2019 AIME I reflection notes from H

2019 AIME I — Reflection Notes from H

9 out of 15, 2 didn't finished were very close. like to know if there is better strategies for some problems.

Quick stats
• #1–5 took about 22.5 min total.
• #6 took about ~20 min (time sink).

My answers (as written)
#1: 342
#2: 029
#3: 120
#4: 122
#5: 252
#6: 090
#7: 880
#8: (very close — not finished)
#9: (wrong / crossed out)
#10: 357 (marked “silly”)
#11: ✓ (got it, but messy)
#12: (very close — basically solved but error)
#13: (basically solved, but used the wrong operation / wrong term; didn’t finish)
#14: 097
#15: (did not attempt)

Had trouble / wrong

#6 – Tried using binomial expansion, but it became too much computation (huge time sink).
#9 – Went nowhere / ended up crossing it out.
#10 – Silly mistake (need to slow down + verify).
#13 – Basically solved, but multiplied/used the wrong thing (wrong term like a_i) and didn’t finish.

Very close / almost

#8 – Very close (need to push to the finish next time).
#12 – Basically solved, but made an operation mistake (multiplied when I shouldn’t / wrong step).

Need review / improve

#11 – Got it, but I couldn’t visualize well, and the computations got messy.
#14 – Some algebra at the end felt annoying; practice finishing cleanly under time.

Not attempted

#15 – Did not attempt.