Given distinct prime numbers p and q and a natural number n≥3, we aim to find all a∈Z such that the polynomial f(x)=xn+axn−1+pq can be factored into two integral polynomials of degree at least 1.
To solve this, we use the following reasoning:
1. Lemma (Eisenstein's Criterion Extension): If a polynomial A(x)=anxn+an−1xn−1+⋯+a1x+a0 with integer coefficients is reducible in Z[x], and a prime p divides a0,a1,…,an−2 but does not divide an, and p2 does not divide a0, then p does not divide an−1, and the polynomial A(x) must have a rational root.
2. Applying this lemma to f(x)=xn+axn−1+pq with p as a prime, if f(x) is reducible, it must have a rational root. Since f(x) is monic with integer coefficients, this rational root must be an integer.
3. Let r be an integer root of f(x). Then:
rn+arn−1+pq=0⟹pq=−rn−arn−1.
Since pq is squarefree, r must be ±1.
4. If r=1:
1n+a⋅1n−1+pq=0⟹1+a+pq=0⟹a=−1−pq.
5. If r=−1:
(−1)n+a⋅(−1)n−1+pq=0⟹(−1)n+(−1)n−1a+pq=0.
- If n is odd:
−1−a+pq=0⟹a=1+pq.
- If n is even:
1+a+pq=0⟹a=−1−pq.
Thus, the values of a that allow the polynomial f(x)=xn+axn−1+pq to be factored into two integral polynomials of degree at least 1 are:
a=−1−pqanda=1+pq(if n is odd).
The answer is: −1−pq and 1+pq.