Professional Documents
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Omid Hatami
Introduction
The heart of Mathematics is its problems. Paul Halmos
The purpose of this book is to present a collection of interesting and challenging
problems in Algebra. The book is available at
http : //omidhatami.googlepages.com
This is a primary version of the book. I would greatly like to hear about inter-
esting problems in Abstract Algebra. I also would appreciate hearing about any
errors in the book, even minor ones. You can send all comments to the author
at omidhatami@gmail.com.
Contents
3
4 CONTENTS
Chapter 1
5
6 CHAPTER 1. GROUP THEORY PROBLEMS
16. (G, ., e) is a group and there exists n N, such that for each i {n, n +
1, n + 2}, ai bi = (ab)i . Prove that G is abelian.
17. G is a finite semigroup such that for each x, y, z, if xy = yz, then x = z.
Prove that G is abelian.
23. Prove that group G is not union of two of its proper subgroups. Is the
statement true, when two is replaced by three?
24. Let G be a group and H be a subset of G. Prove that H < G, if and only
if HH = H.
25. Let G be a group that does not have any nonobvious subgroups. Prove
that G is a cyclic group of order p, which p is a prime number.
26. Prove that a group G has exactly 3 subgroups if and only if |G| = p2 , for
a prime p.
28. Suppose that G is a group of order n. Prove that G is cyclic, if and only
if for each divisor d of n, G has exactly one subgroup of order d.
29. Suppose G = hxi be a cyclic group. Prove that G = hxm i, if and only if
gcd(m, o(x)) = 1.
30. Let G be a group, and for each a, b G, we know that a3 b3 = (ab)3 , and
a5 b5 = (ab)5 . Prove that G is abelian.
32. Let G be a finite group, and A is subgroup of G such that |AxA| is constant
for each x. Prove that for each g G : gAg 1 = A.
43. Prove that an infinite group is cyclic, if and only if it is isomorphic to all
of its nonobvious subgroups.
46. G, H are cyclic groups. Prove that G H is a cyclic group, if and only if
gcd(|G|, |H|) = 1.
47. {G
Q i |i I} is a family of groups. Prove that order of each element of
iI Gi is finite.
50. A, B are subgroups of G, such that gcd([G : A], [G : B]) = 1. Prove that
G = AB.
53. Let G be a group of order 2n. Suppose that if half of elements of G are
of order 2, the remaining elements form a group of order n, like H. Prove
that n is odd, and H is abelian.
54. Let G be a group that has a subgroup of order m, and also has a subgroup
of order n. Prove that G has a subgroup of order lcm(m, n).
55. H is a subgroup of G with finite index. Prove that G has finitely many
subgroups of form xHx1 .
10 CHAPTER 1. GROUP THEORY PROBLEMS
56. Consider the group (R, +) and it subgroup Z. Prove that RZ is a group
ismomorphic to complex numbers with norm 1 with the multiplication
operation.
63. G is a group of order 2k, in which k is an odd number. Prove that G has
subgroup of index 2.
64. Prove that there does not exist any group satisfying the following condi-
tions:
G = a1 1 1
1 H a2 H . . . an H
69. Let G be a group. Prove that Aut(G) is abelian, if and only if G is cyclic.
71. G has exactly one subgroup of index n. Prove that the subgroup of order
n is normal.
72. Prove that if every cyclic subgroup T of G, is a normal subgroup, then for
every subgroup of G, is a normal subgroup.
[A : A B] [G : B]
Prove that S n E G.
77. Let S = n=1 Sn , which Sn is n-th symmetric group. Prove that only
nonobvious subgroup of S is A = n=1 An .
78. Prove that there does not exist a finite nonobvious group such that each
of G except the unit, commutes with exactly half of elements of G.
91. G has two maximal subgroups H, K. Prove that if H, K are abelian, and
Z(G) = {e}, H K = {e}.
IMS 2002
IMS 2001
93. G is a group, such that each of its subgroups are in a proper subgroup of
finite index. Prove that G is cyclic.
94. G is a nonobvious group such that for each two subgroups H, K of G,
H K or K H. Prove that G is abelian p-group, for a prime p.
1.4. FOURTH SECTION 13
IMS 2007
IMS 2005
97. Let G be a finite group of order n. Prove that if [G : Z(G)] = 4, then 8|n.
For each 8|n find a group satisfying the condition [G : Z(G)] = 4.
IMS 2001
IMS 1999
x(x 6 H = H x1 Hx = {eG })
IMS 1993
100. Let G be a group and H be a subgroup of G such that for each x G\H
and each y G, there is a u H that y 1 xy = u1 xu. Prove that H E G,
G
and H is abelian.
IMS 2003
IMS 1992
IMS 1989
14 CHAPTER 1. GROUP THEORY PROBLEMS
Mikl
os Schweitzer Competition
104. Determine all finite groups G that have an automorphism f such that
H 6 f (H) for all proper subgroups H of G.
Mikl
os Schweitzer Competition
Mikl
os Schweitzer Competition
107. Let G, H be two countable abelian groups. Prove that if for each natural
n, pn G = pn+1 G, H is a homomorphic image of G.
Mikl
os Schweitzer Competition
108. Let G be a finite group, and p be the smallest prime number that divides
|G|. Prove that if A < G is a group of order p, A < Z(G).
109. Let a, b > 1 be two integers. Prove that Sa+b has a subgroup of order ab.
110. Let G be an infinite group such that index of each of its subgroups is finite.
Prove that G is cyclic.
115. Let n be an even number greater than 2. Prove that if the symmetric
group Sn contains an element of order m, then GLn2 (Z) contains an
element of order m.
116. Prove that n N, group Q
Z , + has exactly one subgroup of order n.
122. Prove that a simple group G does not have a proper, simple subgroup of
finite index.
123. Let G be a finite group, and for each a, b G\{e}, there exists f Aut(G)
such that f (a) = b. Prove that G is abelian.
124. Prove that there is no nonabelian finite simple group whose order is a
Fibonacci number.
125. Let a, b, c be elements of odd order in group G, and a2 b2 = c2 . Prove that
ab and c are in the same coset of commutator group(G0 ).
126. Let n be an odd number, and G be a group of order 2n. H is a subgroup
of G of order n such that for each x G\H, xhx1 = h1 . Prove that H
is abelian, and each element of G\H is of order 2.
David Hammer
132. X is an infinite set. Prove that SX does not have proper subgroup of finite
index.
133. Let G be a group of order pm n, such that m < 2p. Prove that G has a
normal subgroup of order pm or pm1 .
134. Let p be a prime number and H is a subgroup of Sp , and contains a
transposition and a p-cycle. Prove that H = Sp .
n
135. Prove that the largest abelian subgroup of Sn contains at most 3 3 ele-
ments.
136. We call an element x of finite group G, a good element, if and only if,
there are two elements u, v 6= e, such that uv = vu = x. Prove that if x is
not a good element, x has order 2, and |G| = 2(2k 1) for some k N.
form a ring.
2. Prove that the only subring of Z is Z.
3. An element a of ring R is called idempotent, if and only if a2 = a:
(a) Let R be a ring with 1, and a be an idempotent element. Prove that
1 a is also idempotent.
(b) Prove that if R is an integral domain, the only idempotent elements
of R are 0, 1.
(c) Let R be ring and each of its elements are idempotent. Prove that
R is commutative with characteristic 2.
4. Give an example of ideal such that is not a subring and give an example
of a subring that is not an ideal.
5. Prove that the following statements are equivalent:
(a) Each ideal of ring R is finitely generated.
(b) For every sequence of ideals I1 I2 . . . there exists k N, such
that Ik = Ik+1 = . . .
A ring R with the previous conditions is called a Noetherian ring.
6. Let A be a Noetherian ring. Prove that A[x] is a Noetherian ring.
7. Let R be a commutative ring, and u, v are two nilpotent elements. Prove
that u + v is also nilpotent.
8. Let R be a ring. Prove that if a has more than one right inverses, then it
has infinitely many right inverses.
9. R is a ring with 1. Prove that if R does not contain any nilpotent elements,
then all of its idempotent elements are in center of R.
17
18 CHAPTER 2. RING THEORY PROBLEMS
16. F be a finite field with q elements. Prove that if N (n, q) is the number of
irreducible polynomials of degree n:
1 X n d
N (n, q) = q
n d
d|n
Cartan-Brauer-Hua
h i
1+ 19
18. Prove that Z 2 is not Euclidean.
19. Prove that the polynomial det(A) 1 k[x11 , x12 , . . . , xnn ] is irreducible.
19
20. Prove that in the ring R, the number of units is larger or equal than the
number of nilpotents.
21. Let R be an Artinian ring with 1. Prove that each idempotent element
of R commutes with every element such that its square is equal to zero.
Suppose that we can write R as sum of two ideals A and B. Prove that
AB = BA.
Mikl
os Schweitzer Competition
22. Let R be an infinite ring such that each of its subrings except {0} has
finite index (index of a subring is the index of its additive group). Prove
that the additive group of R is cyclic.
Mikl
os Schweitzer Competition
23. Let R be a finite ring. Prove that R contains 1, if and only if the only
annihilator of R is 0.
Mikl
os Schweitzer Competition
24. Let R be a commutative ring with 1. Prove that R[x] contains infinitely
many maximal ideals.
IMS 2007
IMS 2006
26. Let R, R0 be two rings such that all of their elements are nilpotent. Let
f : R0 R be a bijective function such that for each x, y R0 , f (xy) =
f (x)f (y). Prove that R ' R0 .
IMS 2003
27. Let R be a commutative ring with 1, such that each of its ideals is principal.
Prove that if R has a unique maximal ideal, then for each x, y R, we
have Rx Ry or Ry Rx.
IMS 2002
28. Prove that intersection of all of left maximal ideals of a ring is a two-sided
ideal.
29. Let I be an ideal of Z[x] such that:
(a) gcd of coefficients of each element of I is 1.
(b) For each R Z, I contains an element with constant coefficient equal
to R.
20 CHAPTER 2. RING THEORY PROBLEMS
Mikl
os Schweitzer Competition
31. Ring R has at least one divisor of zero, and the number of its zero divisors
is finite. Prove that R is finite.
Z2 [x]
32. Let n be an odd number. Prove that for each ideal of ring ,
(xn 1)
I 2 = I.
M := {k N|xk = x, x A}
Prove that A is a field, if and only if M is not empty, and the least element
of M is equal to 2n + 1.
37. Prove that in each boolean ring, every finitely generated ideal is principal.
46. Let R be a ring, in which a2 = 0 for each a A. Prove that for each
a, b, c R, abc + abc = 0.
IMC 2003
IMC 2000
56. Let R be a ring with 1, and containing at least two elements, such that
for each a R there is a unique element b R such that aba = a. Prove
that R is a division ring.
57. Let F be a field and n > 1. Let R be the ring of all upper-triangular
matrices in Mn (F ), such that all of the elements on its diagonal are equal.
Prove that R is a local ring.
59. Let R be a commutative and contains only one prime ideal. Prove that
each element of R is nilpotent or unit.
60. Prove tha each boolean ring without 1, can be embedded into a boolean
ring with 1.
62. Let K be a field. Can K[x] have finitely many irreducible polynomials?
63. Let R be a finite commutative ring. Prove that there are m 6= n, such
that for each x R, xm = xn .
Prove that \
I= J
J is prime,IJ
67. Let R be a commutative ring with identity element. Prove that hxi is a
prime ideal in R[x], if and only if R is an integral domain.
68. Prove that each finite ring without zero divisor is a field.
69. Prove that in every finite ring, each prime ideal is maximal.
RMO 1994
73. Let R be a commutative ring that all of its prime ideals are finitely gen-
erated. Prove that R is Noetherian.
74. (A, +, .) is a commutative ring in which 1 + 1 and 1 + 1 + 1 are invertible,
and if x3 = y 3 then x = y. Prove that if for a, b, c A
a2 + b2 + c2 = ab + bc + ac
then a = b = c.
75. Let (A, +, .) be a commutative ring with n 6 elements, which is a not
field:
(a) Prove that u : A A
1, x 6= 0
u(x) =
1, x=0
77. Let D be division ring, and a D. Prove that if a has finitely many
conjugates, a Z(D).
78. Let (A, +, .) be a ring and a, b A such that for each x A:
x3 + ax2 + bx = 0
[4] Bhattacharya P.B., Jain S.K., Nagpaul S.R., Basic abstract algebra, Second
Edition, 1994
[5] Rotman J.J. An Introduction to The Theory of Groups, Fourth Edition,
Springer-Verlag 1995
25