Find all real numbers and so that the equality
is true for every real numbers and .
Solution
Plugging and yields , for every . (*)
If , then (*) is false for , hence . Then leads to , therefore is an integer.
If the relation is fulfilled, therefore a solution is .
If , relation with leads to , therefore . Now gives , whence , which is the second solution.
Want a route through all this instead of an archive? The track
puts 2,000 problems in a working order, from AMC 10 level to the IMO shortlist.