Maths Olympiad Prep

Track / Stage 6 / 156 of 400 #1156 of 1964

Problem 1156

National olympiad, first round
Algebra Difficulty 6.2 Prove it

10. (20 points) Let
f(x)=ax3+bx2+cx+d(a>43) f(x)=a x^{3}+b x^{2}+c x+d\left(a>\frac{4}{3}\right) \text {. }

Prove: There are at most three integers xx, such that f(x)1|f(x)| \leqslant 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.

Official solution

10. Suppose there are at least four integers satisfying f(x)1|f(x)| \leqslant 1.
Let u,v,w,ru, v, w, r be four such integers, and u<v<w<ru<v<w<r.
Then f(x)f(x)
=f(u)(xv)(xw)(xr)(uv)(uw)(ur)+f(v)(xu)(xw)(xr)(vu)(vw)(vr)+f(w)(xr)(xu)(xv)(wr)(wu)(wv)+f(r)(xu)(xv)(xw)(ru)(rv)(rw). \begin{array}{c} =f(u) \frac{(x-v)(x-w)(x-r)}{(u-v)(u-w)(u-r)}+ \\ f(v) \frac{(x-u)(x-w)(x-r)}{(v-u)(v-w)(v-r)}+ \\ f(w) \frac{(x-r)(x-u)(x-v)}{(w-r)(w-u)(w-v)}+ \\ f(r) \frac{(x-u)(x-v)(x-w)}{(r-u)(r-v)(r-w)} . \end{array}

Thus, a=f(u)(uv)(uw)(ur)+a=\frac{f(u)}{(u-v)(u-w)(u-r)}+
f(v)(vu)(vw)(vr)+f(w)(wr)(wu)(wv)+f(r)(ru)(rv)(rw)af(u)(uv)(uw)(ur)+f(v)(vu)(vw)(vr)+f(w)(wr)(wu)(wv)+f(r)(ru)(rv)(rw)1(uv)(uw)(ur)+1(vu)(vw)(vr)+1(wr)(wu)(wv)+1(ru)(rv)(rw)11×2×3+11×2×1+11×2×1+13×2×1=43 \begin{array}{l} \frac{f(v)}{(v-u)(v-w)(v-r)}+ \\ \frac{f(w)}{(w-r)(w-u)(w-v)}+ \\ \frac{f(r)}{(r-u)(r-v)(r-w)} \\ \Rightarrow|a| \leqslant\left|\frac{f(u)}{(u-v)(u-w)(u-r)}\right|+ \\ \left|\frac{f(v)}{(v-u)(v-w)(v-r)}\right|+ \\ \left|\frac{f(w)}{(w-r)(w-u)(w-v)}\right|+ \\ \begin{array}{l} \left|\frac{f(r)}{(r-u)(r-v)(r-w)}\right| \\ \left|\frac{1}{(u-v)(u-w)(u-r)}\right|+ \end{array} \\ \left|\frac{1}{(v-u)(v-w)(v-r)}\right|+ \\ \left|\frac{1}{(w-r)(w-u)(w-v)}\right|+ \\ \left|\frac{1}{(r-u)(r-v)(r-w)}\right| \\ \leqslant \frac{1}{1 \times 2 \times 3}+\frac{1}{1 \times 2 \times 1}+ \\ \frac{1}{1 \times 2 \times 1}+\frac{1}{3 \times 2 \times 1} \\ =\frac{4}{3} \text {, } \\ \end{array}

which contradicts the given condition.
Therefore, at most three integers xx satisfy f(x)1|f(x)| \leqslant 1.

Source: NuminaMath-1.5, licensed Apache-2.0. Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic, difficulty and ordering added by this site.