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Problems from Ukrainian Authors

Algebra Difficulty 6.0 National Olympiad Prove it Ukraine

Assume P1,P2,…,PnP_1, P_2, \dots, P_n (n>10n > 10) are pairwise different polynomials with coefficients 11, 00, or −1-1 and such that do not have integer roots. Additionally, ∀i=1,n‾\forall i = \overline{1,n} ∣Pi(5)∣≤n22|P_i(5)| \le \frac{n^2}{2}. Prove that Pi+Pj=Pk+PlP_i + P_j = P_k + P_l for some 1≤i,j,k,l≤n1 \le i,j,k,l \le n and {i,j}≠{k,l}\{i, j\} \neq \{k, l\}. Note that ii may be equal jj, and kk may be equal ll.

Solution

Since the polynomials P1,…,PnP_1, \dots, P_n do not have integer roots then Pi(0)≠0P_i(0) \neq 0 for any i=1,n‾i = \overline{1,n} and Pi(0)=±1P_i(0) = \pm 1. Let us consider all pairs of polynomials PkP_k and PjP_j, such that k≠jk \neq j and Pk(0)=Pj(0)P_k(0) = P_j(0). For each pair of polynomials we determine Qk,j=Pk−PjQ_{k,j} = P_k - P_j. If aa and bb are the number of polynomials such that Pi(0)=1P_i(0) = 1 and Pi(0)=−1P_i(0) = -1 respectively, then the number of polynomials Qk,jQ_{k,j} will be
2Ca2+2Cb2=a(a−1)+b(b−1)=a2+b2−n≥12(a+b)2−n=12n(n−2). 2C_a^2 + 2C_b^2 = a(a-1) + b(b-1) = a^2 + b^2 - n \ge \frac{1}{2}(a+b)^2 - n = \frac{1}{2}n(n-2).
Note that coefficients of polynomials Qk,jQ_{k,j} may be only equal to −2,−1,0,1,2-2, -1, 0, 1, 2. Hence, the coefficients of Qk,j−Qi,lQ_{k,j} - Q_{i,l} cannot be bigger than 44 by absolute value. Therefore Qk,j(5)=Qi,l(5)Q_{k,j}(5) = Q_{i,l}(5) if and only if Qk,jQ_{k,j} and Qi,lQ_{i,l} are the same, because ∀n∈N\forall n \in \mathbb{N}, 5n>4(5n−1+⋯+5+1)5^n > 4(5^{n-1}+\dots+5+1).

It is easy to see that Qk,j(5)Q_{k,j}(5) is divisible by 55. Moreover, Qk,j(5)≠0Q_{k,j}(5) \neq 0 (otherwise Qk,jQ_{k,j} is the zero polynomial which is impossible) and ∣Qk,j(5)∣≤∣Pi(5)∣+∣Pj(5)∣≤n2|Q_{k,j}(5)| \le |P_i(5)| + |P_j(5)| \le n^2. Therefore, Qk,j(5)Q_{k,j}(5) can take at most 25n2\frac{2}{5}n^2 different values. But the overall number of polynomials Qk,jQ_{k,j} is bigger than 25n2\frac{2}{5}n^2, because
12n(n−2)>25n2⇔5(n−2)>4n⇔n>10. \frac{1}{2}n(n-2) > \frac{2}{5}n^2 \Leftrightarrow 5(n-2) > 4n \Leftrightarrow n > 10.
This implies that Qk,j(5)=Qi,l(5)⇒Qk,j=Qi,lQ_{k,j}(5) = Q_{i,l}(5) \Rightarrow Q_{k,j} = Q_{i,l} for some i,j,k,li,j,k,l. Consequently, Pi+Pj=Pk+PlP_i + P_j = P_k + P_l for some 1≤i,j,k,l≤n1 \le i,j,k,l \le n, {i,j}≠{k,l}\{i, j\} \neq \{k, l\} which finishes the proof.

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