Olympiad problems

2006 District Olympiad, 2

Let $G= \{ A \in \mathcal M_2 \left( \mathbb C \right) \mid |\det A| = 1 \}$ and $H =\{A \in \mathcal M_2 \left( \mathbb C \right) \mid \det A = 1 \}$. Prove that $G$ and $H$ together with the operation of matrix multiplication are two non-isomorphical groups.

1985 Miklós Schweitzer, 6

Tags: group theory , abstract algebra , superior algebra

Determine all finite groups $G$ that have an automorphism $f$ such that $H\not\subseteq f(H)$ for all proper subgroups $H$ of $G$. [B. Kovacs]

1997 Romania National Olympiad, 1

Tags: superior algebra , rings , units , gaussian integer

Let $\alpha \in \mathbb{C} \setminus \mathbb{Q}$ be such that the set $A= \{ a+b \alpha : a,b \in \mathbb{Z} \}$ is a ring with respect to the usual operations of $\mathbb{C}.$ If the ring $A$ has exactly four invertible elements, prove that $A= \mathbb{Z}[i].$

1969 Miklós Schweitzer, 1

Tags: superior algebra , abstract algebra , group theory

Let $ G$ be an infinite group generated by nilpotent normal subgroups. Prove that every maximal Abelian normal subgroup of $ G$ is infinite. (We call an Abelian normal subgroup maximal if it is not contained in another Abelian normal subgroup.) [i]P. Erdos[/i]

2011 IMC, 3

Tags: superior algebra , polynomial , algebra

Let $p$ be a prime number. Call a positive integer $n$ interesting if \[x^n-1=(x^p-x+1)f(x)+pg(x)\] for some polynomials $f$ and $g$ with integer coefficients. a) Prove that the number $p^p-1$ is interesting. b) For which $p$ is $p^p-1$ the minimal interesting number?

2021 Science ON grade XII, 4

Tags: superior algebra , group theory

Consider a group $G$ with at least $2$ elements and the property that each nontrivial element has infinite order. Let $H$ be a cyclic subgroup of $G$ such that the set $\{xH\mid x\in G\}$ has $2$ elements. \\ $\textbf{(a)}$ Prove that $G$ is cyclic. \\ $\textbf{(b)}$ Does the conclusion from $\textbf{(a)}$ stand true if $G$ contains nontrivial elements of finite order?

1966 Miklós Schweitzer, 8

Tags: superior algebra , algebra , polynomial , function , ring theory

Prove that in Euclidean ring $ R$ the quotient and remainder are always uniquely determined if and only if $ R$ is a polynomial ring over some field and the value of the norm is a strictly monotone function of the degree of the polynomial. (To be precise, there are two trivial cases: $ R$ can also be a field or the null ring.) [i]E. Fried[/i]

2021 Science ON grade XII, 2

Tags: rings , abstract algebra , superior algebra

Consider an odd prime $p$. A comutative ring $(A,+, \cdot)$ has the property that $ab=0$ implies $a^p=0$ or $b^p=0$. Moreover, $\underbrace{1+1+\cdots +1}_{p \textnormal{ times}} =0$. Take $x,y\in A$ such that there exist $m,n\geq 1$, $m\neq n$ with $x+y=x^my=x^ny$, and also $y$ is not invertible. \\ \\ $\textbf{(a)}$ Prove that $(a+b)^p=a^p+b^p$ and $(a+b)^{p^2}=a^{p^2}+b^{p^2}$ for all $a,b\in A$.\\ $\textbf{(b)}$ Prove that $x$ and $y$ are nilpotent.\\ $\textbf{(c)}$ If $y$ is invertible, does the conclusion that $x$ is nilpotent stand true? \\ \\ [i] (Bogdan Blaga)[/i]

1963 Miklós Schweitzer, 4

Tags: superior algebra , algebra , polynomial

Call a polynomial positive reducible if it can be written as a product of two nonconstant polynomials with positive real coefficients. Let $ f(x)$ be a polynomial with $ f(0)\not\equal{}0$ such that $ f(x^n)$ is positive reducible for some natural number $ n$. Prove that $ f(x)$ itself is positive reducible. [L. Redei]

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]

1977 Miklós Schweitzer, 4

Tags: superior algebra

Let $ p>5$ be a prime number. Prove that every algebraic integer of the $ p$th cyclotomic field can be represented as a sum of (finitely many) distinct units of the ring of algebraic integers of the field. [i]K. Gyory[/i]

1967 Miklós Schweitzer, 2

Tags: superior algebra

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]

1973 Miklós Schweitzer, 2

Tags: superior algebra , ring theory

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]

2004 Romania National Olympiad, 4

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

Let $\mathcal K$ be a field of characteristic $p$, $p \equiv 1 \left( \bmod 4 \right)$. (a) Prove that $-1$ is the square of an element from $\mathcal K.$ (b) Prove that any element $\neq 0$ from $\mathcal K$ can be written as the sum of three squares, each $\neq 0$, of elements from $\mathcal K$. (c) Can $0$ be written in the same way? [i]Marian Andronache[/i]

2008 District Olympiad, 4

Tags: algebra , polynomial , superior algebra , ring theory , finite field , wedderburn

Let be a finite field $ K. $ Say that two polynoms $ f,g $ from $ K[X] $ are [i]neighbours,[/i] if the have the same degree and they differ by exactly one coefficient. [b]a)[/b] Show that all the neighbours of $ 1+X^2 $ from $ \mathbb{Z}_3[X] $ are reducible in $ \mathbb{Z}_3[X] . $ [b]b)[/b] If $ |K|\ge 4, $ show that any polynomial of degree $ |K|-1 $ from $ K[X] $ has a neighbour from $ K[X] $ that is reducible in $ K[X] , $ and also has a neighbour that doesn´t have any root in $ K. $

1999 IMC, 1

Tags: superior algebra

Let $R$ be a ring where $\forall a\in R: a^2=0$. Prove that $abc+abc=0$ for all $a,b,c\in R$.

1973 Miklós Schweitzer, 1

Tags: group theory , abstract algebra , linear algebra , matrix , modular arithmetic , galois theory , superior algebra

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]

1985 Traian Lălescu, 1.3

Tags: group theory , abstract algebra , superior algebra

Let $ G $ be a finite group of odd order having, at least, three elements. For $ a\in G $ denote $ n(a) $ as the number of ways $ a $ can be written as a product of two distinct elements of $ G. $ Prove that $ \sum_{\substack{a\in G\\a\neq\text{id}}} n(a) $ is a perfect square.

2019 Miklós Schweitzer, 2

Tags: superior algebra

Let $R$ be a noncommutative finite ring with multiplicative identity element $1$. Show that if the subring generated by $I \cup \{1\}$ is $R$ for each nonzero ideal $I$ then $R$ is simple.

2020 Candian MO, 5#

Tags: superior algebra , algebra , polynomial , induction , first college math post

If A,B are invertible and the set {Ak - Bk | k is a natural number} is finite , then there exists a natural number m such that Am = Bm.

1998 Romania National Olympiad, 4

Tags: superior algebra

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 $K=\mathbb Q(\sqrt d)$.

1998 IMC, 2

Tags: superior algebra , geometry , geometric transformation , rotation

Consider the following statement: for any permutation $\pi_1\not=\mathbb{I}$ of $\{1,2,...,n\}$ there is a permutation $\pi_2$ such that any permutation on these numbers can be obtained by a finite compostion of $\pi_1$ and $\pi_2$. (a) Prove the statement for $n=3$ and $n=5$. (b) Disprove the statement for $n=4$.

1979 Miklós Schweitzer, 4

Tags: superior algebra , group theory , abstract algebra , geometry , 3d geometry , sphere

For what values of $ n$ does the group $ \textsl{SO}(n)$ of all orthogonal transformations of determinant $ 1$ of the $ n$-dimensional Euclidean space possess a closed regular subgroup?($ \textsl{G}<\textsl{SO}(n)$ is called $ \textit{regular}$ if for any elements $ x,y$ of the unit sphere there exists a unique $ \varphi \in \textsl{G}$ such that $ \varphi(x)\equal{}y$.) [i]Z. Szabo[/i]

1965 Miklós Schweitzer, 2

Tags: vector , algebra , polynomial , induction , ring theory , superior 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$).

2001 District Olympiad, 1

Tags: superior algebra , group theory , abstract algebra , pigeonhole principle

For any $n\in \mathbb{N}^*$, let $H_n=\left\{\frac{k}{n!}\ |\ k\in \mathbb{Z}\right\}$. a) Prove that $H_n$ is a subgroup of the group $(Q,+)$ and that $Q=\bigcup_{n\in \mathbb{N}^*} H_n$; b) Prove that if $G_1,G_2,\ldots, G_m$ are subgroups of the group $(Q,+)$ and $G_i\neq Q,\ (\forall) 1\le i\le m$, then $G_1\cup G_2\cup \ldots \cup G_m\neq Q$ [i]Marian Andronache & Ion Savu[/i]