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Algebra Difficulty 6.3 National Olympiad Prove it Canada

Determine all polynomials P(x)P(x) with real coefficients such that
(x+1)P(x1)(x1)P(x) (x + 1)P(x - 1) - (x - 1)P(x)
is a constant polynomial.

Solutions — 2

Solution 1

The answer is P(x)P(x) being any constant polynomial and P(x)kx2+kx+cP(x) \equiv kx^2 + kx + c for any (nonzero) constant kk and constant cc.
Let Λ\Lambda be the expression (x+1)P(x1)(x1)P(x)(x+1)P(x-1) - (x-1)P(x), i.e. the expression in the problem statement.
Substituting x=1x = -1 into Λ\Lambda yields 2P(1)2P(-1) and substituting x=1x = 1 into Λ\Lambda yields 2P(1)2P(1). Since (x+1)P(x1)(x1)P(x)(x+1)P(x-1) - (x-1)P(x) is a constant polynomial, 2P(1)=2P(0)2P(-1) = 2P(0). Hence, P(1)=P(0)P(-1) = P(0).
Let c=P(1)=P(0)c = P(-1) = P(0) and Q(x)=P(x)cQ(x) = P(x) - c. Then Q(1)=Q(0)=0Q(-1) = Q(0) = 0. Hence, 0,10, -1 are roots of Q(x)Q(x). Consequently, Q(x)=x(x+1)R(x)Q(x) = x(x+1)R(x) for some polynomial RR. Then P(x)c=x(x+1)R(x)P(x) - c = x(x+1)R(x), or equivalently, P(x)=x(x+1)R(x)+cP(x) = x(x+1)R(x) + c.
Substituting this into Λ\Lambda yield
(x+1)((x1)xR(x1)+c)(x1)(x(x+1)R(x)+c) (x+1)((x-1)xR(x-1) + c) - (x-1)(x(x+1)R(x) + c)
This is a constant polynomial and simplifies to
x(x1)(x+1)(R(x1)R(x))+2c. x(x-1)(x+1)(R(x-1) - R(x)) + 2c.

Since this expression is a constant, so is x(x1)(x+1)(R(x1)R(x))x(x-1)(x+1)(R(x-1)-R(x)). Therefore, R(x1)R(x)=0R(x-1)-R(x) = 0 as a polynomial. Therefore, R(x)=R(x1)R(x) = R(x-1) for all xRx \in \mathbb{R}. Then R(x)R(x) is a polynomial that takes on certain values for infinitely many values of xx. Let kk be such a value. Then R(x)kR(x) - k has infinitely many roots, which can occur if and only if R(x)k=0R(x) - k = 0. Therefore, R(x)R(x) is identical to a constant kk. Hence, Q(x)=kx(x+1)Q(x) = kx(x+1) for some constant kk. Therefore, P(x)=kx(x+1)+c=kx2+kx+cP(x) = kx(x+1)+c = kx^2+kx+c.
Finally, we verify that all such P(x)=kx(x+1)+cP(x) = kx(x+1)+c work. Substituting this into Λ\Lambda yields
(x+1)(kx(x1)+c)(x1)(kx(x+1)+c)=kx(x+1)(x1)+c(x+1)kx(x+1)(x1)c(x1)=2c. (x+1)(kx(x-1)+c) - (x-1)(kx(x+1)+c) = kx(x+1)(x-1) + c(x+1) - kx(x+1)(x-1) - c(x-1) = 2c.
Hence, P(x)=kx(x+1)+c=kx2+kx+cP(x) = kx(x+1)+c = kx^2+kx+c is a solution to the given equation for any constant kk. Note that this solution also holds for k=0k=0. Hence, constant polynomials are also solutions to this equation. \square

Solution 2

As in Solution 1, any constant polynomial PP satisfies the given property. Hence, we will assume that PP is not a constant polynomial.
Let nn be the degree of PP. Since PP is not constant, n1n \ge 1. Let
P(x)=i=0naixi, P(x) = \sum_{i=0}^{n} a_{i}x^{i},
with an0a_n \neq 0. Then
(x+1)i=0nai(x1)i(x1)i=0naixi=C, (x+1) \sum_{i=0}^{n} a_{i}(x-1)^{i} - (x-1) \sum_{i=0}^{n} a_{i}x^{i} = C,
for some constant CC. We will compare the coefficient of xnx^n of the left-hand side of this equation with the right-hand side. Since CC is a constant and n1n \ge 1, the coefficient of xnx^n of the right-hand side is equal to zero. We now determine the coefficient of xnx^n of the left-hand side of this expression.
The left-hand side of the equation simplifies to
xi=0nai(x1)i+i=0nai(x1)ixi=0naixi+i=0naixi. x \sum_{i=0}^{n} a_{i}(x-1)^{i} + \sum_{i=0}^{n} a_{i}(x-1)^{i} - x \sum_{i=0}^{n} a_{i}x^{i} + \sum_{i=0}^{n} a_{i}x^{i}.

We will determine the coefficient xnx^n of each of these four terms.
By the Binomial Theorem, the coefficient of xnx^n of the first term is equal to that of x(an1(x1)n1+an(x1)n)=an1(nn1)an=an1nanx (a_{n-1}(x-1)^{n-1} + a_n(x-1)^n) = a_{n-1} - \binom{n}{n-1}a_n = a_{n-1} - n a_n.
The coefficient of xnx^n of the second term is equal to that of an(x1)na_n(x-1)^n, which is ana_n.
The coefficient of xnx^n of the third term is equal to an1a_{n-1} and that of the fourth term is equal to ana_n.
Summing these four coefficients yield an1nan+anan1+an=(2n)ana_{n-1} - n a_n + a_n - a_{n-1} + a_n = (2-n)a_n.
This expression is equal to 0. Since an0a_n \neq 0, n=2n = 2. Hence, PP is a quadratic polynomial.
Let P(x)=ax2+bx+cP(x) = a x^2 + b x + c, where a,b,ca, b, c are real numbers with a0a \neq 0. Then
(x+1)(a(x1)2+b(x1)+c)(x1)(ax2+bx+c)=C. (x+1)(a(x-1)^2 + b(x-1) + c) - (x-1)(a x^2 + b x + c) = C.
Simplifying the left-hand side yields
(ba)x+2c=2C. (b-a)x + 2c = 2C.
Therefore, ba=0b - a = 0 and 2c=2C2c = 2C. Hence, P(x)=ax2+ax+cP(x) = a x^2 + a x + c. As in Solution 1, this is a valid solution for all aR{0}a \in \mathbb{R} \setminus \{0\}. \square

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