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Algebra Difficulty 5.8 AIME, harder Find the answer

6.3.5 \star \star For each kN,k>1k \in \mathbf{N}^{*}, k>1, find the smallest positive integer m>1m>1, such that there exists f(x)Z[x]f(x) \in \mathbf{Z}[x], for which f(x)1f(x)-1 has at least one integer root, and f(x)mf(x)-m has kk distinct integer roots.

A number or a short expression. Spacing and $ signs are ignored.

Solution

Parse the minimum value of the required mm as k2!k2!+1\left\lfloor\frac{k}{2}\right\rfloor!\left\lceil\frac{k}{2}\right\rceil!+1 (where x\lceil x\rceil and x\lfloor x\rfloor represent the smallest integer not less than xx and the largest integer not greater than xx, respectively).

First, prove: mk2!k2!+1m \geqslant\left\lfloor\frac{k}{2}\right\rfloor!\left\lceil\frac{k}{2}\right\rceil!+1.
In fact, suppose there exists a function f(x)f(x) that satisfies the condition, and let x1,,xkx_{1}, \cdots, x_{k} be the kk distinct integer roots of f(x)mf(x)-m. We can write f(x)m=(xx1)(xxk)q(x),q(x)Z[x]f(x)-m=\left(x-x_{1}\right) \cdots\left(x-x_{k}\right) q(x), q(x) \in \mathbf{Z}[x], thus
m=(f(x)1)+1(xx1)(xxk)q(x). m=(f(x)-1)+1-\left(x-x_{1}\right) \cdots\left(x-x_{k}\right) q(x) .

Since f(x)1f(x)-1 has an integer root, let α\alpha be its integer root, then
m=1(αx1)(αxk)q(α). m=1-\left(\alpha-x_{1}\right) \cdots\left(\alpha-x_{k}\right) q(\alpha) .

By m>1m>1, we know (αx1)(αxk)q(α)>0-\left(\alpha-x_{1}\right) \cdots\left(\alpha-x_{k}\right) q(\alpha)>0, so the numbers αx1,,αxk\alpha-x_{1}, \cdots, \alpha-x_{k} are kk distinct non-zero integers, (αx1)(αxk)k2!k2!\left.\left|\left(\alpha-x_{1}\right) \cdots\left(\alpha-x_{k}\right)\right| \geqslant\left\lfloor\frac{k}{2}\right\rfloor!\left\lceil\frac{k}{2}\right\rceil!\right.. From (1), we know mk2!k2!+1\left.m \geqslant\left\lfloor\frac{k}{2}\right\rfloor!\left\lceil\frac{k}{2}\right\rceil!+1\right..

Next, prove: When m=k2!k2!+1m=\left\lceil\frac{k}{2}\right\rceil!\left\lfloor\frac{k}{2}\right\rfloor!+1, there exists a polynomial that meets the requirements.
When kk is even, let k=2nk=2 n, then m=(n!)2+1m=(n!)^{2}+1, let f(x)=(1)n1(x+1)(x+n)(x1)(xn)+mf(x)=(-1)^{n-1}(x+1) \cdots (x+n)(x-1) \cdots(x-n)+m;

When kk is odd, let k=2n+1k=2 n+1, then m=n!(n+1)!+1m=n!(n+1)!+1, let f(x)=(1)n(x+1)(x+n)(x1)(x(n+1))+mf(x)=(-1)^{n}(x+1) \cdots(x+n)(x-1) \cdots(x-(n+1))+m.

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Source: NuminaMath-1.5, licensed Apache-2.0. Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic and difficulty added by this site.