By fixing x∈Z, we obtain that Q(x)2n−1 is a multiple of P(x)2n−1 for all positive integer n. We now prove the following lemma.
Lemma. If a and b are two integers larger than 1 such that an−1∣bn−1 for all positive integer n then b=ak for some positive integer k.
Proof. (adapted from Andreescu, T., Dospinescu, G, Problems from the Book.)
Let xn=an−1bn−1 and consider the sequence (xn(i))n>0 indexed by i>0 defined by the formulas
xn(i+1)=bxn(i)−aixn+1(i),xn(1)=xn.
We can show by induction that xn(i) can be written as
(an+i−1−a)…(an−1)ci(i)bn+ci−1(i)a(i−1)n+⋯+c1(i)an+c0(i).
Thus, for the index i such that ai>b, we obtain that limn→∞xn(i)=0. However, by the definition, xn(1)∈Z for all n, thus all the terms xn(i) are integers, which means xn(i)=0 for n sufficiently large. We suppose that j is the minimal index satisfying xn(j)=0 for all n≥Mj. We have
xn(j)=0⟹bxn(j−1)=ajxn+1(j−1)
which concludes by induction that
xn(j−1)=(ajb)n−MxM(j−1).
By setting ajb=c>0, we obtain that cM−n⋅xn(j−1)∈Z for all M>n, which means c∈Z or xn(j−1)=0. The latter cannot hold since it follows that xM(j−1)=0 for all M≥n, thus contradicts the minimality of j. In conclusion, c∈Z thus a is a divisor of b. Now, write b=ca for c∈Z>0, we have
an−1∣(ac)n−1⟹an−1∣cn−1
thus we can prove similarly that a∣c or c=1. Repeating this process, we obtain b=ak for some k.
Back to the problem, since (Q(x)2)n−1 is divisible by (P(x)2)n−1 for all pairs (x,n)∈Z×Z>0. If degP>0 and degQ>0, there exists an integer x0 such that for all x>x0, one has ∣P(x)∣,∣Q(x)∣>1. The lemma concludes that for each x>x0, there exists an integer kx such that
∣Q(x)∣=∣P(x)∣kx.
On the other hand, if we write degPdegQ=k then for all ε>0, we have
n→∞lim∣Q(x)∣∣P(x)∣k−ε=0,n→∞lim∣Q(x)∣∣P(x)∣k+ε=+∞
thus k=kx for all sufficiently large x, which means ∣Q∣ is a power of ∣P∣. It remains to consider the case degP<1 or degQ<1.
* If degQ<1 and degP>1, we always have degQ2n−1<deg(P2n−1) thus Q2n=1, which means Q(x)≡1 or −1.
* If degP<1, write P(x)=p. If ∣p∣=1, we have Q2n=1 thus Q(x)≡1 or −1. Otherwise, we obtain Q(x)2n−1 is a multiple of p2n−1 for all n, thus ∣Q(x)∣=pkx for some kx. By Schur's lemma, if degQ>0, the sequence (Q(n))n≥0 has infinitely many prime divisors, which is a contradiction because almost all the prime divisors of this sequence are divisors of p. In this case, we conclude that degQ=0 and ∣Q(x)∣=pk for some fixed positive integer k.
So the polynomials Q(x) satisfying the problem are:
Q(x)=±P(x)k for some positive integer k, or Q(x)≡±1.