Let $A{}$ and $B{}$ be $3\times 3{}$ matrices with complex entries, satisfying $A^2=B^2=O_3$. Prove that if $A{}$ and $B{}$ commute, then $AB=O_3$. Is the converse true?

Let $n\geq 2$ and $A,B\in\mathcal{M}_n(\mathbb{C})$ such that $$\{\text{rank}(A^k)\mid k\geq 1\}=\{\text{rank}(B^k)\mid k\geq 1\}.$$ Prove that $\text{rank}(A^k)=\text{rank}(B^k)$ for all $k\geq 1$. [i]Cristi Săvescu[/i]

For a $n\times n$ complex valued matrix $A$, show that the following two conditions are equivalent. (i) There exists a $n\times n$ complex valued matrix $B$ such that $AB-BA=A$. (ii) There exists a positive integer $k$ such that $A^k = O$. ($O$ is the zero matrix.)

Let $A,B$ be $n\times n$ matrices, $n\geq 2$, and $B^2=B$. Prove that: $$\text{rank}\,(AB-BA)\leq \text{rank}\,(AB+BA)$$

Let $A$ be a $n\times n$ matrix such that $A_{ij} = i+j$. Find the rank of $A$. [hide="Remark"]Not asked in the contest: $A$ is diagonalisable since real symetric matrix it is not difficult to find its eigenvalues.[/hide]

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 $n$).

Given the determinant of order $n$ $$\begin{vmatrix} 8 & 3 & 3 & \dots & 3 \\ 3 & 8 & 3 & \dots & 3 \\ 3 & 3 & 8 & \dots & 3 \\ \vdots & \vdots & \vdots & \ddots & \vdots \\ 3 & 3 & 3 & \dots & 8 \end{vmatrix}$$ Calculate its value and determine for which values of $n$ this value is a multiple of $10$.

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?

Suppose $A,B\in M_3(\mathbb C)$, $B\ne0$, and $AB=0$. Prove that there exists $D\in M_3(\mathbb C)$ with $D\ne0$ such that $AD=DA=0$.

Let $A=(a_{ij})_{i, j=1}^n$ be a symmetric $n\times n$ matrix with real entries, and let $\lambda _1, \lambda _2, \dots, \lambda _n$ denote its eigenvalues. Show that $$\sum_{1\le i<j\le n} a_{ii}a_{jj}\ge \sum_{1\le i < j\le n} \lambda _i \lambda _j$$ and determine all matrices for which equality holds. (Proposed by Matrin Niepel, Comenius University, Bratislava)

[color=darkred]Let $A,B\in\mathcal{M}_4(\mathbb{R})$ such that $AB=BA$ and $\det (A^2+AB+B^2)=0$ . Prove that: \[\det (A+B)+3\det (A-B)=6\det (A)+6\det (B)\ .\][/color]

Let $n \ge 2$ and matrices $A,B \in M_n(\mathbb{R})$. There exist $x \in \mathbb{R} \backslash \{0,\frac{1}{2}, 1 \}$, such that $ xAB + (1-x)BA = I_n$. Show that $(AB-BA)^n = O_n$.

In a group of people, every two people have exactly one friend in common. Prove that there is a person who is a friend of everyone else.

Let $n$ be a positive integer. There are $\tfrac{n(n+1)}{2}$ marks, each with a black side and a white side, arranged into an equilateral triangle, with the biggest row containing $n$ marks. Initially, each mark has the black side up. An [i]operation[/i] is to choose a line parallel to the sides of the triangle, and flipping all the marks on that line. A configuration is called [i]admissible [/i] if it can be obtained from the initial configuration by performing a finite number of operations. For each admissible configuration $C$, let $f(C)$ denote the smallest number of operations required to obtain $C$ from the initial configuration. Find the maximum value of $f(C)$, where $C$ varies over all admissible configurations.

Find all natural numbers $ k\ge 1 $ and $ n\ge 2, $ which have the property that there exist two matrices $ A,B\in M_n\left(\mathbb{Z}\right) $ such that $ A^3=O_n $ and $ A^kB +BA=I_n. $

Let be four $ n\times n $ real matrices $ A,B,C,D $ having the property that $ C+D\sqrt{-1} $ is the inverse of $ A+B\sqrt{-1} . $ Show that $ \left| \det\left( A+B\sqrt{-1} \right) \right|^2\cdot\left| \det C \right| =\det A. $ [i]Vasile Pop[/i]

In a tournament, 2011 players meet 2011 times to play a multiplayer game. Every game is played by all 2011 players together and ends with each of the players either winning or losing. The standings are kept in two $2011\times 2011$ matrices, $T=(T_{hk})$ and $W=(W_{hk}).$ Initially, $T=W=0.$ After every game, for every $(h,k)$ (including for $h=k),$ if players $h$ and $k$ tied (that is, both won or both lost), the entry $T_{hk}$ is increased by $1,$ while if player $h$ won and player $k$ lost, the entry $W_{hk}$ is increased by $1$ and $W_{kh}$ is decreased by $1.$ Prove that at the end of the tournament, $\det(T+iW)$ is a non-negative integer divisible by $2^{2010}.$

Let $A$ be an $n\times n$ matrix of real numbers for some $n\ge 1.$ For each positive integer $k,$ let $A^{[k]}$ be the matrix obtained by raising each entry to the $k$th power. Show that if $A^k=A^{[k]}$ for $k=1,2,\cdots,n+1,$ then $A^k=A^{[k]}$ for all $k\ge 1.$

Determine all real values of parameter $p$ such that the equation \[|x-2|+|y-3|+y=p\] is an equation of a ray in the plane $xy.$

Let be a $ 3\times 3 $ complex matrix such that $ A^3=I $ and for which exist four real numbers $ a,b,c,d $ with $ a,c\neq 1 $ such that $ \det \left( A^2+aA+bI \right) =\det \left( A^2+cA+dI \right) =0. $ Show that $ a+b=c+d. $ [i]C. Merticaru[/i]

Let $ABCD$ be a convex quadrilateral such that \[\begin{array}{rl} E,F \in [AB],& AE = EF = FB \\ G,H \in [BC],& BG = GH = HC \\ K,L \in [CD],& CK = KL = LD \\ M,N \in [DA],& DM = MN = NA \end{array}\] Let \[[NG] \cap [LE] = \{P\}, [NG]\cap [KF] = \{Q\},\] \[{[}MH] \cap [KF] = \{R\}, [MH]\cap [LE]=\{S\}\] Prove that [list=a][*]$Area(ABCD) = 9 \cdot Area(PQRS)$ [*] $NP=PQ=QG$ [/list]

Let points $ A = (0,0) , \ B = (1,2), \ C = (3,3), $ and $ D = (4,0) $. Quadrilateral $ ABCD $ is cut into equal area pieces by a line passing through $ A $. This line intersects $ \overline{CD} $ at point $ \left (\frac{p}{q}, \frac{r}{s} \right ) $, where these fractions are in lowest terms. What is $ p + q + r + s $? $ \textbf{(A)} \ 54 \qquad \textbf{(B)} \ 58 \qquad \textbf{(C)} \ 62 \qquad \textbf{(D)} \ 70 \qquad \textbf{(E)} \ 75 $

How many ordered four-tuples of integers $(a,b,c,d)$ with $0 < a < b < c < d < 500$ satisfy $a + d = b + c$ and $bc - ad = 93$?

Let $f : \left[ 0,1 \right] \to \mathbb R$ be an integrable function such that \[ \int_0^1 f(x) \, dx = \int_0^1 x f(x) \, dx = 1 . \] Prove that \[ \int_0^1 f^2 (x) \, dx \geq 4 . \] [i]Ion Rasa[/i]

[color=darkred]Let $n$ and $k$ be two natural numbers such that $n\ge 2$ and $1\le k\le n-1$ . Prove that if the matrix $A\in\mathcal{M}_n(\mathbb{C})$ has exactly $k$ minors of order $n-1$ equal to $0$ , then $\det (A)\ne 0$ .[/color]