ASSIGNMENT-2 (Discrete Mathematics)

1. What is the cardinality of the following sets:

(a) S = {f | f : {0, 1}n {0, 1}}

(b) S = {x Z | 3 does not divide x}
(c) S = {ak xk + ak1 xk1 + + a1 x + a0 | ai Qwherei = 0, 1, 2, k}
(d) S = {M | M = [mi,j ]500500 , mi,j Q}
(e) Q Z N
(f) R Q

2. A real number x is said to be algebraic (over the rationals) if it satisfies some polynomial
equation of positive degree xn + an1 xn1 + + a1 x + a0 = 0 with rational coefficients
ai . Assuming that each polynomial equation has only finitely many roots, show that the set of
algebraic numbers is countable.

3. Show that for fix countable sets A,B the set X of all functions from finite subsets of B into A
is countable.

4. Apply the Chinese Remainder Theorem to solve the following system of congruences:

x 12(mod 25)

x 9(mod 26)
x 23(mod 27)

5. Use the Extended Euclidean algorithm to compute 8861 (mod 1353)

6. Consider the following algorithm for sorting r numbers for r 2.

(a) Use 2r 3 comparisons to determine the largest and second largest of the r numbers.
(b) Recursively, sort the remaining r 2 numbers.
(c) Let ar denotes the number of comparisons used for sorting r numbers. Determine ar .

7. There are two kinds of particles inside a nuclear reactor. In every second, an particle will
split into three particles, and a particle will split into an and two particles. If there is a
single particle in the reactor at t = 0, how many particles are there altogether at t = 100.

8. Gossip is spread among r people via telephone. Specially, in a telephone conversation between
A and B, A tells to B all the gossip he has heard, and B reciprocates. Let ar denote the minimum
number of telephone calls among r people so that all gossip will be known to everyone.

(a) Show that a2 = 1, a3 = 3, and a4 = 4.

(b) Show that ar ar1 + 2
(c) Show that ar 2r 4 for r 4
 2  2  2  2  2  
r r r r r 2r
9. (a) Show that + + + + + + =
0 1 2 i r r

1
 (b) Show that the generating function for {ar } when
 
2r
ar =
r
1
is (1 4z) 2 .

10. Let ar denote the number of ways to divide r identical marbles into four distinct piles so that
each pile has an odd number of marbles that is larger than or equal to three

(a) Determine A(z).

(b) Determine a closed-form expression for ar .

11. Let ar denote the number of ways to seat 10 students in a row of r chairs so that no two students
will occupy adjacent seats. Determine the generating function of the discrete numeric function
{ar }.

12. Solve simultaneously the recurrences

an+1 = an + bn + cn , n 1

bn+1 = 4n cn , n 1
cn+1 = 4n bn , n 1
subject to the initial conditions a1 = b1 = c1 = 1.

13. Which of the following groupoids are semigroups? Which are groups?

(a) (N, ?) where a ? b = ab for all a, b N.

(b) (N, ?) where a ? b = b for all a, b N.
(c) (Z, ?) where a ? b = a b for all a, b Z.
(d) (Z, ?) where a ? b = a + b + ab for all a, b Z.
(e) (R, ?) where a ? b = a|b| for all a, b R.
(f) (R, ?) where a ? b = 2a b for all a, b R.

14. Find the no. of homomorphism from (Z, +) to (Q? , ) such that f (2) = 31 .
   
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
15. Let = , =
6 4 7 5 2 3 1 1 4 6 7 3 5 2
(a) Is an even permutation?
(b) Is 1 an even permutation?

16. Let (G, ?) be a group and a, b G. Suppose that a2 = e and a ? b ? a = b7 . Show that b48 = e.

17. Let G be a group generated by the elements a and b such that o(a) = 4, a2 = b2 , and ba = a3 b.
Find o(b) and |G|.

18. If G = hai is a cyclic group of order 30, then find all distinct elements of (i) order 5 (ii) order
6.

19. Let G be a group, then prove that G is abelian when a2 = a a G holds.

2
20. Justify your answer:
ab
(a) (Q+ , ?) is not a abelian group where a ? b = 2
a, b Q
(b) (Q, +) and (Q? , ) are isomorphic.

21. Which of the following algebraic structures (R, +, ) form a ring?

(a) Let X be any set and R = P (X), the power set of X. Define A + B = A 4 B and
A B = A B for all A, B R (where A 4 B = (A B) (B A))
(b) In the above set R, define A + B = A B and A B = A B for all A, B R.
(c) Let R be the set of all real-valued continuous functions defined on R. Define (f + g)(x) =
f (x) + g(x) and (f g)(x) = f (g(x)) for all f, g R and for all x R.
(d) Let R be the set of all twice differentiable real-valued functions having second derivative
zero at x = 0. Define (f + g)(x) = f (x) + g(x) and (f g)(x) = f (x)g(x) for all f, g R
and for all x R.

22. Let R be a commutative ring with characteristic p, where p is a prime number. Prove that
(a + b)p = ap + bp .

23. Let f : Z[ 2] Z[ 3] defined by f (a + b 2) = a + b 3 then show that f is a group
homomorphism.

24. Find all c such that Z3 [x]/hx3 + cx2 + 1i is a field.

25. Show that

(a) Z is not a field.

(b) Z[ 3] = {a + b 3 | a, b Z} is not a field.

26. Prove the following:

(a) Let R be a ring with 1 and T be the set of all units of R then ab T a, b T.
(b) An element can not be a unit and zero divisor at the same time.

27. Let E be the modular elliptic curve defined by y 2 = x3 + 3x (mod 17)

(a) Find all points of E (including the point at infinity).

(b) Find 2(8, 14).

28. The field GF(25 ) can be constructed as Z2 [x]/(x5 +x2 +1). Perform the following computations
in this field.

(a) Compute (x4 + x2 ) (x3 + x + 1).

(b) Using the extended Euclidean algorithm, compute (x3 + x2 )1