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APMO 2018 Problem 4

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Let ABCA B C be an equilateral triangle. From the vertex AA we draw a ray towards the interior of the triangle such that the ray reaches one of the sides of the triangle. When the ray reaches a side, it then bounces off following the law of reflection, that is, if it arrives with a directed angle α\alpha, it leaves with a directed angle 180∘−α180^{\circ}-\alpha. After nn bounces, the ray returns to AA without ever landing on any of the other two vertices. Find all possible values of nn.

Dataset text NuminaMath olympiads. Quoted with source.

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n \equiv 1,5 \bmod 6 \text{ with the exception of 5 and 17}

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