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Problem 1329

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Algebra Difficulty 5.1 Prove it Serbian Mathematical Olympiad · Serbia

Find all monic polynomials P(x)P(x) such that the polynomial P(x)2−1P(x)^2-1 is divisible by the polynomial P(x+1)P(x+1).

This one wants a proof. Work it on paper, then read the official solution and mark yourself. Be honest about it: the record is only any use to you if it is.

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Official solution

Solution:

The only solutions are the polynomials P(x)=1P(x)=1 and P(x)=x−cP(x)=x-c, where cc is a constant.

Suppose that P(x)=(x−c)(x−x2)⋯(x−xn)P(x)=(x-c)\left(x-x_{2}\right) \cdots\left(x-x_{n}\right) is a nonconstant polynomial, where cc is its complex root whose real part is the smallest.

By the condition of the problem, x+1−cx+1-c divides P(x)2−1P(x)^2-1, from which it follows that P(c−1)=±1P(c-1)= \pm 1. On the other hand, for 2⩽i⩽n2 \leqslant i \leqslant n we have ∣c−1−xi∣⩾1\left|c-1-x_{i}\right| \geqslant 1, so ∣P(c−1)∣=∏i=2n∣c−1−xi∣⩾1|P(c-1)|=\prod_{i=2}^{n}\left|c-1-x_{i}\right| \geqslant 1, and this is only possible if ∣c−1−xi∣=1\left|c-1-x_{i}\right|=1, i.e. xi=cx_{i}=c for all ii.

It follows that P(x)=(x−c)nP(x)=(x-c)^{n}. However, P(x+c)2−1=x2n−1P(x+c)^2-1=x^{2 n}-1 is not divisible by P(x+c+1)=(x+1)nP(x+c+1)=(x+1)^{n} if n⩾2n \geqslant 2, so the only possibility is n=1n=1.

Source: MathNet, licensed CC-BY-4.0. Statement translated into English from sr; metadata (topic, difficulty, ordering) added by this project.