Let denote the set of all polynomials in three variables with integer coefficients. Let denote the subset of formed by all polynomials which can be expressed as
with . Find the smallest non-negative integer such that for all nonnegative integers satisfying .
(Venezuela)
, 2020
Solution
We start by showing that , i.e., any monomial with belongs to . Assume that , the other cases are analogous.
Let , and . Then
therefore . Next, .
If , then divides , thus . If and , then divides , thus we have again. Finally, if , then divides and in this case also.
In order to prove that , we show that the monomial does not belong to . Assume the contrary:
for some polynomials . If polynomial contains the monomial (with nonzero coefficient), then contains the monomial with the same nonzero coefficient. So does not contain and we may write
where are the coefficients of in the polynomials ; , respectively (the remaining coefficients do not affect the monomials of degree 3 in ). By considering the coefficients of we get , analogously , , thus and , but then the coefficient of in the right hand side equals .