For a polynomial with integer coefficient and prime , we say that excludes if there is no integer for which . Does there exist a polynomial of degree with integer coefficients having no rational roots which excludes exactly one prime?
Solution
Answer: Yes, for example .
Clearly has no rational roots. We will show that the only prime excluded by is .
Observation 1: For any prime satisfying there exists an integer such that .
Proof. Let be a primitive root modulo and . Then and . Now since we get .
Observation 2: For any odd prime satisfying there exists an integer such that .
Proof. Let be an integer satisfying . Since we get . Then for the integer by Fermat's little theorem we have .
Therefore, .
does not exclude since . By Observation 1 any prime is not excluded by . By Observation 2 any odd prime is not excluded by . Since both and are always odd numbers is excluded by . We are done.
Want a route through all this instead of an archive? The track
puts 2,000 problems in a working order, from AMC 10 level to the IMO shortlist.