Found problems: 84
2022 Romania National Olympiad, P4
Let $(R,+,\cdot)$ be a ring with center $Z=\{a\in\mathbb{R}:ar=ra,\forall r\in\mathbb{R}\}$ with the property that the group $U=U(R)$ of its invertible elements is finite. Given that $G$ is the group of automorphisms of the additive group $(R,+),$ prove that \[|G|\geq\frac{|U|^2}{|Z\cap U|}.\][i]Dragoș Crișan[/i]
2007 IberoAmerican Olympiad For University Students, 6
Let $F$ be a field whose characteristic is not $2$, let $F^*=F\setminus\left\{0\right\}$ be its multiplicative group and let $T$ be the subgroup of $F^*$ constituted by its finite order elements. Prove that if $T$ is finite, then $T$ is cyclic and its order is even.
2024 District Olympiad, P1
Determine the integers $n\geqslant 2$ for which the equation $x^2-\hat{3}\cdot x+\hat{5}=\hat{0}$ has a unique solution in $(\mathbb{Z}_n,+,\cdot).$
1966 Miklós Schweitzer, 8
Prove that in Euclidean ring $ R$ the quotient and remainder are always uniquely determined if and only if $ R$ is a polynomial ring over some field and the value of the norm is a strictly monotone function of the degree of the polynomial. (To be precise, there are two trivial cases: $ R$ can also be a field or the null ring.)
[i]E. Fried[/i]
2014 IMS, 3
Let $R$ be a commutative ring with $1$ such that the number of elements of $R$ is equal to $p^3$ where $p$ is a prime number. Prove that if the number of elements of $\text{zd}(R)$ be in the form of $p^n$ ($n \in \mathbb{N^*}$) where $\text{zd}(R) = \{a \in R \mid \exists 0 \neq b \in R, ab = 0\}$, then $R$ has exactly one maximal ideal.
2006 Iran Team Selection Test, 1
We have $n$ points in the plane, no three on a line.
We call $k$ of them good if they form a convex polygon and there is no other point in the convex polygon.
Suppose that for a fixed $k$ the number of $k$ good points is $c_k$.
Show that the following sum is independent of the structure of points and only depends on $n$ :
\[ \sum_{i=3}^n (-1)^i c_i \]
1966 Miklós Schweitzer, 4
Let $ I$ be an ideal of the ring $\mathbb{Z}\left[x\right]$ of all polynomials with integer coefficients such that
a) the elements of $ I$ do not have a common divisor of degree greater than $ 0$, and
b) $ I$ contains of a polynomial with constant term $ 1$.
Prove that $ I$ contains the polynomial $ 1 + x + x^2 + ... + x^{r-1}$ for some natural number $ r$.
[i]Gy. Szekeres[/i]
2011 Mongolia Team Selection Test, 1
Let $A=\{a^2+13b^2 \mid a,b \in\mathbb{Z}, b\neq0\}$. Prove that there
a) exist
b) exist infinitely many
$x,y$ integer pairs such that $x^{13}+y^{13} \in A$ and $x+y \notin A$.
(proposed by B. Bayarjargal)
2018 Ramnicean Hope, 3
[b]a)[/b] Let $ u $ be a polynom in $ \mathbb{Q}[X] . $ Prove that the function $ E_u:\mathbb{Q}[X]\longrightarrow\mathbb{Q}[X] $ defined as $ E_u(P)=P(u) $ is an endomorphism.
[b]b)[/b] Let $ E $ be an injective endomorphism of $ \mathbb{Q} [X] . $ Show that there exists a nonconstant polynom $ v $ in $ \mathbb{Q}[X] $ such that $ E(P)=P(v) , $ for any $ P $ in $ \mathbb{Q}[X] . $
[b]c)[/b] Let $ A $ be an automorphism of $ \mathbb{Q}[X] . $ Demonstrate that there is a nonzero constant polynom $ w $ in $ \mathbb{Q}[X] $ which has the property that $ A(P)=P(w) , $ for any $ P $ in $ \mathbb{Q}[X] . $
[i]Marcel Țena[/i]
2011 District Olympiad, 4
Let be a ring $ A. $ Denote with $ N(A) $ the subset of all nilpotent elements of $ A, $ with $ Z(A) $ the center of $ A, $ and with $ U(A) $ the units of $ A. $ Prove:
[b]a)[/b] $ Z(A)=A\implies N(A)+U(A)=U(A) . $
[b]b)[/b] $ \text{card} (A)\in\mathbb{N}\wedge a+U(A)\subset U(A)\implies a\in N(A) . $
1967 AMC 12/AHSME, 38
Given a set $S$ consisting of two undefined elements "pib" and "maa", and the four postulates: $P_1$: Every pib is a collection of maas, $P_2$: Any two distinct pibs have one and only one maa in common, $P_3$: Every maa belongs to two and only two pibs, $P_4$: There are exactly four pibs. Consider the three theorems: $T_1$: There are exactly six maas, $T_2$: There are exactly three maas in each pib, $T_3$: For each maa there is exactly one other maa not in the same pid with it. The theorems which are deducible from the postulates are:
$\textbf{(A)}\ T_3 \; \text{only}\qquad
\textbf{(B)}\ T_2 \; \text{and} \; T_3 \; \text{only} \qquad
\textbf{(C)}\ T_1 \; \text{and} \; T_2 \; \text{only}\\
\textbf{(D)}\ T_1 \; \text{and} \; T_3 \; \text{only}\qquad
\textbf{(E)}\ \text{all}$
2002 Romania National Olympiad, 1
Let $A$ be a ring.
$a)$ Show that the set $Z(A)=\{a\in A|ax=xa,\ \text{for all}\ x\in A\}$ is a subring of the ring $A$.
$b)$ Prove that, if any commutative subring of $A$ is a field, then $A$ is a field.
2006 MOP Homework, 7
Let $A_{n,k}$ denote the set of lattice paths in the coordinate plane of upsteps $u=[1,1]$, downsteps $d=[1,-1]$, and flatsteps $f=[1,0]$ that contain $n$ steps, $k$ of which are slanted ($u$ or $d$). A sharp turn is a consecutive pair of $ud$ or $du$. Let $B_{n,k}$ denote the set of paths in $A_{n,k}$ with no upsteps among the first $k-1$ steps, and let $C_{n,k}$ denote the set of paths in $A_{n,k}$ with no sharps anywhere. For example, $fdu$ is in $B_{3,2}$ but not in $C_{3,2}$, while $ufd$ is in $C_{3,2}$ but not $B_{3,2}$. For $1 \le k \le n$, prove that the sets $B_{n,k}$ and $C_{n,k}$ contains the same number of elements.
2016 Romania National Olympiad, 2
Let $A$ be a ring and let $D$ be the set of its non-invertible elements. If $a^2=0$ for any $a \in D,$ prove that:
[b]a)[/b] $axa=0$ for all $a \in D$ and $x \in A$;
[b]b)[/b] if $D$ is a finite set with at least two elements, then there is $a \in D,$ $a \neq 0,$ such that $ab=ba=0,$ for every $b \in D.$
[i]Ioan Băetu[/i]
1954 Miklós Schweitzer, 8
[b]8.[/b] Prove the following generalization of the well-known Chinese remainder theorem: Let $R$ be a ring with unit element and let $A_{1},A_{2},\dots . A_{n} (n\geqslant 2)$ be pairwise relative prime ideals of $R$. Then, for arbitrary elements $c_{1},c_{2}, \dots , c_{n}$ of $R$, there exists an element $x\in R$ such that $x-c_{k} \in A_{k} (k= 1,2, \dots , n)$. [b](A. 17)[/b]
1999 Brazil Team Selection Test, Problem 4
Let Q+ and Z denote the set of positive rationals and the set of inte-
gers, respectively. Find all functions f : Q+ → Z satisfying the following
conditions:
(i) f(1999) = 1;
(ii) f(ab) = f(a) + f(b) for all a, b ∈ Q+;
(iii) f(a + b) ≥ min{f(a), f(b)} for all a, b ∈ Q+.
2000 Romania National Olympiad, 4
Prove that a nontrivial finite ring is not a skew field if and only if the equation $ x^n+y^n=z^n $ has nontrivial solutions in this ring for any natural number $ n. $
2011 Romania National Olympiad, 1
Prove that a ring that has a prime characteristic admits nonzero nilpotent elements if and only if its characteristic divides the number of its units.
Gheorghe Țițeica 2025, P4
Let $R$ be a ring. Let $x,y\in R$ such that $x^2=y^2=0$. Prove that if $x+y-xy$ is nilpotent, so is $xy$.
[i]Janez Šter[/i]
1974 Miklós Schweitzer, 4
Let $ R$ be an infinite ring such that every subring of $ R$ different from $ \{0 \}$ has a finite index in $ R$. (By the index of a subring, we mean the index of its additive group in the additive group of $ R$.) Prove that the additive group of $ R$ is cyclic.
[i]L. Lovasz, J. Pelikan[/i]
2006 Iran Team Selection Test, 1
We have $n$ points in the plane, no three on a line.
We call $k$ of them good if they form a convex polygon and there is no other point in the convex polygon.
Suppose that for a fixed $k$ the number of $k$ good points is $c_k$.
Show that the following sum is independent of the structure of points and only depends on $n$ :
\[ \sum_{i=3}^n (-1)^i c_i \]
2007 IMS, 6
Let $R$ be a commutative ring with 1. Prove that $R[x]$ has infinitely many maximal ideals.
PEN H Problems, 31
Determine all integer solutions of the system \[2uv-xy=16,\] \[xv-yu=12.\]
2002 All-Russian Olympiad, 1
The polynomials $P$, $Q$, $R$ with real coefficients, one of which is degree $2$ and two of degree $3$, satisfy the equality $P^2+Q^2=R^2$. Prove that one of the polynomials of degree $3$ has three real roots.
1996 Romania National Olympiad, 3
Let $A$ be a commutative ring with $0 \neq 1$ such that for any $x \in A \setminus \{0\}$ there exist positive integers $m,n$ such that $(x^m+1)^n=x.$ Prove that any endomorphism of $A$ is an automorphism.