1. [15] Let P(x),Q(x) be nonconstant polynomials with real number coefficients. Prove that if ⌊P(y)⌋=⌊Q(y)⌋ for all real numbers y, then P(x)=Q(x) for all real numbers x.
Solution
Answer: By the condition, we know that ∣P(x)−Q(x)∣≤1 for all x. This can only hold if P(x)−Q(x) is a constant polynomial. Now take a constant c such that P(x)=Q(x)+c. Without loss of generality, we can assume that c≥0. Assume that c>0. By continuity, if degP=degQ>0, we can select an integer r and a real number x0 such that Q(x0)+c=r. Then ⌊P(x0)⌋=⌊Q(x0)+c⌋=r. On the other hand, ⌊Q(x0)⌋=⌊r−c⌋<r as r was an integer. This is a contradiction. Therefore, c=0 as desired.
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