Let P(x) be the monic polynomial with rational coefficients of minimal degree such that 21, 31,41,…,10001 are roots of P. What is the sum of the coefficients of P?
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Solution
For irrational r1,−r1 must also be a root of P. Therefore P(x)=(x+21)(x+31)⋯(x+311)(x2−21)(x2−31)⋯(x2−10001). We get the sum of the coefficients of P by setting x=1, so we use telescoping to get P(1)=23⋅34⋯313221⋅32⋯1000999=160001.
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