Skip to main content
OlympiadHQ

Browse · MATH

Print

jmc

algebra senior

Problem

The integers and are chosen such that for all real values of except , , and . Find .
Solution
First, we factor the denominators, to get We then multiply both sides by , to get We can solve for and by substituting suitable values of . For example, setting , we get , so . Setting , we get , so . (This may not seem legitimate, because we are told that the given equation holds for all except , 0, and 4. This tells us that the equation holds for all , except possibly , 0, and 4. However, both sides of this equation are polynomials, and if two polynomials are equal for an infinite number of values of , then the two polynomials are equal for all values of . Hence, we can substitute any value we wish to into this equation.)

Therefore, .
Final answer
2