Olympiad problems

1991 Vietnam Team Selection Test, 3

Tags: limit , linear algebra , matrix , vector , invariant , complex number , logarithm

Let $\{x\}$ be a sequence of positive reals $x_1, x_2, \ldots, x_n$, defined by: $x_1 = 1, x_2 = 9, x_3=9, x_4=1$. And for $n \geq 1$ we have: \[x_{n+4} = \sqrt[4]{x_{n} \cdot x_{n+1} \cdot x_{n+2} \cdot x_{n+3}}.\] Show that this sequence has a finite limit. Determine this limit.

2005 Miklós Schweitzer, 6

Tags: linear algebra , matrix , inequalities

$SU_2(\mathbb{C})=\left\{\begin{pmatrix} z & w \\ -\bar{w} & \bar{z} \end{pmatrix} : z,w\in\mathbb{C} , z\bar{z}+w\bar{w}=1\right\}$ A and B are 2 elements of the above matrix group and have eigenvalues $e^{i\theta_1}$ , $e^{-i\theta_1}$ and $e^{i\theta_2}$ , $e^{-i\theta_2}$respectively, where $0\leq\theta_i\leq\pi$ . Prove that if AB has eigenvalue $e^{i\theta_3}$ , then $\theta_3$ satisfies the inequality $|\theta_1-\theta_2|\leq\theta_3\leq \min\{\theta_1+\theta_2 , 2\pi-(\theta_1+\theta_2)\}$

2006 IMC, 6

Tags: linear algebra , matrix , algebra , polynomial

The scores of this problem were: one time 17/20 (by the runner-up) one time 4/20 (by Andrei Negut) one time 1/20 (by the winner) the rest had zero... just to give an idea of the difficulty. Let $A_{i},B_{i},S_{i}$ ($i=1,2,3$) be invertible real $2\times 2$ matrices such that [list][*]not all $A_{i}$ have a common real eigenvector, [*]$A_{i}=S_{i}^{-1}B_{i}S_{i}$ for $i=1,2,3$, [*]$A_{1}A_{2}A_{3}=B_{1}B_{2}B_{3}=I$.[/list] Prove that there is an invertible $2\times 2$ matrix $S$ such that $A_{i}=S^{-1}B_{i}S$ for all $i=1,2,3$.

2007 IMS, 7

Tags: linear algebra , search , number theory

$x_{1},x_{2},\dots,x_{n}$ are real number such that for each $i$, the set $\{x_{1},x_{2},\dots,x_{n}\}\backslash \{x_{i}\}$ could be partitioned into two sets that sum of elements of first set is equal to the sum of the elements of the other. Prove that all of $x_{i}$'s are zero. [hide="Hint"]It is a number theory problem.[/hide]

1995 IMC, 7

Tags: linear algebra , matrix , vector

Let $A$ be a $3\times 3$ real matrix such that the vectors $Au$ and $u$ are orthogonal for every column vector $u\in \mathbb{R}^{3}$. Prove that: a) $A^{T}=-A$. b) there exists a vector $v \in \mathbb{R}^{3}$ such that $Au=v\times u$ for every $u\in \mathbb{R}^{3}$, where $v \times u$ denotes the vector product in $\mathbb{R}^{3}$.

2018 IMC, 3

Tags: linear algebra

Determine all rational numbers $a$ for which the matrix $$\begin{pmatrix} a & -a & -1 & 0 \\ a & -a & 0 & -1 \\ 1 & 0 & a & -a\\ 0 & 1 & a & -a \end{pmatrix}$$ is the square of a matrix with all rational entries. [i]Proposed by Daniël Kroes, University of California, San Diego[/i]

2025 SEEMOUS, P3

Tags: linear algebra , matrix

Let $A\in\mathcal{M}_n(\mathbb{C})$ such that $A^*A^2 = AA^*$. Prove that $A^2=A$. (Here we denote by $A^*$ the conjugate transpose of $A$.)

2012 Gheorghe Vranceanu, 1

Tags: complex number , linear algebra , matrix

[b]a)[/b] Find all $ 2\times 2 $ complex matrices $ A $ which have the property that there are two complex numbers $ \alpha ,\gamma $ with $ \alpha \neq \text{tr} (A) $ or $ \gamma\neq \det (A) $ such that $ A^2-\alpha A+\gamma I=0. $ [b]b)[/b] Consider $ B\not\in\{ 0,I\} $ as a matrix having the property mentioned at [b]a).[/b] Solve in the complex numbers the system $ xB-yI-B^2=xB^2-yI-B^4=0. $ [i]Adrian Troie[/i]

2013 District Olympiad, 2

Tags: linear algebra , matrix , algebra

Let the matrices of order 2 with the real elements $A$ and $B$ so that $AB={{A}^{2}}{{B}^{2}}-{{\left( AB \right)}^{2}}$ and $\det \left( B \right)=2$. a) Prove that the matrix $A$ is not invertible. b) Calculate $\det \left( A+2B \right)-\det \left( B+2A \right)$.

2021 Science ON grade XI, 2

Tags: linear algebra

Consider $A,B\in\mathcal{M}_n(\mathbb{C})$ for which there exist $p,q\in\mathbb{C}$ such that $pAB-qBA=I_n$. Prove that either $(AB-BA)^n=O_n$ or the fraction $\frac{p}{q}$ is well-defined ($q \neq 0$) and it is a root of unity. [i](Sergiu Novac)[/i]

2001 SNSB Admission, 1

Tags: linear algebra , matrix

Show that $ \det \left( I_n+A \right)\ge 1, $ for any $ n\times n $ antisymmetric real matrix $ A. $

1973 AMC 12/AHSME, 10

Tags: linear algebra , matrix

If $ n$ is a real number, then the simultaneous system $ nx \plus{} y \equal{} 1$ $ ny \plus{} z \equal{} 1$ $ x \plus{} nz \equal{} 1$ has no solution if and only if $ n$ is equal to $ \textbf{(A)}\ \minus{}1 \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 0 \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 1 \qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 0 \text{ or } 1 \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ \frac12$

2000 Putnam, 1

Tags: vector , linear algebra , putnam matrices , parity

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 $j$, $1 \le j \le N$.

2009 Putnam, A3

Tags: linear algebra , matrix , trigonometry , limit , induction , function

Let $ d_n$ be the determinant of the $ n\times n$ matrix whose entries, from left to right and then from top to bottom, are $ \cos 1,\cos 2,\dots,\cos n^2.$ (For example, $ d_3 \equal{} \begin{vmatrix}\cos 1 & \cos2 & \cos3 \\ \cos4 & \cos5 & \cos 6 \\ \cos7 & \cos8 & \cos 9\end{vmatrix}.$ The argument of $ \cos$ is always in radians, not degrees.) Evaluate $ \lim_{n\to\infty}d_n.$

2016 Korea USCM, 6

Tags: matrix , linear algebra , trace , determinant , commutator , common eigenvector

$A$ and $B$ are $2\times 2$ real valued matrices satisfying $$\det A = \det B = 1,\quad \text{tr}(A)>2,\quad \text{tr}(B)>2,\quad \text{tr}(ABA^{-1}B^{-1}) = 2$$ Prove that $A$ and $B$ have a common eigenvector.

1985 Spain Mathematical Olympiad, 8

Tags: linear algebra , matrix , magic square , combinatorics

A square matrix is sum-magic if the sum of all elements in each row, column and major diagonal is constant. Similarly, a square matrix is product-magic if the product of all elements in each row, column and major diagonal is constant. Determine if there exist $3\times 3$ matrices of real numbers which are both sum-magic and product-magic.

2011 Math Prize For Girls Problems, 11

Tags: linear algebra , matrix , algebra , polynomial , trigonometry , mewing

The sequence $a_0$, $a_1$, $a_2$, $\ldots\,$ satisfies the recurrence equation \[ a_n = 2 a_{n-1} - 2 a_{n - 2} + a_{n - 3} \] for every integer $n \ge 3$. If $a_{20} = 1$, $a_{25} = 10$, and $a_{30} = 100$, what is the value of $a_{1331}$?

2013 Romania National Olympiad, 1

Tags: linear algebra , matrix , vector , algebra , polynomial

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.

1976 Czech and Slovak Olympiad III A, 4

Tags: algebra , system of equations , linear algebra , linear equation

Determine all solutions of the linear system of equations \begin{align*} &x_1& &-x_2& &-x_3& &-\cdots& &-x_n& &= 2a, \\ -&x_1& &+3x_2& &-x_3& &-\cdots& &-x_n& &= 4a, \\ -&x_1& &-x_2& &+7x_3& &-\cdots& &-x_n& &= 8a, \\ &&&&&&&&&&&\vdots \\ -&x_1& &-x_2& &-x_3& &-\cdots& &+\left(2^n-1\right)x_n& &= 2^na, \end{align*} with unknowns $x_1,\ldots,x_n$ and a real parameter $a.$

2020 Miklós Schweitzer, 3

Tags: linear algebra , matrix , vector

An $n\times n$ matrix $A$ with integer entries is called [i]representative[/i] if, for any integer vector $\mathbf{v}$, there is a finite sequence $0=\mathbf{v}_0,\mathbf{v}_1,\dots,\mathbf{v}_{\ell}=\mathbf{v}$ of integer vectors such that for each $0\leq i <\ell$, either $\mathbf{v}_{i+1}=A\mathbf{v}_{i}$ or $\mathbf{v}_{i+1}-\mathbf{v}_i$ is an element of the standard basis (i.e. one of its entries is $1$, the rest are all equal to $0$). Show that $A$ is not representative if and only if $A^T$ has a real eigenvector with all non-negative entries and non-negative eigenvalue.

2023 Miklós Schweitzer, 10

Tags: linear algebra , matrices

Let $n\geqslant2$ be a natural number. Show that there is no real number $c{}$ for which \[\exp\left(\frac{T+S}{2}\right)\leqslant c\cdot \frac{\exp(T)+\exp(S)}{2}\]is satisfied for any self-adjoint $n\times n$ complex matrices $T{}$ and $S{}$. (If $A{}$ and $B{}$ are self-adjoint $n\times n$ matrices, $A\leqslant B$ means that $B-A$ is positive semi-definite.)

2003 China Team Selection Test, 2

Tags: ratio , inequalities , analytic geometry , linear algebra , matrix , geometry

In triangle $ABC$, the medians and bisectors corresponding to sides $BC$, $CA$, $AB$ are $m_a$, $m_b$, $m_c$ and $w_a$, $w_b$, $w_c$ respectively. $P=w_a \cap m_b$, $Q=w_b \cap m_c$, $R=w_c \cap m_a$. Denote the areas of triangle $ABC$ and $PQR$ by $F_1$ and $F_2$ respectively. Find the least positive constant $m$ such that $\frac{F_1}{F_2}<m$ holds for any $\triangle{ABC}$.

2007 All-Russian Olympiad, 8

Tags: linear algebra , matrix , geometry , rectangle , combinatorics

Given a matrix $\{a_{ij}\}_{i,j=0}^{9}$, $a_{ij}=10i+j+1$. Andrei is going to cover its entries by $50$ rectangles $1\times 2$ (each such rectangle contains two adjacent entries) so that the sum of $50$ products in these rectangles is minimal possible. Help him. [i]A. Badzyan[/i]

2011 Putnam, A4

Tags: linear algebra , matrix , modular arithmetic , vector , polynomial , putnam matrices

For which positive integers $n$ is there an $n\times n$ matrix with integer entries such that every dot product of a row with itself is even, while every dot product of two different rows is odd?

2005 SNSB Admission, 1

Tags: function , vectorial spaces , linear algebra , inequalities

[b]a)[/b] Let be three vectorial spaces $ E,F,G, $ where $ F $ has finite dimension, and $ E $ is a subspace of $ F. $ Prove that if the function $ T:F\longrightarrow G $ is linear, then $$ \dim TF -\dim TE\le \dim F-\dim E. $$ [b]b)[/b] Let $ A,B,C $ be matrices of real numbers. Prove that $$ \text{rang} (AB) +\text{rang} (BC) \le \text{rang} (ABC) +\text{rang} (B) . $$