2001 Fall Algebra Questions U

B First Qual

1. Prove that a 2 × 2 matrix with positive entries is diagonalizable over R.

2. Let P2 denote the vector space consisting of all real polynomials of the form p(x) = a0 + a1 x +
a2 x2 . For any two polynomials p and q in P2 , define a symmetric, bilinear form hp, qi by
hp, qi = p(0)q(0) + p( 12 )q( 21 ) + p(1)q(1)
(a) Show that hp, qi is an inner-product on P2 .
(b) Find an orthonormal basis for the subspace of R2 that is spanned by p(x) = x and q(x) = x2 .

3. Find all possible Jordan canonical forms for a matrix whose characteristic polynomial is
(λ + 2)(λ − 5)4 . Give the minimal polynomial for each possibility.

4. Let V and W be vector spaces over the reals, with V and W not necessarily finite dimensional.
S T
Suppose that V → W and W → V are linear transformations such that S ◦ T is the identity
transformation on W. Let K be the kernel of S. Define linear transformations Φ : V → K ⊕ W
and Ψ : K ⊕ W → V by
Φ(v) := (v − T (S(v)), S(v)) for v in V Ψ((k, w)) := k + T (w) for k in K and w in W
Prove that
(a) Ψ ◦ Φ is the identity transformation on V .
(b) Φ ◦ Ψ is the identity transformation on K ⊕ W .

5. Let S be a non-empty subset of a group G and consider the following binary relation ? on the
elements of G: g1 ? g2 ⇔ g1 g2−1 ∈ S
(a) If S is a subgroup of G show that ? is an equivalence relation.
(b) If ? is an equivalence relation on G show that S is a subgroup of G.

6. Find all irreducible polynomials of degree 3 over the field Z2 . Show your work.

7. Let n be a positive integer, let Gn = {(g1 , g2 ) ∈ R2 | g1 6= 0}, and let e = (1, 0). Then Gn is
a group under the multiplication (g1 , g2 ) · (h1 , h2 ) = (g1 h1 , g1 h2 + g2 hn1 ), and e is the identity of
Gn . Prove that for n > 1, the center Z(Gn ) of Gn is
(
{(1, 0)} for n even
Z(Gn ) =
{(1, 0), (−1, 0)} for n odd

8. The Class Equation states that if G is a finite group, then |G| = Σ|G : C(a)|, where C(a) is
the centralizer of a and where the sum runs over one element from each conjugacy class in G.
(a) Use the class equation to prove that |G| = |Z(G)| + Σ|G : C(a)|, where the sum runs over one
element from each conjugacy class with more than one element.
(b) Use (a) to prove that a p−group has a non-trivial center (that is, if the order of G is pm where
p is a prime and m is a positive integer, then Z(G) 6= {e}). z
2001 Fall Analysis Questions U
B First Qual

9. Let f (x) be a real-valued function, defined and continuous for each x ∈ R. Let a be a fixed
real number. Prove there is a point on the graph of f (x) whose distance to (a, 0) is a minimum.

10. Let

F (u, v, x, y) := u2 + v 3 + x2 − 3y
G(u, v, x, y) := u2 + v 4 + 3x + y 4

(a) Justify the existence of a unique solution x = h(u, v) , y = k(u, v) to the simultaneous
equations F (u, v, x, y) = 0 and G(u, v, x, y) = 0 on a neighborhood of the point (u, v, x, y) =
(1, 1, −1, 1), where h and k are continuously differentiable.
∂h
(b) Let x = h(u, v) and y = k(u, v) be the solution from part a. Calculate ∂u (1, 1).

11. Let f (x) be a (not necessarily continuous) real-valued function on [0, 1] with the property
that for each x ∈ [0, 1] there exists a δx > 0 such that |f (x) − f (y)| < 1 whenever y ∈ [0, 1] and
|x − y| < δx . Prove that f (x) is a bounded function.

12. Let f (x) be continuous on [0, 1] and let n ≥ 2 be a fixed integer. If f (0) = f (1), prove that
there exists a number c ∈ [0, 1] such that f (c) = f (c + n1 ).

13. Let f1 (x), f2 (x), . . . be a sequence of Riemann integrable functions on [a, b] that converge
uniformly to f (x) on [a, b]. Prove that f is Riemann integrable on [a, b].

14. Assume that A := {an }∞ n=1 is a sequence of real numbers. Let S denote the subset of R
consisting of the range of values of A, that is, S is the set of all x such that x = an for some n.
Suppose that p is a limit point of S. Show that A has a subsequence that converges to p. z
2001 Spring Algebra Questions U
B First Qual

1. Find the Jordan forms of the following matrices :

   
0 1 2 0 0 1
   
A= 0 0 1 ,B =  0 0 0 
0 0 0 0 0 0

2. Let V be a finite dimensional vector space over R and let V ∗ denote the vector space of all linear
transformations from V to R. If v1 , . . . , vn is a basis for V , prove that the linear transformations
f1 , . . . , fn in V ∗ defined by fi (vj ) = 1 (if i = j) and fi (vj ) = 0 (if i 6= j); for i = 1, . . . , n form a
basis for V ∗ .

3. Let T : Rn → Rm be a linear transformation. Show that if T is onto (surjective), then

0 ≤ n − m.

4. Let V and W be vector spaces over a field F . Let T : V → W and S : W → V be functions

such that S is the inverse function to T . Prove that if T is a linear transformation, then S is a
linear transformation.

5. Suppose G is a group of permutations on {1, 2, . . . , n} ( so G is a subgroup of Sn ). Prove that

if G contains an odd permutation, then G contains a normal subgroup of index 2.

6. Let Q be the additive group of rational numbers. The additive group Z is a subgroup. Show
that Q/Z has infinite order, but each element of Q/Z has finite order.

7. Let R be a commutative ring with identity and let M be an ideal in R. Prove that M is a
maximal ideal if and only if R/M is a field.

8. Let G = {(g1 , g2 ) ∈ R2 |g1 6= 0} and let e = (1, 0). Then G is a group under the multiplication
(g1 , g2 ) · (h1 , h2 ) = (g1 h1 , g1 , h2 + g2 ), and e is the identity of G.
(a) Let H be the subgroup of G defined by H = {(1, h)|h ∈ R}. Show that H is normal in G.
(b) Show that G/H is isomorphic to the multiplicative group R∗ of non-zero real numbers. z
2001 Spring Analysis Questions U
B First Qual

9. Let S be a non-empty set of real numbers that is bounded below. Let T be the set of all lower
bounds for S. Prove that the least upper bound for T is the greatest lower bound for S.

10. Let A be an uncountable set of real numbers. Prove that A has a point of accumulation.
Rb
11. Let f : [a, b] → R be continuous. If a f (x)g(x)dx = 0 for all continuous functions g on [a, b]
such that g(a) = g(b) = 0, prove that f is identically zero.

12. Determine the convergence or divergence of the sequence :

1 1
an = + ··· + .
n+1 2n

13. Let C be a closed subset of R such that C is contained in (0,1). Let f be a (not necessarily
continuous ) function on C such that for each x in C there exists rx > 0 (rx depends on x) such
that |f (y) − f (x)| < 4 whenever y is in C and |y − x| < rx . Prove there exists r > 0 such that
|f (y) − f (x)| < 8 for all x and y in C such that |y − x| < r.

14. Let S be the solid tetrahedron in R3 having vertices at (0,0,0); (1,2,3); (0,1,2) and (−1,1,1).
RRR
Write S (s + 2t − u)dsdtdu as an iterated integral. (Hint : Use a linear transformation to
map a standard tetrahedron onto S ). z
2000 Fall Algebra Questions U
B First Qual

1. Show that a finite integral domain is a field.

2. Consider the conjecture: If a field F is infinite, then every nontrivial subfield of F is infinite.
Prove or give a counterexample with proof.

3. Let φ : Z ⊕ Z → Z be the group homomorphism defined by φ(m, n) = 4m − 7n. Let H be

the subgroup of Z generated by the element 5. Find two elements that generate φ−1 (H). (Part
of the problem is to prove that the elements actually generate φ−1 (H).)

4. Prove Eisenstein’s criterion.

5. Let V be the vector space of all 2 × 2 matrices with real coefficients. Define an inner product
h, i on V by
hA, Bi = trace(AB t )

Find an orthonormal basis for the orthogonal complement in V of the 2 × 2 identity matrix.

6. Let V and W be finite dimensional vector spaces over R. Let M be a non-zero subspace of V ,
and let N be a subspace of W . If T (M ) ⊂ N for all linear transformations T : V → W , prove
that N = W .

7. Let M22 be the vector space of upper triangular 2 × 2 matrices, with basis
à ! à ! à !
1 0 0 1 0 0
E1 = E2 = and E3 =
0 0 0 0 0 1

Let T be the linear transformation on M defined by

à ! à !
1 1 1 −1
TX = X
0 2 0 1

P3
Find the matrix A = (aij ) of T . That is, find the matrix A that satisfies T Ej = i=1 aij Ei .

8.(a) Find a scalar λ and a nilpotent matrix N such that

à ! à !
3 1 1 0
=λ +N
−1 1 0 1

b) Let P (x) be aÃpolynomial

! with
à real coefficients. Use part (a)!to show that
3 1 P (2) + P 0 (2) P 0 (2)
P = z
−1 1 −P 0 (2) P (2) − P 0 (2)
2000 Fall Analysis Questions U
B First Qual

P
9. Let ∞ n
n=0 an (x − a) be an infinite series with radius of convergence R > 0. Show that if
0 < r < R, then the series converges uniformly for |x − a| ≤ r.

10. Let f : [0, 1] → R be continuous. Show that

Z ³
1
f (j) ´
lim cos 2πx + dx = 0
j→∞ 0 j

11. A set X in Rn is connected if there does not exist open sets A and B in Rn such that all the
following hold:
(a) X ∩ A 6= φ
(b) X ∩ B 6= φ
(c) X ⊂ (A ∪ B)
(d) X ∩ A ∩ B = φ
Let X and Y be connected subsets of Rn such that X ∩ Y 6= φ. Use the definition above to show
that X ∪ Y is connected.

12. For each continuously differentiable simple closed curve C (oriented counterclockwise) in R2 ,
define τ (C) by Z
τ (C) = 2y 3 dx + (3x − 2x3 ) dy
C
Use Green’s Theorem to find a continuously differentiable simple closed curve C for which τ (C) is
maximal.

13. Let f : R3 → R be a C 1 function such that f (0, 0, 0) = 0. Let a, b and c be real constants
such that the derivative of f at (0, 0, 0) is [a b c].
(i). Give the minimal conditions on a, b and c that ensure there exists a neighborhood N of (0, 0)
in R2 and a C 1 function g : N → R such that g(0, 0) = 0 and f (x, y, g(x, y)) = 0 for all (x, y) in
N.
(ii). Assume that suitable conditions on a, b and c are given for part (i). Find the derivative of g
at (0, 0).

14. Let S be a compact subset of Rn . Prove S is closed and bounded. z

2000 Spring Algebra Questions U
B First Qual

1. The factor group (Z4 ⊕ Z6 )/h(2, 3)i is isomorphic to a group G which is a direct product of
cyclic groups of prime power order. Find G.

2. Prove that a prime natural number p is prime in the ring Z[i] if and only if the equation
x2 + y 2 = p has no solution in integers x and y.

3. Prove that every group of order 52 · 72 is isomorphic to a direct product of two smaller groups.

4. Let R be a commutative ring with identity and let I and J be proper ideals of R with I +J = R.
Prove the Chinese Remainder Theorem : R/(I ∩ J) is isomorphic to the direct sum (R/I) ⊕ (R/J).

5. Let V be an (n − 1)-dimensional subspace of Rn . Prove that there exists x0 in Rn such that

V = {x ∈ Rn | x · x0 = 0}.

6. Let W be the subspace of R4 spanned by w1 = (1, −1, 0, 1) and w2 = (1, 1, 1, 0). Let v =
(1, 0, 1, 2). Find min{||v − w|| | w ∈ W }, where || · || denotes the Euclidean norm on R4 .

7. Let V be an n-dimensional vector space over R and let T : V → V be a linear transformation.

Prove that the dimension of the range of T plus the dimension of the kernel of T equals n.

8. Let K be the vector space of n × n skew-symmetric matrices (At = −A) with real coefficients,
and let S be the vector space of n × n symmetric matrices (At = A) with real coefficients. Define
a linear transformation T : K → S as follows. If the (i, j)-th entry of A is aij , then the (i, j)-th
entry of T (A) is given by : 

 aij , if i < j;
T (A)ij = 0, if i = j;


−aij , if i > j.
a) Is T one to one ? Explain.
b) Is T onto ? Explain. z
2000 Spring Analysis Questions U
B First Qual

9. Let f (x) = x2 + 3xy − y 2 − 2yz − z 2 + 5.

a) Find the largest value of the directional derivative of f at p = (1, 1, 2).
b) Consider the surface given by f (x, y, z) = 0. Find the equation of the tangent plane to the
surface at P = (1, 1, 2).
c) Give the equations of the straight line through P normal to the surface in part b).

10. Let fm (x) = lim (cos(m!πx))2n . Prove that

n→∞
(
0, if x is irrational
lim fm (x) =
m→∞ 1, if x is rational

11. Let f (x) be a continuous function on [a, b] with f (a) = 0 and f (b) > 0. Show that there is a
“last zero” of f (x). That is, there is a c ∈ [a, b] such that f (c) = 0 and f (x) > 0 for c < x ≤ b.

12. Prove that [0,1] is connected.

13. Prove directly that if a Cauchy sequence {aj } in Rn has a convergent subsequence then {aj }
converges.

14. Let S be a subset of Rn . Show that if S is not closed, then there exists an infinite subset of
S which has no limit point in S. z
1999 Fall Algebra Questions U
B First Qual

1. Prove that an integral domain with finitely many elements is a field.

2. Prove that M2 , the ring of 2 × 2 matrices with real entries has exactly two ideals : M2 and
{0}.

3. There is a general theorem that groups of certain orders are cyclic. Without using the general
theorem, prove that every group of order 15 is cyclic.

4. Let G be a group. For each g ∈ G we define an inner automorphism ϕg on G by ϕg (a) =

gag −1 ∀ a ∈ G. Let Aut(G) denote the group of all automorphisms on G and Inn(G) denote the
subgroup of all inner automorphisms of G. Define π : G → Aut(G) by π(g) = ϕ(g).
(a) Prove that π is a homomorphism.
(b) G/Z(G) is isomorphic to Inn(G) where Z(G) is the center of G.

5. Let T : R4 → R3 be the linear transformation represented by the matrix

 
0 1 2 −2
 
 1 0 2 −3 
1 1 4 −5

(a) Find a basis for the kernel of T .

(b) Find a basis for the range of T .

6. Let A be a square matrix with distinct eigenvalues λ1 , . . . , λm and corresponding eigenvectors

v1 , . . . , vm . Prove that v1 , . . . , vm are linearly independent.

7. Let V be a vector space over a field F . Let v1 , . . . , vl ∈ V be linearly independent over F

and let {w1 , . . . , wm } be a set in V that spans V over F . Using only the definitions of linear
independence and spanning (no other facts about bases or dimension) prove that l ≤ m.

8. Let A be an n × n non-singular real matrix. Prove that there exists a polynomial P (x) of
degree at most n such that A−1 = P (A). z
1999 Fall Analysis Questions U
B First Qual

√
9. Let f (x) = x for x ∈ A = [0, ∞).
(a) Prove that f is uniformly continuous on A.
(b) Does there exist a real constant K such that |f (x) − f (y)| ≤ K|x − y| for all x and y in A ?

10. A function f : R → R is called open if whenever U is an open set in R, then f (U ) is an open

set in R. Prove that every continuous open function f : R → R is monotonic.
P 1
sin( n )
11.(a) Show that ∞ n=1 n converges.
P (−8)n
(b) Find all real numbers x for which the power series ∞n=1 n (2x − 3)
3n converges absolutely

and all real x for which it converges conditionally.

R∞
12. Suppose that f (x) ≥ 0 is uniformly continuous on [0, ∞) and o f (x)dx < ∞. Show that
f (x) → 0 as x → ∞.

13. Let g be a continuous function on [0,1], with g(1) = 0. Show that the sequence of functions
{g(x)xn } converges uniformly for x ∈[0,1].

14. Let f (x, y) = (x cos y, x sin y) for (x, y) ∈ R2 . Find the Jacobian of f and determine the set
A = {(x, y)|f is locally one − to − one at (x, y)}. z