1. Let G be a group. Let H be the subgroup of G generated by {x2 | x ∈ G}.

Let H 0 be
the commutator subgroup of G, i.e., the subgroup generated by {xyx−1 y −1 | x, y ∈ G}.
Show that H ⊃ H 0 .

2. Let p be a prime number, and let G be a finite group whose order is a power of p. Let
F be a field of characteristic p, and V a nonzero vector space over F equipped with a
linear action of G.1 Prove that there exists a nonzero subspace W ⊂ V such that G acts
trivially on W .
Hint: One possible strategy involves first proving the result in the special case where F
is the finite field Fp and V is finite dimensional (so that V is a finite set), and using this
special case to prove the general case.

3. Find the characteristic polynomial of A7 , where A is the real matrix:

!
3 1
.
−4 −1

4. Let S be the set of all lines in R2 that pass through the origin and have either rational or
infinite slope. Show that the usual action of SL2 (Z) (the group of 2 × 2 integer matrices
with determinant 1) on R2 induces a transitive action of SL2 (Z) on S.

5. Consider the ring C(0, 1) of continuous real-valued functions on (0, 1). For any P ∈ (0, 1),
write mP for the ideal:

mP := {f ∈ C(0, 1) | f (P ) = 0}.

(a) Show that C(0, 1) contains infinitely many maximal ideals that are not of the form
mP for any P ∈ (0, 1).

(b) Consider the map R → C(0, 1) which sends a ∈ R to the constant function with value
a. Suppose m ⊂ C(0, 1) is a maximal ideal with the property that the composition
R → C(0, 1) → C(0, 1)/m is an isomorphism. Show that m = mP for some P ∈ (0, 1).

6. Suppose f is a continuous function on R such that we have:

∀ x ∈ R, f (x) = f (x2 ).

Show that f is constant.

1In other words, we have an action G × V → V of the group G on the set V , written (g, v) 7→ g · v, such that
for all g ∈ G, the map v 7→ g · v is an F -linear transformation of the F -vector space V .
1
2

7. Let f be a continuous real-valued function on [0, 1]. Show that:

Z 1
lim f (x) sin(nx) dx = 0.
n→∞ 0

8. Suppose f : [0, 1] → [0, 1] is a nondecreasing function, which may or may not be contin-
uous. Show that there exists x ∈ [0, 1] such that f (x) = x.

9. Let D : C[x] → C[x] be the C-linear map given by Df = df /dx. Let eD : C[x] → C[x] be
the induced linear map given by:
X 1
f 7→ (eD )(f ) = Dn (f ).
n≥0
n!

(a) Show that the above formula does give a well-defined map, which is linear.
(b) Compute ker(eD ) and coker(eD ).
10. Prove or disprove: any bijective continuous function (0, 1) → R has a continuous inverse.
11. Prove or disprove: R3 \ {(0, 0, 0)} and R3 \ Bε are homeomorphic, where ε > 0 is a real
p
number and Bε is the closed ball given by {(x, y, z) ∈ R3 | x2 + y 2 + z 2 ≤ ε}.
12. Prove or disprove the following assertion. Let S be a subset of R, with the induced order,
such that every nonempty subset of S contains a minimum element (in other words, S is
well-ordered). Then S is necessarily countable (i.e., empty, finite or countably infinite).
13. Given any two ellipses in R2 , show that there exists a linear (but not necessarily orthogo-
nal) change of coordinates (x0 = ax + by + k, y 0 = cx + dy + l; ad − bc 6= 0) so that both the
ellipses have axes parallel to the new coordinate axes - namely, under the new coordinate
system, each of them can be described by an equation of the form:
(x0 − α)2 (y 0 − β)2
+ = 1.
r2 s2
dn
14. For any n ≥ 1, let Pn (x) = n
(xn (1 − x)n ). Show that for m 6= n:
dx
Z 1
Pn (x)Pm (x) dx = 0.
0
 Questions Asked in GS 2019 (Mathematics), Part-II

• There are 11 problems in this paper. Problem 1 is worth 20 points. All other problems are worth 10
points.
• Some of the problems have multiple parts. To solve one part of the problem, the students were allowed
to use any of the previous parts, even if they were unable to solve the previous parts.

1. (a) (5 points.) Let f : Rm → Rn be a continuous function such that the inverse image of a bounded
set is bounded. Prove that for every closed subset Z ⊆ Rm , f (Z) is closed in Rn .
(b) (3 points.) If z ∈ C is a root of the monic polynomial tn + a1 tn−1 + · · · + an ∈ C[t], show that:

|z| ≤ max{1, |a1 | + · · · + |an |}.

(c) (3 points.) Let φ : C3 → C3 be the map (x, y, z) 7→ (x + y + z, xy + yz + zx, xyz). Show that φ is
surjective.
(d) (4 points.) Prove that a subset Z ⊆ C3 is closed if and only if φ−1 (Z) is closed, where φ is as
defined in part (c).
(e) (5 points.) Prove that the map φ defined in part (c) is both a closed and an open map, i.e. the
image under φ of closed sets is closed and the image of open sets is open.
2. Let R be an integral domain. A subring A of the polynomial ring R[x1 , · · · , xn ] contains two poly-
nomials f, g of mutually coprime degrees. Prove that for every large enough integer N the subring A
contains a polynomial of degree N .

3. Let z1 , z2 , · · · zn ∈ C be such that the real and imaginary parts of each zi are non-negative. Show that
n n
X 1 X
zi ≥ √ |zi |.
i=1
2 i=1

1
 4. Does there exist a positive integer n such that the decimal representation of 3n starts with the digits
2019? Justify your assertion.
5. Does −1 have a square-root in the ring R[x]/(x2 + 1)2 ? Justify your assertion.
6. Prove that the system of n linear equations in m variables

ai1 x1 + · · · + aim xm = bi for all i ∈ {1, · · · , n},

where each aij ∈ Q and each bi ∈ Q, has a solution in Cm if and only if it has a solution in Qm .
dv
7. Let v : R → R2 be a differentiable function such that the velocity vector dt 6= 0 at all t ∈ R. Prove
that v is not surjective.

8. Let V be a vector space over Q of countably infinite dimension. Let V ∗ be its dual vector space of
Q-linear functionals λ : V → Q. Are V and V ∗ isomorphic as Q-vector spaces? Justify your assertion.
9. Let f : R → R be a continuously differentiable function. Prove that for any a, b ∈ R
 b 2
Z p
 1 + f 0 (x)2 dx ≥ (b − a)2 + (f (b) − f (a))2 .
a

10. (a) (3 points.) Let G be any group and let H ≤ G be a finite index subgroup. Then prove that there
exists a finite index normal subgroup N ≤ G such that N ≤ H.
(b) (7 points.) Let G be a finitely generated group. Prove that for each positive integer k there are
only finitely many subgroups H ≤ G of index k.
11. Does there exist a sequence of continuous functions fn : [0, 1] → [0, ∞) such that

Z1
lim fn (x)dx = 0
n→∞
0

but there does not exist any x ∈ [0, 1] for which the sequence {fn (x)} converges? Justify your assertion.

2
 QUESTION PAPER

GS2020 - PART 2

Question 1. Let k be a field and let f : Mn (k) → k be a k-linear

transformation such that f (AB) = f (BA), for all A, B ∈ Mn (k). Show
that f is a scalar multiple of the trace map.
Question 2. Let R be a finite commutative ring such that R× has odd
cardinality. Show that the cardinality of R is a power of 2.
Question 3. Let (X, d) be a metric space with the property that
d(x, z) ≤ max{d(x, y), d(y, z)} for all x, y, z ∈ X. Show that for any
x ∈ X, the unit ball
Bx = {y ∈ X | d(x, y) ≤ 1}
is both open and closed in X.
Question 4. Let k be a field and let S ⊂ N be an infinite subset. Let
f ∈ k[t] be a polynomial.
P Show that there exists a polynomial g ∈ k[t]
such that f (t)g(t) = i≥0 ai ti , where ai = 0 for every i ∈
/ S.
Question 5. Let GLn+1 (R) ⊂ Mn+1 (R) be given the subspace topol-
ogy and identify GLn (R) with the subset of GLn+1 (R) consisting of
matrices of the form  
1 0
0 A
with A ∈ GLn (R). Show that GLn+1 (R)/GLn (R) is not compact in
the quotient topology.
Question 6. Let H denote the set of homeomorphisms of R onto itself,
viewed as a group under composition. Consider the elements f1 , f2 ∈ H
defined by f1 (x) = 2x and f2 (x) = 3x, for all x ∈ R. Show that f1 and
f2 belong to the same conjugacy class in H.
Question 7. Does there exist a sequence {an }n in R2 such that
√
|an − am | = 4 n − m,
for all natural numbers n ≥ m?
Question 8. Does there exist a nonconstant polynomial f ∈ Z[t] such
that |f (n)| is a power of some prime number (depending on n), for
every n ∈ Z?
Hint: It may help to first consider the case where the prime number is
independent of n.
1
Question 9. Let P be a convex octagon which can be inscribed in a
circle such that four of its sides have length 2 and the other four sides
have length 3. Find all possible values of the area of P .
Question 10. Construct a continuous function f : [0, 1] → R that
cannot be written in the form g1 − g2 , where g1 , g2 : [0, 1] → R are
continuous, increasing functions.
 Instructions
1. Every claim needs a justification.
2. Do NOT write your name or affiliation or any personal detail other than application
number (of the form GS2023MTHPHDxxxxxx or GS2023MTHIPHxxxxxx) on the paper.
3. There are 10 problems in this paper. All of these carry equal marks.
4. Use both sides of each sheet for writing your answers.
5. Extra/rough sheets: Two extra sheets have been provided. If these do not suffice, you
can ask the invigilator for more sheets.
6. Extra sheet etiquette:
• On the top of each extra sheet, write clearly which problem is being attempted on
that sheet. Do not do more than one problem on one extra sheet.
• Write your application number clearly at the top of each extra sheet.
• All extra sheet(s) should be stapled onto this answer booklet, whether or not you
consider them rough work.
7. If a given sheet contains part of your work on a particular problem, and that work is
continued on some other page, indicate this clearly.
8. No books, notes, electronic devices etc. are allowed.
9. N denotes the set of natural numbers {0, 1, 2, 3, . . . }, Z denotes the set of integers, Q the
set of rational numbers, R the set of real numbers, and C the set of complex numbers.
These sets are assumed to carry the usual algebraic and metric structures.
10. All rings are assumed to be associative and containing a multiplicative identity denoted
by 1.
11. C[[x]] denotes the formal power series ring in the variable x over C: its elements are formal
sums ∞ n
P
n=0 an x with an ∈ C for each n, and its addition and multiplication are given as
follows. For f = ∞
P n
P∞ n
n=0 an x , g = n=0 bn x ∈ C[[x]]:
∞
X ∞ X
X n
f +g = (an + bn )xn , and fg = ( ai bn−i )xn .
n=0 n=0 i=0

12. For a positive integer n and a field k, Mn (k) denotes the set of n × n matrices with entries
in k, viewed as a vector space of dimension n2 over k and also as a ring.
2
13. We give Mn (C) the unique topology for which any C-linear isomorphism Mn (C) → Cn
is a homeomorphism.
14. A map f : R → R is said to be a diffeomorphism if it is a differentiable homeomorphism
whose inverse is also differentiable.
 GS 2023 (Mathematics), Stage II
2

1. Let X be a compact subset of Mn (C) and let

S = {λ ∈ C | λ is an eigenvalue of a matrix in X}.

Show that S is compact.

2. Let X denote the set of isomorphism classes of all finite groups. For any finite group G,
let [G] denote its class in X. Does there exist an injective function f : X → Z such that
for every finite group G and a normal subgroup H of G, we have

f ([G]) = f ([H]) · f ([G/H])?

3. Determine the cardinality of the set

{(a1 , . . . , a10 ) ∈ {0, 1}10 | ai and ai+1 are not both 0 for any 1 ≤ i ≤ 9}.

4. Let n be a positive integer and let f ∈ C[z1 , . . . , zn ] be a nonzero polynomial. If

X = {z = (z1 , . . . , zn ) ∈ Cn | f (z) = 0},

then show that Cn \ X is path connected.

5. (a) Show that there is a piecewise linear homeomorphism f : R → R with f (2x) = 3f (x),
for all x ∈ R.

(b) Does there exist a diffeomorphism f : R → R with f (2x) = 3f (x), for all x ∈ R?

6. Let R be a commutative ring in which 2 is invertible. Show that the cardinality of the
set {x ∈ R | x2 = 1} is the same as the cardinality of the set {x ∈ R | x2 = x}.

7. Let A ∈ Mn (C). Show that the following statements are equivalent.

(i) A is nilpotent (i.e., Am = 0 for some positive integer m).

(ii) There exists a C-linear ring homomorphism C[[x]] → Mn (C) taking x to A.

8. Let z ∈ C× and let Cz denote the closure of the cyclic subgroup generated by z in C× .
Show that C× /Cz is isomorphic as a group to one of the following three groups: C× , R,
and S 1 × S 1 . Here, R is the additive group of real numbers, C× is the multiplicative
group of nonzero complex numbers, and S 1 ⊂ C× is the subgroup consisting of complex
numbers of absolute value one.
 3

9. Let f0 : [0, 1] → R be a continuous function and inductively define

Z x
fn (x) := fn−1 (t)dt,
0
for n ≥ 1. Assume that for every x ∈ [0, 1], there exists a positive integer nx such that
fnx (x) = 0. Show that there exists a subinterval [a, b] ⊆ [0, 1], with a < b, such that f0 is
identically zero on [a, b].
10. Let k be a field of characteristic 0 and let n be a positive integer. Show that the following
two statements are equivalent.
(i) If V is a finite dimensional k-vector space and T : V → V is a k-linear map satisfying

| ◦ ·{z
T · · ◦ T} = Id,
n-times

then V is spanned by eigenvectors for T . Here, Id : V → V is the identity linear

transformation.
(ii) The cardinality of the set {x ∈ k | xn = 1} is precisely n.
 GS 2024, Mathematics: Stage II
Instructions
1. Every claim needs a justification.
2. If a question consists of two parts, (a) and (b), you may use part (a) to solve part (b), even if
you have not worked (a) out.
3. Do NOT write your name or affiliation or any personal detail other than application number (of
the form GS2024MTHPHDxxxxxx or GS2024MTHIPHxxxxxx) on the paper.
4. There are 10 problems in this paper. Each of these carries 10 points.
5. Use both sides of each sheet for writing your answers.
6. Extra/rough sheets: Two extra sheets have been provided. If these do not suffice, you can ask
the invigilator for more sheets.
7. Extra sheet etiquette:

• On the top of each extra sheet, write clearly which problem is being attempted on that
sheet. Do not do more than one problem on one extra sheet.

• Write your application number clearly at the top of each extra sheet.

• All extra sheet(s) should be stapled onto this answer booklet, whether or not you consider
them rough work.
8. If a given sheet contains part of your work on a particular problem, and that work is continued
on some other page, indicate this clearly.
9. No books, notes, electronic devices etc. are allowed.
10. N denotes the set of natural numbers {0, 1, 2, 3, . . . }, Z denotes the set of integers, Q the set of
rational numbers, R the set of real numbers, and C the set of complex numbers. These sets are
assumed to carry the usual algebraic and metric structures.
11. All rings are assumed to be associative and containing a multiplicative identity denoted by 1.
 GS 2024 (Mathematics), Stage II

1. Let X denote the set of sequences of 0’s and 1’s. Define d : X × X → R by d((xn ), (yn )) =
supn∈N {(1/2n )|xn − yn |}.

(a) Show that (X, d) is a metric space.

(b) Show that X is complete with respect to d.

2. Let G be a finite group of square-free order, and let H be a subgroup of G with the following
property: for any nontrivial subgroup K ⊆ G, the subgroup H ∩ K is nontrivial. Show that
H = G.

3. Consider the real vector space V = {p(x) ∈ R[x]| deg p(x) ≤ 10}. Consider the linear transfor-
mations S, T : V → V defined by

S : p(x) 7→ p(x) + p0 (x),

T : p(x) 7→ p(x + 1).

Are the linear transformations S and T similar over the real numbers?

4. Let n be a positive integer and let p be a prime number such that p ≡ 1 (mod n). Let A be a
square matrix with entries in Z/pZ such that An = I. Prove that A is diagonalizable over Z/pZ.

5. (a) Let f, g : [0, 1] → R be continuous functions such that for a, b ∈ [0, 1], we have

f (a) = f (b) =⇒ g(a) = g(b).

Show that there exists a continuous map h : f ([0, 1]) → R such that

g ≡h◦f on [0, 1].

(b) Conclude that there exists a sequence {pn } of polynomials such that {pn ◦ f } converges to
g uniformly on [0, 1].

6. Let (X, d) be a nonempty compact metric space. Let f : X → X be a continuous function such
that d(f (x), f (y)) < d(x, y) for all x 6= y. Show that f has a unique fixed point.

7. Let R and S be distinct subrings of Q, each with exactly two prime ideals. Show that 1/2
belongs to at least one of R and S.

8. (a) Show that if n and m are positive integers such that n ≡ m (mod 20), then we have
nn ≡ mm (mod 10).

(b) Which of the numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 occur as the last digit of nn , for infinitely many
positive integers n?
 3

9. Let f : (0, ∞) → (0, ∞) be a continuously differentiable function: this means that f is differen-
tiable at x for all x ∈ (0, ∞), and that f 0 : (0, ∞) → R is continuous. Assume that
lim (f 0 (x) + f (x)) = 0.
x→∞
Show that lim f (x) = 0.
x→∞
Hint. First show that for all ε > 0 and M ∈ (0, ∞), there exists x0 > M such that f (x0 ) < .

10. Suppose that we are given two bags A and B each containing finitely many balls labelled with
a number in the set {0, . . . , 10}. It is given that on choosing a ball from bag A and a ball
from bag B at random, the sum of the numbers on them takes each of the values 0, . . . , 10 with
1
probability each.
11
(a) Show that one of the bags A and B has all its balls labelled with 0.

(b) What are the possibilities for the labels on the balls in the other bag?