Let be a positive integer larger than , and let be integers. It is known that the equation
has pairwise relatively prime integer roots. Prove that and are relatively prime.
Solution
Let be the integer roots. By Vieta's theorem, we have
Suppose on the contrary that and share a common prime factor . By equation (1), we have . WLOG assume . Then in equation (2), divides each of the first terms on the left and divides the term on the right. Therefore, we must have . This implies one of is divisible by , contradicting the fact that each of them is relatively prime to . Therefore, and must be relatively prime.
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