Found problems: 823
2010 VJIMC, Problem 3
Let $A$ and $B$ be two $n\times n$ matrices with integer entries such that all of the matrices
$$A,\enspace A+B,\enspace A+2B,\enspace A+3B,\enspace\ldots,\enspace A+(2n)B$$are invertible and their inverses have integer entries, too. Show that $A+(2n+1)B$ is also invertible and that its inverse has integer entries.
2000 Putnam, 1
Let $a_j$, $b_j$, $c_j$ be integers for $1 \le j \le N$. Assume for each $j$, at least one of $a_j$, $b_j$, $c_j$ is odd. Show that there exists integers $r, s, t$ such that $ra_j+sb_j+tc_j$ is odd for at least $\tfrac{4N}{7}$ values of $j$, $1 \le j \le N$.
1994 IMC, 1
a) Let $A$ be a $n\times n$, $n\geq 2$, symmetric, invertible matrix with real positive elements. Show that $z_n\leq n^2-2n$, where $z_n$ is the number of zero elements in $A^{-1}$.
b) How many zero elements are there in the inverse of the $n\times n$ matrix
$$A=\begin{pmatrix} 1&1&1&1&\ldots&1\\
1&2&2&2&\ldots&2\\
1&2&1&1&\ldots&1\\
1&2&1&2&\ldots&2\\
\vdots&\vdots&\vdots&\vdots&\ddots&\vdots\\
1&2&1&2&\ldots&\ddots
\end{pmatrix}$$
2001 IMC, 4
Let $A=(a_{k,l})_{k,l=1,...,n}$ be a complex $n \times n$ matrix such that for each $m \in \{1,2,...,n\}$ and $1 \leq j_{1} <...<j_{m}$ the determinant of the matrix $(a_{j_{k},j_{l}})_{k,l=1,...,n}$ is zero. Prove that $A^{n}=0$ and that there exists a permutation $\sigma \in S_{n}$ such that the matrix $(a_{\sigma(k),\sigma(l)})_{k,l=1,...,n}$ has all of its nonzero elements above the diagonal.
2011 IMC, 2
Does there exist a real $3\times 3$ matrix $A$ such that $\text{tr}(A)=0$ and $A^2+A^t=I?$ ($\text{tr}(A)$ denotes the trace of $A,\ A^t$ the transpose of $A,$ and $I$ is the identity matrix.)
[i]Proposed by Moubinool Omarjee, Paris[/i]
1988 IMO Shortlist, 14
For what values of $ n$ does there exist an $ n \times n$ array of entries -1, 0 or 1 such that the $ 2 \cdot n$ sums obtained by summing the elements of the rows and the columns are all different?
2003 Indonesia MO, 4
Given a $19 \times 19$ matrix where each component is either $1$ or $-1$. Let $b_i$ be the product of all components in the $i$-th row, and $k_i$ be the product of all components in the $i$-th column, for all $1 \le i \le 19$. Prove that for any such matrix, $b_1 + k_1 + b_2 + k_2 + \cdots + b_{19} + k_{19} \neq 0$.
2005 Miklós Schweitzer, 5
Let $GL(n, K)$ be a linear group over the field K with a topology induced by a non-Archimedean absolute value of the field K. Prove that if the matrix $M \in GL (n, K)$ is contained by some compact subgroup of $GL(n, K)$, then all eigenvalues of M have absolute value 1.
2005 IMC, 3
What is the maximal dimension of a linear subspace $ V$ of the vector space of real $ n \times n$ matrices such that for all $ A$ in $ B$ in $ V$, we have $ \text{trace}\left(AB\right) \equal{} 0$ ?
1976 IMO, 2
We consider the following system
with $q=2p$:
\[\begin{matrix} a_{11}x_{1}+\ldots+a_{1q}x_{q}=0,\\ a_{21}x_{1}+\ldots+a_{2q}x_{q}=0,\\ \ldots ,\\ a_{p1}x_{1}+\ldots+a_{pq}x_{q}=0,\\ \end{matrix}\]
in which every coefficient is an element from the set $\{-1,0,1\}$$.$ Prove that there exists a solution $x_{1}, \ldots,x_{q}$ for the system with the properties:
[b]a.)[/b] all $x_{j}, j=1,\ldots,q$ are integers$;$
[b]b.)[/b] there exists at least one j for which $x_{j} \neq 0;$
[b]c.)[/b] $|x_{j}| \leq q$ for any $j=1, \ldots ,q.$
1988 IMO Shortlist, 1
An integer sequence is defined by \[{ a_n = 2 a_{n-1} + a_{n-2}}, \quad (n > 1), \quad a_0 = 0, a_1 = 1.\] Prove that $2^k$ divides $a_n$ if and only if $2^k$ divides $n$.
2009 IberoAmerican Olympiad For University Students, 2
Let $x_1,\cdots, x_n$ be nonzero vectors of a vector space $V$ and $\varphi:V\to V$ be a linear transformation such that $\varphi x_1 = x_1$, $\varphi x_k = x_k - x_{k-1}$ for $k = 2, 3,\ldots,n$.
Prove that the vectors $x_1,\ldots,x_n$ are linearly independent.
2013 SEEMOUS, Problem 4
Let $A\in M_2(\mathbb Q)$ such that there is $n\in\mathbb N,n\ne0$, with $A^n=-I_2$. Prove that either $A^2=-I_2$ or $A^3=-I_2$.
2005 District Olympiad, 1
Let $H$ denote the set of the matrices from $\mathcal{M}_n(\mathbb{N})$ and let $P$ the set of matrices from $H$ for which the sum of the entries from any row or any column is equal to $1$.
a)If $A\in P$, prove that $\det A=\pm 1$.
b)If $A_1,A_2,\ldots,A_p\in H$ and $A_1A_2\cdot \ldots\cdot A_p\in P$, prove that $A_1,A_2,\ldots,A_p\in P$.
2012 Centers of Excellency of Suceava, 1
Let be a natural number $ n $ and a $ n\times n $ nilpotent real matrix $ A. $
Prove that $ 0=\det\left( A+\text{adj} A \right) . $
[i]Neculai Moraru[/i]
2007 District Olympiad, 2
Let $A\in \mathcal{M}_n(\mathbb{R}^*)$. If $A\cdot\ ^t A=I_n$, prove that:
a)$|\text{Tr}(A)|\le n$;
b)If $n$ is odd, then $\det(A^2-I_n)=0$.
2014 AMC 10, 25
In a small pond there are eleven lily pads in a row labeled $0$ through $10$. A frog is sitting on pad $1$. When the frog is on pad $N$, $0<N<10$, it will jump to pad $N-1$ with probability $\frac{N}{10}$ and to pad $N+1$ with probability $1-\frac{N}{10}$. Each jump is independent of the previous jumps. If the frog reaches pad $0$ it will be eaten by a patiently waiting snake. If the frog reaches pad $10$ it will exit the pond, never to return. What is the probability that the frog will escape being eaten by the snake?
$ \textbf {(A) } \frac{32}{79} \qquad \textbf {(B) } \frac{161}{384} \qquad \textbf {(C) } \frac{63}{146} \qquad \textbf {(D) } \frac{7}{16} \qquad \textbf {(E) } \frac{1}{2} $
2012 Grigore Moisil Intercounty, 3
Find for which natural numbers $ n\ge 2 $ there exist two real matrices $ A,B $ of order $ n $ that satisy the property:
$$ (AB)^2=0\neq (BA)^2 $$
[i]Dan Bărbosu[/i]
2004 Bulgaria Team Selection Test, 3
In any cell of an $n \times n$ table a number is written such that all the rows are distinct. Prove that we can remove a column such that the rows in the new table are still distinct.
2021 Science ON grade XI, 4
Denote $\textrm{SL}_2 (\mathbb{Z})$ and $\textrm{SL}_3 (\mathbb{Z})$
the sets of matrices with $2$ rows and $2$ columns, respectively with $3$ rows and $3$ columns, with integer entries and their determinant equal to $1$.
$\textbf{(a)}$ Let $N$ be a positive integer and let $g$ be a matrix with $3$ rows and $3$ columns, with rational entries. Suppose that for each positive divisor $M$ of $N$ there exists a rational number $q_M$, a positive divisor $f (M)$ of $N$ and a matrix $\gamma_M \in \textrm{SL}_3 (\mathbb{Z})$ such that
\[ g = q_M \left(\begin{array}{ccc}
1 & 0 & 0\\
0 & 1 & 0\\
0 & 0 & f (M)
\end{array}\right) \gamma_M \left(\begin{array}{ccc}
1 & 0 & 0\\
0 & 1 & 0\\
0 & 0 & M^{}
\end{array}\right) . \]
Moreover, if $q_1 = 1$, prove that $\det (g) = N$ and $g$ has the following shape:
\[ g = \left(\begin{array}{ccc}
a_{11} & a_{12} & Na_{13}\\
a_{21} & a_{22} & Na_{23}\\
Na_{31} & Na_{32} & Na_{33}
\end{array}\right), \]
where $a_{ij}$ are all integers, $i, j \in \{ 1, 2, 3 \} .$
$\textbf{(b)}$ Provide an example of a matrix $g$ with $2$ rows and $2$ columns which satisfies the following properties:
$\bullet$ For each positive divisor $M$ of $6$ there exists a rational number $q_M$, a positive divisor $f (M)$ of $6$ and a matrix $\gamma_M \in \textrm{SL}_2 (\mathbb{Z})$ such that
\[ g = q_M \left(\begin{array}{cc}
1 & 0\\
0 & f (M)
\end{array}\right) \gamma_M \left(\begin{array}{cc}
1 & 0\\
0 & M^{}
\end{array}\right) \]
and $q_1 = 1$.
$\bullet$ $g$ does not have its determinant equal to $6$ and is not of the shape
\[ g = \left(\begin{array}{cc}
a_{22} & 6 a_{23}\\
6 a_{32} & 6 a_{33}
\end{array}\right), \]
where $a_{ij}$ are all positive integers, $i, j \in \{ 2, 3 \}$.
[i](Radu Toma)[/i]
2022 VJIMC, 2
Let $n\ge1$. Assume that $A$ is a real $n\times n$ matrix which satisfies the equality
$$A^7+A^5+A^3+A-I=0.$$
Show that $\det(A)>0$.
Putnam 1938, B1
Do either $(1)$ or $(2)$
$(1)$ Let $A$ be matrix $(a_{ij}), 1 \leq i,j \leq 4.$ Let $d =$ det$(A),$ and let $A_{ij}$ be the cofactor of $a_{ij}$, that is, the determinant of the $3 \times 3$ matrix formed from $A$ by deleting $a_{ij}$ and other elements in the same row and column. Let $B$ be the $4 \times 4$ matrix $(A_{ij})$ and let $D$ be det $B.$ Prove $D = d^3$.
$(2)$ Let $P(x)$ be the quadratic $Ax^2 + Bx + C.$ Suppose that $P(x) = x$ has unequal real roots. Show that the roots are also roots of $P(P(x)) = x.$ Find a quadratic equation for the other two roots of this equation. Hence solve $(y^2 - 3y + 2)2 - 3(y^2 - 3y + 2) + 2 - y = 0.$
2013 Romania National Olympiad, 1
Given A, non-inverted matrices of order n with real elements, $n\ge 2$ and given ${{A}^{*}}$adjoin matrix A. Prove that $tr({{A}^{*}})\ne -1$ if and only if the matrix ${{I}_{n}}+{{A}^{*}}$ is invertible.
2021 Science ON all problems, 4
Denote $\textrm{SL}_2 (\mathbb{Z})$ and $\textrm{SL}_3 (\mathbb{Z})$
the sets of matrices with $2$ rows and $2$ columns, respectively with $3$ rows and $3$ columns, with integer entries and their determinant equal to $1$.
$\textbf{(a)}$ Let $N$ be a positive integer and let $g$ be a matrix with $3$ rows and $3$ columns, with rational entries. Suppose that for each positive divisor $M$ of $N$ there exists a rational number $q_M$, a positive divisor $f (M)$ of $N$ and a matrix $\gamma_M \in \textrm{SL}_3 (\mathbb{Z})$ such that
\[ g = q_M \left(\begin{array}{ccc}
1 & 0 & 0\\
0 & 1 & 0\\
0 & 0 & f (M)
\end{array}\right) \gamma_M \left(\begin{array}{ccc}
1 & 0 & 0\\
0 & 1 & 0\\
0 & 0 & M^{}
\end{array}\right) . \]
Moreover, if $q_1 = 1$, prove that $\det (g) = N$ and $g$ has the following shape:
\[ g = \left(\begin{array}{ccc}
a_{11} & a_{12} & Na_{13}\\
a_{21} & a_{22} & Na_{23}\\
Na_{31} & Na_{32} & Na_{33}
\end{array}\right), \]
where $a_{ij}$ are all integers, $i, j \in \{ 1, 2, 3 \} .$
$\textbf{(b)}$ Provide an example of a matrix $g$ with $2$ rows and $2$ columns which satisfies the following properties:
$\bullet$ For each positive divisor $M$ of $6$ there exists a rational number $q_M$, a positive divisor $f (M)$ of $6$ and a matrix $\gamma_M \in \textrm{SL}_2 (\mathbb{Z})$ such that
\[ g = q_M \left(\begin{array}{cc}
1 & 0\\
0 & f (M)
\end{array}\right) \gamma_M \left(\begin{array}{cc}
1 & 0\\
0 & M^{}
\end{array}\right) \]
and $q_1 = 1$.
$\bullet$ $g$ does not have its determinant equal to $6$ and is not of the shape
\[ g = \left(\begin{array}{cc}
a_{22} & 6 a_{23}\\
6 a_{32} & 6 a_{33}
\end{array}\right), \]
where $a_{ij}$ are all positive integers, $i, j \in \{ 2, 3 \}$.
[i](Radu Toma)[/i]
2009 IMC, 3
Let $A,B\in \mathcal{M}_n(\mathbb{C})$ be two $n \times n$ matrices such that
\[ A^2B+BA^2=2ABA \]
Prove there exists $k\in \mathbb{N}$ such that
\[ (AB-BA)^k=\mathbf{0}_n\]
Here $\mathbf{0}_n$ is the null matrix of order $n$.