Olympiad problems

2024 District Olympiad, P1

Determine the integers $n\geqslant 2$ for which the equation $x^2-\hat{3}\cdot x+\hat{5}=\hat{0}$ has a unique solution in $(\mathbb{Z}_n,+,\cdot).$

2009 Romania National Olympiad, 2

Tags: ring theory , abstract algebra , nilpotent , algebra , commutative algebra

[b]a)[/b] Show that the set of nilpotents of a finite, commutative ring, is closed under each of the operations of the ring. [b]b)[/b] Prove that the number of nilpotents of a finite, commutative ring, divides the number of divisors of zero of the ring.

2006 IMC, 3

Tags: linear algebra , matrix , ring theory

Let $A$ be an $n$x$n$ matrix with integer entries and $b_{1},b_{2},...,b_{k}$ be integers satisfying $detA=b_{1}\cdot b_{2}\cdot ...\cdot b_{k}$. Prove that there exist $n$x$n$-matrices $B_{1},B_{2},...,B_{k}$ with integers entries such that $A=B_{1}\cdot B_{2}\cdot ...\cdot B_{k}$ and $detB_{i}=b_{i}$ for all $i=1,...,k$.

1993 China Team Selection Test, 3

Tags: geometry , circumcircle , incenter , trigonometry , geometric transformation , reflection , ring theory

Let $ABC$ be a triangle and its bisector at $A$ cuts its circumcircle at $D.$ Let $I$ be the incenter of triangle $ABC,$ $M$ be the midpoint of $BC,$ $P$ is the symmetric to $I$ with respect to $M$ (Assuming $P$ is in the circumcircle). Extend $DP$ until it cuts the circumcircle again at $N.$ Prove that among segments $AN, BN, CN$, there is a segment that is the sum of the other two.

2007 IMS, 6

Tags: polynomial , ring theory , superior algebra , algebra

Let $R$ be a commutative ring with 1. Prove that $R[x]$ has infinitely many maximal ideals.

2018 Romania National Olympiad, 1

Tags: superior algebra , ring theory

Let $A$ be a finite ring and $a,b \in A,$ such that $(ab-1)b=0.$ Prove that $b(ab-1)=0.$

2005 VJIMC, Problem 4

Tags: ring theory , abstract algebra

Let $R$ ba a finite ring with the following property: for any $a,b\in R$ there exists an element $c\in R$ (depending on $a$ and $b$) such that $a^2+b^2=c^2$. Prove that for any $a,b,c\in R$ there exists $d\in R$ such that $2abc=d^2$. (Here $2abc$ denotes $abc+abc$. The ring $R$ is assumed to be associative, but not necessarily commutative and not necessarily containing a unit.

2012 Centers of Excellency of Suceava, 2

Tags: abstract algebra , matrix ring , ring theory

Show that $$ \left\{ X\in\mathcal{M}_2\left( \mathbb{Z}_3 \right)\left| \begin{pmatrix} 1&1\\2&2 \end{pmatrix} X\begin{pmatrix} 1&2\\2&1 \end{pmatrix} =0 \right. \right\} $$ is a multiplicative ring. [i]Cătălin Țigăeru[/i]

2014 Romania National Olympiad, 1

Tags: function , ring theory

For a ring $ A, $ and an element $ a $ of it, define $ s_a,d_a:A\longrightarrow A, s_a(x)=ax,d_a=xa.$ [b]a)[/b] Prove that if $ A $ is finite, then $ s_a $ is injective if and only if $ d_a $ is injective. [b]b)[/b] Give example of a ring which has an element $ b $ for which $ s_b $ is injective and $ d_b $ is not, or, conversely, $ s_b $ is not injective, but $ d_b $ is.

2016 Romania National Olympiad, 2

Tags: abstract algebra , ring theory

Let $A$ be a ring and let $D$ be the set of its non-invertible elements. If $a^2=0$ for any $a \in D,$ prove that: [b]a)[/b] $axa=0$ for all $a \in D$ and $x \in A$; [b]b)[/b] if $D$ is a finite set with at least two elements, then there is $a \in D,$ $a \neq 0,$ such that $ab=ba=0,$ for every $b \in D.$ [i]Ioan Băetu[/i]

1965 Miklós Schweitzer, 2

Tags: vector , polynomial , induction , ring theory , superior algebra , algebra

Let $ R$ be a finite commutative ring. Prove that $ R$ has a multiplicative identity element $ (1)$ if and only if the annihilator of $ R$ is $ 0$ (that is, $ aR\equal{}0, \;a\in R $ imply $ a\equal{}0$).

2003 Romania National Olympiad, 4

Tags: abstract algebra , group theory , ring theory , limit

$ i(L) $ denotes the number of multiplicative binary operations over the set of elements of the finite additive group $ L $ such that the set of elements of $ L, $ along with these additive and multiplicative operations, form a ring. Prove that [b]a)[/b] $ i\left( \mathbb{Z}_{12} \right) =4. $ [b]b)[/b] $ i(A\times B)\ge i(A)i(B) , $ for any two finite commutative groups $ B $ and $ A. $ [b]c)[/b] there exist two sequences $ \left( G_k \right)_{k\ge 1} ,\left( H_k \right)_{k\ge 1} $ of finite commutative groups such that $$ \lim_{k\to\infty }\frac{\# G_k }{i\left( G_k \right)} =0 $$ and $$ \lim_{k\to\infty }\frac{\# H_k }{i\left( H_k \right)} =\infty. $$ [i]Barbu Berceanu[/i]

2004 Alexandru Myller, 3

Tags: abstract algebra , ring theory , nilpotence , superior algebra

Prove that the number of nilpotent elements of a commutative ring with an order greater than $ 8 $ and congruent to $ 3 $ modulo $ 6 $ is at most a third of the order of the ring.

2015 Romania National Olympiad, 1

Tags: idempotence , superior algebra , ring theory

Let be a ring that has the property that all its elements are the product of two idempotent elements of it. Show that: [b]a)[/b] $ 1 $ is the only unit of this ring. [b]b)[/b] this ring is Boolean.

1993 All-Russian Olympiad, 4

Tags: induction , function , algebra , polynomial , ring theory , vector , binomial theorem

If $ \{a_k\}$ is a sequence of real numbers, call the sequence $ \{a'_k\}$ defined by $ a_k' \equal{} \frac {a_k \plus{} a_{k \plus{} 1}}2$ the [i]average sequence[/i] of $ \{a_k\}$. Consider the sequences $ \{a_k\}$; $ \{a_k'\}$ - [i]average sequence[/i] of $ \{a_k\}$; $ \{a_k''\}$ - average sequence of $ \{a_k'\}$ and so on. If all these sequences consist only of integers, then $ \{a_k\}$ is called [i]Good[/i]. Prove that if $ \{x_k\}$ is a [i]good[/i] sequence, then $ \{x_k^2\}$ is also [i]good[/i].

2001 Miklós Schweitzer, 3

Tags: abstract algebra , ring theory , matrices

How many minimal left ideals does the full matrix ring $M_n(K)$ of $n\times n$ matrices over a field $K$ have?

2007 IberoAmerican Olympiad For University Students, 6

Tags: group theory , abstract algebra , ring theory , superior algebra

Let $F$ be a field whose characteristic is not $2$, let $F^*=F\setminus\left\{0\right\}$ be its multiplicative group and let $T$ be the subgroup of $F^*$ constituted by its finite order elements. Prove that if $T$ is finite, then $T$ is cyclic and its order is even.

1966 Miklós Schweitzer, 4

Tags: algebra , polynomial , abstract algebra , vector , calculus , integration , ring theory

Let $ I$ be an ideal of the ring $\mathbb{Z}\left[x\right]$ of all polynomials with integer coefficients such that a) the elements of $ I$ do not have a common divisor of degree greater than $ 0$, and b) $ I$ contains of a polynomial with constant term $ 1$. Prove that $ I$ contains the polynomial $ 1 + x + x^2 + ... + x^{r-1}$ for some natural number $ r$. [i]Gy. Szekeres[/i]

2016 District Olympiad, 1

Tags: superior algebra , ring theory , abstract algebra , group theory , fta

A ring $ A $ has property [i](P),[/i] if $ A $ is finite and there exists $ (\{ 0\}\neq R,+)\le (A,+) $ such that $ (U(A),\cdot )\cong (R,+) . $ Show that: [b]a)[/b] If a ring has property [i](P),[/i] then, the number of its elements is even. [b]b)[/b] There are infinitely many rings of distinct order that have property [i](P).[/i]

2010 Laurențiu Panaitopol, Tulcea, 4

Tags: abstract algebra , ring theory , polynomial , polynomial ring

Let be a ring $ R $ which has the property that there exist two distinct natural numbers $ s,t $ such that for any element $ x $ of $ R, $ the equation $ x^s=x^t $ is true. Show that there exists a polynom in $ R[X] $ of degree $$ |s-t|\left( 1+|s-t| \right) $$ such that all the elements of $ R $ are roots of it.

2002 District Olympiad, 2

Tags: superior algebra , product rings , ring theory , morphism

[b]a)[/b] Show that, for any distinct natural numbers $ m,n, $ the rings $ \mathbb{Z}_2\times \underbrace{\cdots}_{m\text{ times}} \times\mathbb{Z}_2,\mathbb{Z}_2\times \underbrace{\cdots}_{n\text{ times}} \times\mathbb{Z}_2 $ are homomorphic, but not isomorphic. [b]b)[/b] Show that there are infinitely many pairwise nonhomomorphic rings of same order.

2002 All-Russian Olympiad, 1

Tags: algebra , polynomial , quadratic , ring theory , equation , functional equation

The polynomials $P$, $Q$, $R$ with real coefficients, one of which is degree $2$ and two of degree $3$, satisfy the equality $P^2+Q^2=R^2$. Prove that one of the polynomials of degree $3$ has three real roots.

2014 Contests, 3

Tags: vector , abstract algebra , ring theory , superior algebra

Let $R$ be a commutative ring with $1$ such that the number of elements of $R$ is equal to $p^3$ where $p$ is a prime number. Prove that if the number of elements of $\text{zd}(R)$ be in the form of $p^n$ ($n \in \mathbb{N^*}$) where $\text{zd}(R) = \{a \in R \mid \exists 0 \neq b \in R, ab = 0\}$, then $R$ has exactly one maximal ideal.

1999 Brazil Team Selection Test, Problem 4

Tags: function , inequalities , induction , number theory , ring theory , triangle inequality , logarithm

Let Q+ and Z denote the set of positive rationals and the set of inte- gers, respectively. Find all functions f : Q+ → Z satisfying the following conditions: (i) f(1999) = 1; (ii) f(ab) = f(a) + f(b) for all a, b ∈ Q+; (iii) f(a + b) ≥ min{f(a), f(b)} for all a, b ∈ Q+.

1973 Miklós Schweitzer, 2

Tags: ring theory , superior algebra

Let $ R$ be an Artinian ring with unity. Suppose that every idempotent element of $ R$ commutes with every element of $ R$ whose square is $ 0$. Suppose $ R$ is the sum of the ideals $ A$ and $ B$. Prove that $ AB\equal{}BA$. [i]A. Kertesz[/i]