Let $a_{ij}$ $i=1,2,3$; $j=1,2,3$ be real numbers such that $a_{ij}$ is positive for $i=j$ and negative for $i\neq j$. Prove the existence of positive real numbers $c_{1}$, $c_{2}$, $c_{3}$ such that the numbers \[a_{11}c_{1}+a_{12}c_{2}+a_{13}c_{3},\qquad a_{21}c_{1}+a_{22}c_{2}+a_{23}c_{3},\qquad a_{31}c_{1}+a_{32}c_{2}+a_{33}c_{3}\] are either all negative, all positive, or all zero. [i]Proposed by Kiran Kedlaya, USA[/i]

Let $\alpha \in \mathbb{C}\setminus \{0\}$ and $A \in \mathcal{M}_n(\mathbb{C})$, $A \neq O_n$, be such that $$A^2 + (A^*)^2 = \alpha A\cdot A^*,$$ where $A^* = (\bar A)^T.$ Prove that $\alpha \in \mathbb{R}$, $|\alpha| \le 2$. and $A\cdot A^* = A^*\cdot A.$

An elementary change in a 0-1 matrix is ​​a change in an element and with it all its horizontal, vertical, and diagonal neighbors (0 to 1 or 1 to 0). Can any 1791 x 1791 0-1 matrix be transformed into a zero matrix with elementary changes?

Let $ X: \equal{} \{x_1,x_2,\ldots,x_{29}\}$ be a set of $ 29$ boys: they play with each other in a tournament of Pro Evolution Soccer 2009, in respect of the following rules: [list]i) every boy play one and only one time against each other boy (so we can assume that every match has the form $ (x_i \text{ Vs } x_j)$ for some $ i \neq j$); ii) if the match $ (x_i \text{ Vs } x_j)$, with $ i \neq j$, ends with the win of the boy $ x_i$, then $ x_i$ gains $ 1$ point, and $ x_j$ doesn’t gain any point; iii) if the match $ (x_i \text{ Vs } x_j)$, with $ i \neq j$, ends with the parity of the two boys, then $ \frac {1}{2}$ point is assigned to both boys. [/list] (We assume for simplicity that in the imaginary match $ (x_i \text{ Vs } x_i)$ the boy $ x_i$ doesn’t gain any point). Show that for some positive integer $ k \le 29$ there exist a set of boys $ \{x_{t_1},x_{t_2},\ldots,x_{t_k}\} \subseteq X$ such that, for all choice of the positive integer $ i \le 29$, the boy $ x_i$ gains always a integer number of points in the total of the matches $ \{(x_i \text{ Vs } x_{t_1}),(x_i \text{ Vs } x_{t_2}),\ldots, (x_i \text{ Vs } x_{t_k})\}$. [i](Paolo Leonetti)[/i]

Prove that if $A{}$ and $B{}$ are $n\times n$ matrices with complex entries which satisfy \[A=AB-BA+A^2B-2ABA+BA^2+A^2BA-ABA^2,\]then $\det(A)=0$.

Prove that if $n$ is large enough, in every $n\times n$ square that a natural number is written on each one of its cells, one can find a subsquare from the main square such that the sum of the numbers is this subsquare is divisible by $1391$.

Let $ T \in \textsl{SL}(n,\mathbb{Z})$, let $ G$ be a nonsingular $ n \times n$ matrix with integer elements, and put $ S\equal{}G^{\minus{}1}TG$. Prove that there is a natural number $ k$ such that $ S^k \in \textsl{SL}(n,\mathbb{Z})$. [i]Gy. Szekeres[/i]

If $A,B\in M_2(C)$ such that $AB-BA=B^2$ then prove that \[AB=BA\]

Let be eight real numbers $ 1\le a_1< a_2< a_3< a_4,x_1<x_2<x_3<x_4. $ Prove that $$ \begin{vmatrix}a_1^{x_1} & a_1^{x_2} & a_1^{x_3} & a_1^{x_4} \\ a_2^{x_1} & a_2^{x_2} & a_2^{x_3} & a_2^{x_4} \\ a_3^{x_1} & a_3^{x_2} & a_3^{x_3} & a_3^{x_4} \\ a_4^{x_1} & a_4^{x_2} & a_4^{x_3} & a_4^{x_4} \\ \end{vmatrix} >0. $$ [i]Marian Andronache, Ion Savu[/i]

Consider a finite set of vectors in space $\{a_1, a_2, ... , a_n\}$ and the set $E$ of all vectors of the form $x=\sum_{i=1}^{n}{\lambda _i a_i}$, where $\lambda _i \in \mathbb{R}^{+}\cup \{0\}$. Let $F$ be the set consisting of all the vectors in $E$ and vectors parallel to a given plane $P$. Prove that there exists a set of vectors $\{b_1, b_2, ... , b_p\}$ such that $F$ is the set of all vectors $y$ of the form $y=\sum_{i=1}^{p}{\mu _i b_i}$, where $\mu _i \in \mathbb{R}^{+}\cup \{0\}$.

Let $ A \equal{} (a_{ij})$, where $ i,j \equal{} 1,2,\ldots,n$, be a square matrix with all $ a_{ij}$ non-negative integers. For each $ i,j$ such that $ a_{ij} \equal{} 0$, the sum of the elements in the $ i$th row and the $ j$th column is at least $ n$. Prove that the sum of all the elements in the matrix is at least $ \frac {n^2}{2}$.

To each number with $n^2$ digits, we associate the $n\times n$ determinant of the matrix obtained by writing the digits of the number in order along the rows. For example : $8617\mapsto \det \left(\begin{matrix}{\;8}& 6\;\\ \;1 &{ 7\;}\end{matrix}\right)=50$. Find, as a function of $n$, the sum of all the determinants associated with $n^2$-digit integers. (Leading digits are assumed to be nonzero; for example, for $n = 2$, there are $9000$ determinants.)

Two cubical dice each have removable numbers $ 1$ through $ 6$. The twelve numbers on the two dice are removed, put into a bag, then drawn one at a time and randomly reattached to the faces of the cubes, one number to each face. The dice are then rolled and the numbers on the two top faces are added. What is the probability that the sum is $ 7$? $ \textbf{(A)}\ \frac{1}{9} \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ \frac{1}{8} \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ \frac{1}{6} \qquad \textbf{(D)}\ \frac{2}{11} \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ \frac{1}{5}$

Suppose that $2n$ points of an $n\times n$ grid are marked. Show that for some $k > 1$ one can select $2k$ distinct marked points, say $a_1,...,a_{2k}$, such that $a_{2i-1}$ and $a_{2i}$ are in the same row, $a_{2i}$ and $a_{2i+1}$ are in the same column, $\forall i$, indices taken mod 2n.

Alan and Barbara play a game in which they take turns filling entries of an initially empty $ 2008\times 2008$ array. Alan plays first. At each turn, a player chooses a real number and places it in a vacant entry. The game ends when all entries are filled. Alan wins if the determinant of the resulting matrix is nonzero; Barbara wins if it is zero. Which player has a winning strategy?

Find the number of even permutations of $ \{1,2,\ldots,n\}$ with no fixed points.

Let $p$ be a prime number. Prove that from a $p^2\times p^2$ array of squares, we can select $p^3$ of the squares such that the centers of any four of the selected squares are not the vertices of a rectangle with sides parallel to the edges of the array.

Let be three natural numbers $ k,m,n $ an $ m\times n $ matrix $ A, $ an $ n\times m $ matrix $ B, $ and $ k $ complex numbers $ a_0,a_1,\ldots ,a_k $ such that the following conditions hold. $ \text{(i)}\quad m\ge n\ge 2 $ $ \text{(ii)}\quad a_0I_m+a_1AB+a_2(AB)^2+\cdots +a_k(AB)^k=O_m $ $ \text{(iii)}\quad a_0I_m+a_1BA+a_2(BA)^2+\cdots +a_k(BA)^k\neq O_n $ Prove that $ a_0=0. $

Suppose that each of $n$ people writes down the numbers $1, 2, 3$ in random order in one column of a $3\times n$ matrix, with all orders equally likely and with the orders for different columns independent of each other. Let the row sums $a, b, c$ of the resulting matrix be rearranged (if necessary) so that $a \le b \le c$. Show that for some $n \ge 1995$ ,it is at least four times as likely that both $b = a+1$ and $c = a+2$ as that $a = b = c$.

A Sudoku matrix is defined as a $ 9\times9$ array with entries from $ \{1, 2, \ldots , 9\}$ and with the constraint that each row, each column, and each of the nine $ 3 \times 3$ boxes that tile the array contains each digit from $ 1$ to $ 9$ exactly once. A Sudoku matrix is chosen at random (so that every Sudoku matrix has equal probability of being chosen). We know two of the squares in this matrix, as shown. What is the probability that the square marked by ? contains the digit $ 3$? $ \setlength{\unitlength}{6mm} \begin{picture}(9,9)(0,0) \multiput(0,0)(1,0){10}{\line(0,1){9}} \multiput(0,0)(0,1){10}{\line(1,0){9}} \linethickness{1.2pt} \multiput(0,0)(3,0){4}{\line(0,1){9}} \multiput(0,0)(0,3){4}{\line(1,0){9}} \put(0,8){\makebox(1,1){1}} \put(1,7){\makebox(1,1){2}} \put(3,6){\makebox(1,1){?}} \end{picture}$

Find all positive integers $x>1, y$ and primes $p,q$ such that $p^{x}=2^{y}+q^{x}$

Let $p$ be a prime number. Prove that from a $p^2\times p^2$ array of squares, we can select $p^3$ of the squares such that the centers of any four of the selected squares are not the vertices of a rectangle with sides parallel to the edges of the array.

the code system of a new 'MO lock' is a regular $n$-gon,each vertex labelled a number $0$ or $1$ and coloured red or blue.it is known that for any two adjacent vertices,either their numbers or colours coincide. find the number of all possible codes(in terms of $n$).

Let $n$ be a positive integer. For any positive integer $k$, let $0_k=diag\{\underbrace{0, ...,0}_{k}\}$ be a $k \times k$ zero matrix. Let $Y=\begin{pmatrix} 0_n & A \\ A^t & 0_{n+1} \end{pmatrix}$ be a $(2n+1) \times (2n+1)$ where $A=(x_{i, j})_{1\leq i \leq n, 1\leq j \leq n+1}$ is a $n \times (n+1)$ real matrix. Let $A^T$ be transpose matrix of $A$ i.e. $(n+1) \times n$ matrix, the element of $(j, i)$ is $x_{i, j}$. (a) Let complex number $\lambda$ be an eigenvalue of $k \times k$ matrix $X$. If there exists nonzero column vectors $v=(x_1, ..., x_k)^t$ such that $Xv=\lambda v$. Prove that 0 is the eigenvalue of $Y$ and the other eigenvalues of $Y$ can be expressed as a form of $\pm \sqrt{\lambda}$ where nonnegative real number $\lambda$ is the eigenvalue of $AA^t$. (b) Let $n=3$ and $a_1$, $a_2$, $a_3$, $a_4$ are $4$ distinct positive real numbers. Let $a=\sqrt[]{\sum_{1\leq i \leq 4}^{}a^{2}_{i}}$ and $x_{i,j}=a_i\delta_{i,j}+a_j\delta_{4,j}-\frac{1}{a^2}(a^2_{i}+a^2_{4})a_j$ where $1\leq i \leq 3, 1\leq j \leq 4$, $\delta_{i, j}= \begin{cases} 1 \text{ if } i=j\\ 0 \text{ if } i\neq j\\ \end{cases}\,$. Prove that $Y$ has 7 distinct eigenvalue.

Let $n\geq 2$ and $1 \leq r \leq n$. Consider the set $S_r=(A \in M_n(\mathbb{Z}_2), rankA=r)$. Compute the sum $\sum_{X \in S_r}X$