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Belarus competition problems

Algebra Difficulty 5.2 AIME, harder Prove it Belarus

Does there exist a polynomial p(x)p(x) with integer coefficients such that
p(2)=2undp(22)=22+2? p(\sqrt{2}) = \sqrt{2} \quad \text{und} \quad p(2\sqrt{2}) = 2\sqrt{2} + 2?

Solution

Suppose that such polynomial p(x)p(x) with integer coefficients exists. It follows from the equality p(2)=2p(\sqrt{2}) = \sqrt{2} that p(−2)=−2p(-\sqrt{2}) = -\sqrt{2}, i.e. the numbers 2\sqrt{2} and −2-\sqrt{2} are roots of the polynomial p(x)−xp(x) - x. According to Bezout's theorem, the polynomial p(x)−xp(x) - x is divisible by (x−2)(x+2)=x2−2(x - \sqrt{2})(x + \sqrt{2}) = x^2 - 2 as polynomials with rational coefficients. Moreover, it follows from the Gauss lemma that in the equality p(x)−x=(x2−2)h(x)p(x) - x = (x^2 - 2)h(x) the rational coefficients of the polynomial h(x)h(x) are integers. Substituting into this equality the numbers 222\sqrt{2} and −22-2\sqrt{2} instead of xx, we obtain the equalities
2=6⋅h(2+2)u2=6⋅h(2−2). 2 = 6 \cdot h(2 + \sqrt{2}) \quad \text{u} \quad 2 = 6 \cdot h(2 - \sqrt{2}).
Multiplying these equalities and reducing by 4, we obtain the equality
1=9⋅(h(2+2)h(2−2)). 1 = 9 \cdot (h(2 + \sqrt{2})h(2 - \sqrt{2})).
Since the product of conjugate numbers in brackets is an integer, it implies that 1 is divisible by 9 — a contradiction.

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