1 1.52 Let , where all coefficients are integers. Suppose there are four distinct integers such that all equal 2. Prove that for any integer is never equal to any of 1, 3, 5, 7, 9.
(China Beijing High School Mathematics Competition, 1963)
Solution
[Proof] By the given condition, are four distinct roots of , therefore,
where is a polynomial with integer coefficients or an integer.
No matter what integer is, , and are all integers, and since are four different integers, are also not equal.
If equals any one of , then
any one of .
But none of can be factored into the product of four distinct factors. Therefore, cannot equal any one of .
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