Note that if for some real numbers x1,x2,…,xm the following equality holds:
∣x1∣+∣x2∣+⋯+∣xm∣=∣x1+x2+⋯+xm∣,
then they are of the same sign.
Let
Q(x)=P(x)(x−1)t(x+1)s=bnxn+bn−1xn−1+⋯+b0,
where bn=ad>0. From the problem statement it follows that
∣b0∣=∣b1∣+∣b2∣+⋯+∣bn∣.
Lemma: If t≥1, then b1,b2,…,bn≥0.
Proof:
Q(1)=0⟹b0+b1+⋯+bn=0⟹∣b1+b2+⋯+bn∣=∣b0∣=∣b1∣+∣b2∣+⋯+∣bn∣,
hence, b1,b2,…,bn are of the same sign. Since bn>0, then b1,b2,…,bn−1≥0. We proved the lemma.
Assume that t≥2. According to the lemma,
b1,b2,…,bn−1≥0⟹b1+2b2+⋯+nbn>0.
On the other hand, let R(x)=(x−1)2Q(x). Then
Q′(x)=2(x−1)R(x)+(x−1)2R′(x)⟹Q′(1)=0⟹b1+2b2+⋯+nbn=0
— a contradiction. Thus, t≤1.
Similarly, we can show that s≤1. Let's consider three cases.
**I) t=1,s=1**
Q(x)=P(x)(x2−1)⟹Q(1)=Q(−1)=0⟹b0+b1+⋯+bn=b0−b1+b2+⋯+(−1)nbn=0⟹b1+b2+b3+⋯=0.
According to the lemma,
b1,b2,…,bn≥0⟹b1=b2=b3=⋯=0,
— a contradiction, since b1=−a1 and by the problem statement a1=0.
**II) t=1,s=0**
Q(x)=P(x)(x−1)=−a0+(a0−a1)x+⋯+(ad−1−ad)xd+adxd+1.
By the lemma,
a0−a1=b1≥0,…,ad−1−ad=bd≥0⟹a0≥a1≥⋯≥ad.
Therefore, P(x) is non-increasing.
**III) t=0,s=1**.
Q(−1)=0⟹b0−b1+⋯+(−1)nbn=0⟹⟹∣b1−b2+⋯+(−1)nbn∣=∣b0∣=∣b1∣+∣−b2∣+⋯+∣(−1)nbn∣.
Thus, b1,−b2,…,(−1)nbn are of the same sign, and since bn>0, then (−1)n−ibi≥0 for each 1≤i≤n.
Q(x)=P(x)(x+1)=a0+(a0+a1)x+⋯+(ad−1+ad)xd+adxd+1⟹⟹(−1)d+1−i(ai−1+ai)≥0 (for all 1≤i≤d)⟹⟹ad≤−ad−1≤ad−2≤⋯≤(−1)da0.
It follows that (−1)dP(−x)=adxd−ad−1xd−1+⋯+(−1)da0 is non-increasing.