Number theoryDifficulty 5.1AIME, harderProve itCzech Republic
Let P(x) be a polynomial with integer coefficients. Prove that the polynomial Q(x)=P(x4)P(x3)P(x2)P(x)+1 has no integer roots.
Solution
By the Little Fermat theorem n3≡n(mod3) for every n∈Z. Then also n4≡n2(mod3). Since P(x) is a polynomial with all integer coefficients, it follows that P(n3)≡P(n)(mod3),P(n4)≡P(n2)(mod3) Polynomial Q(x) has integer coefficients therefore, from the last two congruences, we get Q(n)≡(P(n)P(n2))2+1(mod3) But we can easily see that for every integer m we have m2+1≡0(mod3). So for every integer number n, we have Q(n)≡0(mod3), from which it follows that polynomial Q(x) can not have integer roots. The proof is finished. □
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