A set system $ (S,L)$ is called a Steiner triple system, if $ L\neq\emptyset$, any pair $ x,y\in S$, $ x\neq y$ of points lie on a unique line $ \ell\in L$, and every line $ \ell\in L$ contains exactly three points. Let $ (S,L)$ be a Steiner triple system, and let us denote by $ xy$ the thrid point on a line determined by the points $ x\neq y$. Let $ A$ be a group whose factor by its center $ C(A)$ is of prime power order. Let $ f,h: S\to A$ be maps, such that $ C(A)$ contains the range of $ f$, and the range of $ h$ generates $ A$. Show, that if \[ f(x) \equal{} h(x)h(y)h(x)h(xy)\] holds for all pairs $ x\neq y$ of points, then $ A$ is commutative, and there exists an element $ k\in A$, such that $ f(x) \equal{} kh(x)$ for all $ x\in S$.

Let $ m $ be a non-negative ineger, $ n\ge 2 $ be a natural number, $ A $ be a ring which has exactly $ n $ elements, and an element $ a $ of $ A $ such that $ 1-a^k $ is invertible, for all $ k\in\{ m+1,m+2,...,m+n-1\} . $ Prove that $ a $ is nilpotent.

Let $K\subseteq \mathbb C$ be a field with the operations from $\mathbb C$ s.t. i) K has exactly two endomorphisms, namely f and g ii) if f(x)=g(x) then $x\in\mathbb Q$. Prove that there exists an integer $d\neq 1$ free from squares so that $K=\mathbb Q(\sqrt d)$.

Let $K$ be a finite field, $n \ge 2$ an integer, $f \in K[X]$ an irreducible polynomial of degree $n,$ and $g$ the product of all the nonconstant polynomials in $K[X]$ of degree at most $n-1.$ Prove that $f$ divides $g-1.$

Let $A,B\in M_2(\mathbb Z)$ s.t. $AB=\begin{pmatrix}1&2005\\0&1\end{pmatrix}$. Prove that there is a matrix $C\in M_2(\mathbb Z)$ s.t. $BA=C^{2005}$. [i]Dinu Serbanescu[/i]

Let $A$ be a commutative ring with $0 \neq 1$ such that for any $x \in A \setminus \{0\}$ there exist positive integers $m,n$ such that $(x^m+1)^n=x.$ Prove that any endomorphism of $A$ is an automorphism.

Let $ G$ be a group such that $ G'$ is abelian and each normal and abelian subgroup of $ G$ is finite. Prove that $ G$ is finite.

In a group $G$, we have two elements $x,y$ such that $x^{n}=e,y^2=e,yxy=x^{-1}$, $n\ge 1$. Prove that for any $k\in\mathbb{N}$ holds $(x^ky)^2=e$. Note : e=group's identity .

Let $ S$ be a semigroup without proper two-sided ideals and suppose that for every $ a,b \in S$ at least one of the products $ ab$ and $ ba$ is equal to one of the elements $ a,b$. Prove that either $ ab\equal{}a$ for all $ a,b \in S$ or $ ab\equal{}b$ for all $ a,b \in S$. [i]L. Megyesi[/i]

Prove that the polynomial \[ f(x) \equal{} \frac {x^n \plus{} x^m \minus{} 2}{x^{\gcd(m,n)} \minus{} 1}\] is irreducible over $ \mathbb{Q}$ for all integers $ n > m > 0$.

Show that the set of all elements minus $ 0 $ of a finite division ring that has at least $ 4 $ elements can be partitioned into two nonempty sets $ A,B $ having the property that $$ \sum_{x\in A} x=\prod_{y\in B} y. $$

$ G$ is a group. Prove that the following are equivalent: 1. All subgroups of $ G$ are normal. 2. For all $ a,b\in G$ there is an integer $ m$ such that $ (ab)^m\equal{}ba$.

Let $ K$ be a subset of a group $ G$ that is not a union of lift cosets of a proper subgroup. Prove that if $ G$ is a torsion group or if $ K$ is a finite set, then the subset \[ \bigcap _{k \in K} k^{-1}K\] consists of the identity alone. [i]L. Redei[/i]

We say that the rank of a group $ G$ is at most $ r$ if every subgroup of $ G$ can be generated by at most $ r$ elements. Prove that here exists an integer $ s$ such that for every finite group $ G$ of rank $ 2$ the commutator series of $ G$ has length less than $ s$. [i]J. Erdos[/i]

Let $ p\geq 7$ be a prime number, $ \zeta$ a primitive $ p$th root of unity, $ c$ a rational number. Prove that in the additive group generated by the numbers $ 1,\zeta,\zeta^2,\zeta^3\plus{}\zeta^{\minus{}3}$ there are only finitely many elements whose norm is equal to $ c$. (The norm is in the $ p$th cyclotomic field.) [i]K. Gyory[/i]

We have $ 2n\plus{}1$ elements in the commutative ring $ R$: \[ \alpha,\alpha_1,...,\alpha_n,\varrho_1,...,\varrho_n .\] Let us define the elements \[ \sigma_k\equal{}k\alpha \plus{} \sum_{i\equal{}1}^n \alpha_i\varrho_i^k .\] Prove that the ideal $ (\sigma_0,\sigma_1,...,\sigma_k,...)$ can be finitely generated. [i]L. Redei[/i]

Let $ K $ be the group of Klein. Prove that: [b]a)[/b] There is an unique division ring (up to isomorphism), $ D, $ such that $ (D,+)\cong K. $ [b]b)[/b] There are no division rings $ A $ such that $ (A\setminus\{ 0\} ,+)\cong K. $

A group $ G $ of order at least $ 4 $ has the property that there exists a natural number $ n\not\in\{ 1,|G| \} $ such that $ G $ admits exactly $ \binom{|G|-1}{n-1} $ subgroups of order $ n. $ Show that $ G $ is commutative. [i]Marius Tărnăuceanu[/i]

suppose that $p$ is a prime number. find that smallest $n$ such that there exists a non-abelian group $G$ with $|G|=p^n$. SL is an acronym for Special Lesson. this year our special lesson was Groups and Symmetries. the exam time was 5 hours.

In a certain ring there are as many units as there are nilpotent elements. Prove that the order of the ring is a power of $ 2. $ [i]Dinu Şerbănescu[/i]

Let $n \geq 3$ and $a_1,a_2,...,a_n$ be complex numbers different from $0$ with $|a_i| < 1$ for all $i \in \{1,2,...,n-1 \}.$ If the coefficients of $f = \prod_{i=1}^n (X-a_i)$ are integers, prove that $\textbf{a)}$ The numbers $a_1,a_2,...,a_n$ are distinct. $\textbf{b)}$ If $a_j^2 = a_ia_k,$ then $i=j=k.$

Let $A$ be Abelian group of order $p^4$, where $p$ is a prime number, and which has a subgroup $N$ with order $p$ such that $A/N\approx\mathbb{Z}/p^3\mathbb{Z}$. Find all $A$ expect isomorphic.

In the questions below: $G$ is a finite group; $H \leq G$ a subgroup of $G; |G : H |$ the index of $H$ in $G; |X |$ the number of elements of $X \subseteq G; Z (G)$ the center of $G; G'$ the commutator subgroup of $G; N_{G}(H )$ the normalizer of $H$ in $G; C_{G}(H )$ the centralizer of $H$ in $G$; and $S_{n}$ the $n$-th symmetric group. Assume $|G'| = 2$. Prove that $|G : G'|$ is even.

[color=darkred] Let $(R,+,\cdot)$ be a ring and let $f$ be a surjective endomorphism of $R$ such that $[x,f(x)]=0$ for any $x\in R$ , where $[a,b]=ab-ba$ , $a,b\in R$ . Prove that: [list] [b]a)[/b] $[x,f(y)]=[f(x),y]$ and $x[x,y]=f(x)[x,y]$ , for any $x,y\in R\ ;$ [b]b)[/b] If $R$ is a division ring and $f$ is different from the identity function, then $R$ is commutative. [/list] [/color]

Let $\mathcal K$ be a field with $2^{n}$ elements, $n \in \mathbb N^\ast$, and $f$ be the polynomial $X^{4}+X+1$. Prove that: (a) if $n$ is even, then $f$ is reducible in $\mathcal K[X]$; (b) if $n$ is odd, then $f$ is irreducible in $\mathcal K[X]$. [hide="Remark."]I saw the official solution and it wasn't that difficult, but I just couldn't solve this bloody problem.[/hide]