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Ross mathematics program 2023 application problems

The document outlines the application problems for the Ross Mathematics Program 2023, which requires independent work on open-ended math problems. Applicants must explore, conjecture, and provide logical proofs, with a focus on the quality of mathematical exposition. The document also specifies submission guidelines, including the requirement for PDF format and the deadline for applications on March 31, 2023.

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6 views

Ross mathematics program 2023 application problems

The document outlines the application problems for the Ross Mathematics Program 2023, which requires independent work on open-ended math problems. Applicants must explore, conjecture, and provide logical proofs, with a focus on the quality of mathematical exposition. The document also specifies submission guidelines, including the requirement for PDF format and the deadline for applications on March 31, 2023.

Uploaded by

bfhaha
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Ross Program 2023 Application Problems

This document is one part of the application to the Ross Mathematics Program, and will
remain posted at https://rossprogram.org/students/to-apply from January through
March.
The deadline for applications is March 31, 2023. The Admissions Committee will start
reading applications in April.

Work independently on the problems below. We are interested in seeing how you approach
and explore unfamiliar open-ended math problems, not whether you can find answers by
searching through web sites or books, or by asking other people.
Submit your own work on these problems.
For each problem, explore the situation (with calculations, tables, pictures, etc.), observe
patterns, make some guesses, test the truth of those guesses, and write logical proofs when
possible. Where were you led by your experimenting?
Include your thoughts (but not your scratch-paper) even if you might not have found a
complete solution. If you’ve seen one of the problems before (e.g. in a class or online), please
include a reference along with your solution.
We are not looking for quick answers written in minimal space. Instead, we hope to see
evidence of your explorations, conjectures, proofs, and generalizations written in a readable
format.

The quality of mathematical exposition, the questions you pose, as


well as the correctness and completeness of your solutions to those
questions, are factors in admission decisions.

PDF format is required.


You may type your solutions using LATEX or with a word processor, and then convert the
output to PDF format.
Alternatively, you may scan your solutions from a handwritten paper copy, and con-
vert that file to PDF. (Use dark pencil or pen and write on only one side of the pa-
per.) Submitting photos of your work is not recommended since file sizes of photos are
often too large. (The Ross system cannot accept files much larger than 5 megabytes.) Rather
than photographs, you might use a “scan” feature on your camera.

1
Problem 1

Let Z denote the set of integers. If m is a positive integer, we write Zm for the system of
“integers modulo m.” Some authors write Z/mZ for that system.
For completeness, we include some definitions here. The system Zm can be represented as the
set {0, 1, . . . , m − 1} with operations ⊕ (addition) and ⊙ (multiplication) defined as follows.
If a, b are elements of {0, 1, . . . , m − 1}, define:
a ⊕ b = the element c of {0, 1, . . . , m − 1} such that a + b − c is an integer multiple of m.
a ⊙ b = the element d of {0, 1, . . . , m − 1} such that ab − d is an integer multiple of m.
For example, 3 ⊕ 4 = 2 in Z5 , 3 ⊙ 3 = 1 in Z4 , and −1 = 12 in Z13 .
To simplify notations (at the expense of possible confusion), we abandon that new notation
and write a + b and ab for the operations in Zm , rather than writing a ⊕ b and a ⊙ b.

Let Q denote the system of rational numbers.


We write 4Z for the set of multiples of 4 in Z. Similarly for 4Z12 .
Consider the following number systems:

Z, Q, 4Z, Z3 , Z8 , Z9 , 4Z12 , Z13 .

One system may be viewed as similar to another in several different ways. We will measure
similarity using only algebraic properties.
(a) Consider the following sample properties:

(i) If a2 = 1, then a = ±1.


(ii) If 2x = 0, then x = 0.
(iii) If c2 = 0, then c = 0.

Which of the systems above have properties (i), (ii), and/or (iii)?

(b) Formulate another algebraic property and determine which of those systems have that
property. [Note: Cardinality is not considered to be an algebraic property.]
Write down some additional algebraic properties and investigate them.

(c) In your opinion, which of the listed systems are “most similar” to each another?

2
Problem 2
Robot Rossie moves within a square room ABCD. Rossie moves along straight line
segments, never leaving that room.

When Rossie encounters a wall she stops, D C


makes a right-angle turn (with direction cho-
sen to face into the room), and continues in
that new direction.
If Rossie comes to one of the room’s corners,
she rotates through two right angles, and A P B
moves back along her previous path.
Figure 1: Stable rectangle when s = 1.
Suppose Rossie starts at point P on AB and D C
her path begins as a line segment of slope s.
We hope to describe Rossie’s path.
For some values of P and s, Rossie’s path will
be a tilted rectangle with one vertex on each
wall of the room. (Often, this inscribed rect- A P B
angle is itself a square.) In this case, Rossie
repeatedly traces that stable rectangle. Figure 2: Stable rectangle when 0 < s < 1.
(a) Suppose s = 1 so that the path begins at a 45 degree angle.
For every starting point P , show: Rossie’s path is a stable rectangle.
(If P is a corner point, the path degenerates to a line segment traced back and forth.)

Now draw some examples with various P and s.


Given P and s, does Rossie’s path always converge to a stable rectangle?
Here are some steps that might help you answer this question:
D C (b) First consider the case: 0 < s < 1. For
each such s, is there exactly one stable
rectangle with slope s ?
Must that rectangle be a square?

(c) Suppose s is given with 0 < s < 1.


When Rossie starts at point X, let XX ′
be the first segment of her path. If
X is on side AB, must X ′ be on BC ?
For P, Q on AB, how is the length |P ′ Q′ |
related to |P Q| and s ?
A P B
(d) When 0 < s < 1, prove or disprove:
Figure 3: A stable rectangle for 0 < s < 1 For any starting point P , Rossie’s path
is shaded. Rossie’s path seems to approach
that rectangle. converges to a stable rectangle.

(e) What is Rossie’s behavior when s > 1 or when s < 0 ?


Does the argument above still apply?

3
Problem 3

Please spend extra effort to write up this problem’s solution as an exposition that can be
read and understood by a beginning algebra student. That student knows function notation
and standard properties of polynomials (as taught in a high school algebra course). Your
solution will be graded not only on the correctness of the math but also on the clarity of
exposition.

(a) Find all polynomials f that satisfy the equation:


f (x + 2) = f (x) + 2 for every real number x.

(b) Find all polynomials g that satisfy the equation:


g(2x) = 2g(x) for every real number x.

(c) The problems above are of the following type: Given functions H and J, find all
polynomials Q that satisfy the equation:
 
J Q(x) = Q H(x) for every x in S
where S is a subset of real numbers. In parts (a) and (b), we have J = H and S is
all real numbers, but other scenarios are also interesting. For example, the choice
J(x) = 1/(x − 1) and H(x) = 1/(x + 1), generates the question:
Find all polynomials Q that satisfy the equation:
 
1 1
=Q
Q(x) − 1 x+1
for every real number x such that those denominators are nonzero.
Is this one straightforward to solve?

(d) Make your own choice for J and H, formulate the problem, and find a solution. Choose
J and H to be non-trivial, but still simple enough to allow you to make good progress
toward a solution.

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