Let f(n) and g(n) be polynomials of degree 2014 such that f(n)+(−1)ng(n)=2n for n=1,2,…,4030. Find the coefficient of x2014 in g(x).
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Solution
Define the polynomial functions h1 and h2 by h1(x)=f(2x)+g(2x) and h2(x)=f(2x−1)−g(2x−1). Then, the problem conditions tell us that h1(x)=22x and h2(x)=22x−1 for x=1,2,…,2015. By the Lagrange interpolation formula, the polynomial h1 is given by h1(x)=∑i=1201522i∏j=1i=j2015i−jx−j. So the coefficient of x2014 in h1(x) is ∑i=1201522i∏j=1i=j2015i−j1=2014!1∑i=1201522i(−1)2015−i(i−12014)=2014!4⋅32014 where the last equality follows from the binomial theorem. By a similar argument, the coefficient of x2014 in h2(x) is 2014!2⋅32014. We can write g(x)=21(h1(x/2)−h2((x+1)/2)). So, the coefficient of x2014 in g(x) is 21(22014⋅2014!4⋅32014−22014⋅2014!2⋅32014)=22014⋅2014!32014.
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