Olympiad problems

2021 Alibaba Global Math Competition, 13

Let $M_n=\{(u,v) \in S^n \times S^n: u \cdot v=0\}$, where $n \ge 2$, and $u \cdot v$ is the Euclidean inner product of $u$ and $v$. Suppose that the topology of $M_n$ is induces from $S^n \times S^n$. (1) Prove that $M_n$ is a connected regular submanifold of $S^n \times S^n$. (2) $M_n$ is Lie Group if and only if $n=2$.

2000 Miklós Schweitzer, 9

Tags: topology , manifold

Let $M$ be a closed, orientable $3$-dimensional differentiable manifold, and let $G$ be a finite group of orientation preserving diffeomorphisms of $M$. Let $P$ and $Q$ denote the set of those points of $M$ whose stabilizer is nontrivial (that is, contains a nonidentity element of $G$) and noncyclic, respectively. Let $\chi (P)$ denote the Euler characteristic of $P$. Prove that the order of $G$ divides $\chi (P)$, and $Q$ is the union of $-2\frac{\chi(P)}{|G|}$ orbits of $G$.

2021 Alibaba Global Math Competition, 11

Tags: homology , manifold , boundary , topology , algebraic topology

Let $M$ be a compact orientable $2n$-manifold with boundary, where $n \ge 2$. Suppose that $H_0(M;\mathbb{Q}) \cong \mathbb{Q}$ and $H_i(M;\mathbb{Q})=0$ for $i>0$. Prove that the order of $H_{n-1}(\partial M; \mathbb{Z})$ is a square number.

2021 Alibaba Global Math Competition, 15

Tags: integration , calculus , topology , analysis , manifold , differential geometry

Let $(M,g)$ be an $n$-dimensional complete Riemannian manifold with $n \ge 2$. Suppose $M$ is connected and $\text{Ric} \ge (n-1)g$, where $\text{Ric}$ is the Ricci tensor of $(M,g)$. Denote by $\text{d}g$ the Riemannian measure of $(M,g)$ and by $d(x,y)$ the geodesic distance between $x$ and $y$. Prove that \[\int_{M \times M} \cos d(x,y) \text{d}g(x)\text{d}g(y) \ge 0.\] Moreover, equality holds if and only if $(M,g)$ is isometric to the unit round sphere $S^n$.

2021 Miklós Schweitzer, 8

Tags: manifold , differential geometry , topology

Prove that for a $2$-dimensional Riemannian manifold there is a metric linear connection with zero curvature if and only if the Gaussian curvature of the Riemannian manifold can be written as the divergence of a vector field.