This website contains problems from math contests. Problems and corresponding tags were obtained from the Art of Problem Solving website.

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Found problems: 103

1970 Miklós Schweitzer, 2
Tags: abstract algebra , superior algebra , superior algebra unsolved
Let $ G$ and $ H$ be countable Abelian $ p$-groups ($ p$ an arbitrary prime). Suppose that for every positive integer $ n$, \[ p^nG \not\equal{} p^{n\plus{}1}G .\] Prove that $ H$ is a homomorphic image of $ G$. [i]M. Makkai[/i]

2007 District Olympiad, 4
Tags: algebra , polynomial , quadratics , superior algebra , superior algebra unsolved
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]

2008 Romania National Olympiad, 4
Tags: inequalities , group theory , abstract algebra , vector , superior algebra , superior algebra unsolved
Let $ \mathcal G$ be the set of all finite groups with at least two elements. a) Prove that if $ G\in \mathcal G$, then the number of morphisms $ f: G\to G$ is at most $ \sqrt [p]{n^n}$, where $ p$ is the largest prime divisor of $ n$, and $ n$ is the number of elements in $ G$. b) Find all the groups in $ \mathcal G$ for which the inequality at point a) is an equality.

1979 Miklós Schweitzer, 2
Tags: geometry , superior algebra , superior algebra unsolved
Let $ \Gamma$ be a variety of monoids such that not all monoids of $ \Gamma$ are groups. Prove that if $ A \in \Gamma$ and $ B$ is a submonoid of $ A$, there exist monoids $ S \in \Gamma$ and $ C$ and epimorphisms $ \varphi : S \rightarrow A, \;\varphi_1 : S \rightarrow C$ such that $ ((e)\varphi_1^{\minus{}1})\varphi\equal{}B$ ($ e$ is the identity element of $ C$). [i]L. Marki[/i]

1983 Miklós Schweitzer, 8
Tags: combinatorial geometry , superior algebra , superior algebra unsolved
Prove that any identity that holds for every finite $ n$-distributive lattice also holds for the lattice of all convex subsets of the $ (n\minus{}1)$-dimensional Euclidean space. (For convex subsets, the lattice operations are the set-theoretic intersection and the convex hull of the set-theoretic union. We call a lattice $ n$-$ \textit{distributive}$ if \[ x \wedge (\bigvee_{i\equal{}0}^n y_i)\equal{}\bigvee_{j\equal{}0}^n(x \wedge (\bigvee_{0\leq i \leq n, \;i \not\equal{} j\ }y_i))\] holds for all elements of the lattice.) [i]A. Huhn[/i]

1967 Miklós Schweitzer, 2
Tags: superior algebra , superior algebra unsolved
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]

1968 Miklós Schweitzer, 1
Tags: abstract algebra , superior algebra , superior algebra unsolved
Consider the endomorphism ring of an Abelian torsion-free (resp. torsion) group $ G$. Prove that this ring is Neumann-regular if and only if $ G$ is a discrete direct sum of groups isomorphic to the additive group of the rationals (resp. ,a discrete direct sum of cyclic groups of prime order). (A ring $ R$ is called Neumann-regular if for every $ \alpha \in R$ there exists a $ \beta \in R$ such that $ \alpha \beta \alpha\equal{}\alpha$.) [i]E. Freid[/i]

2014 Contests, 3
Tags: vector , abstract algebra , Ring Theory , superior algebra , superior algebra unsolved
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.

1993 Hungary-Israel Binational, 6
Tags: group theory , abstract algebra , superior algebra , superior algebra unsolved
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. Let $a, b \in G.$ Suppose that $ab^{2}= b^{3}a$ and $ba^{2}= a^{3}b.$ Prove that $a = b = 1.$

2014 Miklós Schweitzer, 6
Tags: vector , abstract algebra , superior algebra , superior algebra unsolved
Let $\rho:G\to GL(V)$ be a representation of a finite $p$-group $G$ over a field of characteristic $p$. Prove that if the restriction of the linear map $\sum_{g\in G} \rho(g)$ to a finite dimensional subspace $W$ of $V$ is injective, then the subspace spanned by the subspaces $\rho(g)W$ $(g\in G)$ is the direct sum of these subspaces.

1982 Miklós Schweitzer, 2
Tags: superior algebra , superior algebra unsolved
Consider the lattice of all algebraically closed subfields of the complex field $ \mathbb{C}$ whose transcendency degree (over $ \mathbb{Q}$) is finite. Prove that this lattice is not modular. [i]L. Babai[/i]

2009 IberoAmerican Olympiad For University Students, 7
Tags: group theory , abstract algebra , superior algebra , superior algebra unsolved
Let $G$ be a group such that every subgroup of $G$ is subnormal. Suppose that there exists $N$ normal subgroup of $G$ such that $Z(N)$ is nontrivial and $G/N$ is cyclic. Prove that $Z(G)$ is nontrivial. ($Z(G)$ denotes the center of $G$). [b]Note[/b]: A subgroup $H$ of $G$ is subnormal if there exist subgroups $H_1,H_2,\ldots,H_m=G$ of $G$ such that $H\lhd H_1\lhd H_2 \lhd \ldots \lhd H_m= G$ ($\lhd$ denotes normal subgroup).

2012 District Olympiad, 2
Tags: quadratics , algebra , polynomial , superior algebra , superior algebra unsolved
Let $(A,+,\cdot)$ a 9 elements ring. Prove that the following assertions are equivalent: (a) For any $x\in A\backslash\{0\}$ there are two numbers $a\in \{-1,0,1\}$ and $b\in \{-1,1\}$ such that $x^2+ax+b=0$. (b) $(A,+,\cdot)$ is a field.

2010 Romania National Olympiad, 2
Tags: algebra , polynomial , Ring Theory , superior algebra , superior algebra unsolved
We say that a ring $A$ has property $(P)$ if any non-zero element can be written uniquely as the sum of an invertible element and a non-invertible element. a) If in $A$, $1+1=0$, prove that $A$ has property $(P)$ if and only if $A$ is a field. b) Give an example of a ring that is not a field, containing at least two elements, and having property $(P)$. [i]Dan Schwarz[/i]

2001 IMC, 2
Tags: number theory , relatively prime , superior algebra , superior algebra unsolved
Let $r,s,t$ positive integers which are relatively prime and $a,b \in G$, $G$ a commutative multiplicative group with unit element $e$, and $a^r=b^s=(ab)^t=e$. (a) Prove that $a=b=e$. (b) Does the same hold for a non-commutative group $G$?

1993 Hungary-Israel Binational, 7
Tags: group theory , abstract algebra , superior algebra , superior algebra unsolved
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.

1963 Miklós Schweitzer, 4
Tags: algebra , polynomial , superior algebra , superior algebra unsolved
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]

2013 District Olympiad, 4
Tags: superior algebra , superior algebra unsolved
Problem 4. Let$\left( A,+,\cdot \right)$ be a ring with the property that $x=0$ is the only solution of the ${{x}^{2}}=0,x\in A$ecuation. Let $B=\left\{ a\in A|{{a}^{2}}=1 \right\}$. Prove that: (a) $ab-ba=bab-a$, whatever would be $a\in A$ and $b\in B$. (b) $\left( B,\cdot \right)$ is a group

1970 Miklós Schweitzer, 1
Tags: superior algebra , superior algebra unsolved
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]

2014 District Olympiad, 4
Tags: superior algebra , superior algebra unsolved
Let $(G,\cdot)$ be a group with no elements of order 4, and let $f:G\rightarrow G$ be a group morphism such that $f(x)\in\{x,x^{-1}\}$, for all $x\in G$. Prove that either $f(x)=x$ for all $x\in G$, or $f(x)=x^{-1}$ for all $x\in G$.

2010 IMC, 3
Tags: group theory , abstract algebra , induction , strong induction , superior algebra , superior algebra unsolved
Denote by $S_n$ the group of permutations of the sequence $(1,2,\dots,n).$ Suppose that $G$ is a subgroup of $S_n,$ such that for every $\pi\in G\setminus\{e\}$ there exists a unique $k\in \{1,2,\dots,n\}$ for which $\pi(k)=k.$ (Here $e$ is the unit element of the group $S_n.$) Show that this $k$ is the same for all $\pi \in G\setminus \{e\}.$

2013 Romania National Olympiad, 2
Tags: algebra , polynomial , superior algebra , superior algebra unsolved
Given a ring $\left( A,+,\cdot \right)$ that meets both of the following conditions: (1) $A$ is not a field, and (2) For every non-invertible element $x$ of $ A$, there is an integer $m>1$ (depending on $x$) such that $x=x^2+x^3+\ldots+x^{2^m}$. Show that (a) $x+x=0$ for every $x \in A$, and (b) $x^2=x$ for every non-invertible $x\in A$.

2014 Miklós Schweitzer, 5
Tags: superior algebra , superior algebra unsolved
Let $ \alpha $ be a non-real algebraic integer of degree two, and let $ \mathbb{P} $ be the set of irreducible elements of the ring $ \mathbb{Z}[ \alpha ] $. Prove that \[ \sum_{p\in \mathbb{P}}^{{}}\frac{1}{|p|^{2}}=\infty \]

1971 Miklós Schweitzer, 1
Tags: topology , search , superior algebra , superior algebra unsolved
Let $ G$ be an infinite compact topological group with a Hausdorff topology. Prove that $ G$ contains an element $ g \not\equal{} 1$ such that the set of all powers of $ g$ is either everywhere dense in $ G$ or nowhere dense in $ G$. [i]J. Erdos[/i]

2006 Pre-Preparation Course Examination, 4
Tags: algebra , polynomial , superior algebra , superior algebra unsolved
Show that for every prime $p$ and integer $n$, there is an irreducible polynomial of degree $n$ in $\mathbb{Z}_p[x]$ and use that to show there is a field of size $p^n$.