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Algebra Difficulty 8.0 Shortlist Find the answer

Find all pairs of integers a,ba,b for which there exists a polynomial P(x)Z[X]P(x) \in \mathbb{Z}[X] such that product (x2+ax+b)P(x)(x^2+ax+b)\cdot P(x) is a polynomial of a form xn+cn1xn1++c1x+c0 x^n+c_{n-1}x^{n-1}+\cdots+c_1x+c_0 where each of c0,c1,,cn1c_0,c_1,\ldots,c_{n-1} is equal to 11 or 1-1.

A number or a short expression. Fractions can be typed as 3/2, and spacing doesn't matter.

Solution

To solve this problem, we need to determine all integer pairs (a,b)(a, b) such that there exists a polynomial P(x)Z[X] P(x) \in \mathbb{Z}[X] with the product (x2+ax+b)P(x)(x^2 + ax + b) \cdot P(x) having all coefficients either 11 or 1-1.

Assume P(x)=cmxm+cm1xm1++c1x+c0 P(x) = c_m x^m + c_{m-1} x^{m-1} + \ldots + c_1 x + c_0 with ciZ c_i \in \mathbb{Z} . Expanding the product:

(x2+ax+b)(cmxm+cm1xm1++c1x+c0) (x^2 + ax + b) \cdot (c_m x^m + c_{m-1} x^{m-1} + \ldots + c_1 x + c_0)

gives:

cmxm+2+(acm+cm1)xm+1+(bcm+acm1+cm2)xm++(bc1+ac0)x+bc0 c_m x^{m+2} + (ac_m + c_{m-1}) x^{m+1} + (bc_m + ac_{m-1} + c_{m-2}) x^m + \ldots + (bc_1 + ac_0) x + bc_0

This polynomial must have coefficients ±1 \pm 1 .

Firstly, consider the highest degree terms:

1. cm=1 c_m = 1 or 1-1 such that cm c_m does not affect the highest degree condition xn x^{n} .

For the lower degree terms, carefully examine the requirement that bc0bc_0 be ±1 \pm 1:

- bc0=1 bc_0 = 1 or 1-1.

To satisfy all coefficients being ±1 \pm 1, we need to find suitable values of a a and b b .

**Case 1: b=1 b = 1 **

- If b=1 b = 1 , then bc0=c0 bc_0 = c_0 implies c0=±1 c_0 = \pm 1.
- The expressions for coefficients (bck+ack1+) (bc_k + ac_{k-1} + \ldots) reduce easily to maintain ±1 \pm 1 since b=1 b = 1.

Evaluate simple values for a a that yields ±1 \pm 1 for coefficients, checking:

- (a+1) (a+1) must also be ±1 \pm 1 , hence a=2,1,0,1,2 a = -2, -1, 0, 1, 2 .

**Case 2: b=1 b = -1 **

- If b=1 b = -1 , then bc0=c0 bc_0 = -c_0 implies c0=±1 c_0 = \pm 1, manageable with negative multipliers.
- The configuration for other expressions remains similar, allowing a=1,0,1 a = -1, 0, 1 .

In both cases, manually construct polynomials P(x) P(x) to ensure they fit the conditions, confirming these values through trial:

Collectively, the valid integer pairs (a,b)(a, b) where such a polynomial P(x) P(x) exists are:

{(2,1),(1,1),(0,1),(1,1),(2,1),(1,1),(0,1),(1,1)} \boxed{\{(-2,1), (-1,1), (0,1), (1,1), (2,1), (-1,-1), (0,-1), (1,-1)\}}

These pairs meet the polynomial coefficient condition, with all coefficients being ±1 \pm 1.

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