why you try a specific substitution or why you consider parity first.
While Volume 2 dives deeper, Volume 1 introduces: While Volume 2 dives deeper, Volume 1 introduces:
| Resource | Focus | Difficulty | Best for | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Xu Jiagu Senior Vol 1 | Balanced (Algebra/Combinatorics) | Medium-Hard | Structured course learners | | EGMO (Euclidean Geometry) | Pure Geometry | Hard | Geometry specialists | | The Art of Problem Solving (Vol 2) | Mixed (American style) | Medium | Problem-solvers who like prose | | Problem-Solving Strategies (Engel) | Encyclopedia of methods | Very Hard | Advanced revision | It introduces advanced lemmas (like LTE - Lifting
Xu’s book fits nicely between AoPS Vol 2 and Engel—it is more systematic than AoPS but less dense than Engel. Because you have a PDF (searchable)
There is a notorious gap between "AMC 10/12" level and "AIME/IMO" level. Volume 1 of the senior section is the perfect bridge. It introduces advanced lemmas (like LTE - Lifting The Exponent Lemma) without assuming you have a PhD.
The Mathematical Olympiad is an international competition. Various mathematical olympiad courses are offered.
Because you have a PDF (searchable), do not print the whole book. Instead: