Olympiad problems

1985 Traian Lălescu, 1.4

Let $ A $ be a ring in which $ 1\neq 0. $ If $ a,b\in A, $ then the following affirmations are equivalent: $ \text{(i)}\quad aba=a\wedge ba^2b=1 $ $ \text{(ii)}\quad ab=ba=1 $ $ \text{(iii)}\quad \exists !b\in A\quad aba=a $

2002 District Olympiad, 2

Tags: superior algebra , morphisms , product rings , Ring Theory

[b]a)[/b] Show that, for any distinct natural numbers $ m,n, $ the rings $ \mathbb{Z}_2\times \underbrace{\cdots}_{m\text{ times}} \times\mathbb{Z}_2,\mathbb{Z}_2\times \underbrace{\cdots}_{n\text{ times}} \times\mathbb{Z}_2 $ are homomorphic, but not isomorphic. [b]b)[/b] Show that there are infinitely many pairwise nonhomomorphic rings of same order.

1993 China Team Selection Test, 3

Tags: geometry , circumcircle , incenter , trigonometry , geometric transformation , reflection , Ring Theory

Let $ABC$ be a triangle and its bisector at $A$ cuts its circumcircle at $D.$ Let $I$ be the incenter of triangle $ABC,$ $M$ be the midpoint of $BC,$ $P$ is the symmetric to $I$ with respect to $M$ (Assuming $P$ is in the circumcircle). Extend $DP$ until it cuts the circumcircle again at $N.$ Prove that among segments $AN, BN, CN$, there is a segment that is the sum of the other two.

1986 Traian Lălescu, 1.1

Tags: Ring Theory , Field theory , superior algebra , abstract algebra , morphism , characteristic

Let be two nontrivial rings linked by an application ($ K\stackrel{\vartheta }{\mapsto } L $) having the following properties: $ \text{(i)}\quad x,y\in K\implies \vartheta (x+y) = \vartheta (x) +\vartheta (y) $ $ \text{(ii)}\quad \vartheta (1)=1 $ $ \text{(iii)}\quad \vartheta \left( x^3\right) =\vartheta^3 (x) $ [b]a)[/b] Show that if $ \text{char} (L)\ge 4, $ and $ K,L $ are fields, then $ \vartheta $ is an homomorphism. [b]b)[/b] Prove that if $ K $ is a noncommutative division ring, then it’s possible that $ \vartheta $ is not an homomorphism.

2003 SNSB Admission, 3

Tags: number theory , prime numbers , Ring Theory , factorial

Let be a prime number $ p, $ the quotient ring $ R=\mathbb{Z}[X,Y]/(pX,pY), $ and a prime ideal $ I\supset pA $ that is not maximal. Show that the ring $ \left\{ r/i|r\in R, i\in I \right\} $ is factorial.

2008 District Olympiad, 4

Tags: algebra , polynomial , superior algebra , Ring Theory , finite field , Wedderburn

Let be a finite field $ K. $ Say that two polynoms $ f,g $ from $ K[X] $ are [i]neighbours,[/i] if the have the same degree and they differ by exactly one coefficient. [b]a)[/b] Show that all the neighbours of $ 1+X^2 $ from $ \mathbb{Z}_3[X] $ are reducible in $ \mathbb{Z}_3[X] . $ [b]b)[/b] If $ |K|\ge 4, $ show that any polynomial of degree $ |K|-1 $ from $ K[X] $ has a neighbour from $ K[X] $ that is reducible in $ K[X] , $ and also has a neighbour that doesn´t have any root in $ K. $

2018 Romania National Olympiad, 1

Tags: superior algebra , Ring Theory

Let $A$ be a finite ring and $a,b \in A,$ such that $(ab-1)b=0.$ Prove that $b(ab-1)=0.$

2004 Alexandru Myller, 3

Tags: abstract algebra , Ring Theory , nilpotence , superior algebra

Prove that the number of nilpotent elements of a commutative ring with an order greater than $ 8 $ and congruent to $ 3 $ modulo $ 6 $ is at most a third of the order of the ring.

2011 Laurențiu Duican, 4

Tags: Ring Theory , field , finite field , Polynom , irreducibility over field , algebra

Consider a finite field $ K. $ [b]a)[/b] Prove that there is an element $ k $ in $ K $ having the property that the polynom $ X^3+k $ is irreducible in $ K[X], $ if $ \text{ord} (K)\equiv 1\pmod {12}. $ [b]b)[/b] Is [b]a)[/b] still true if, intead, $ \text{ord} (K) \equiv -1\pmod{12} ? $ [i]Dorel Miheț[/i]