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Local Mathematical Competitions

Romania algebra

Problem

Determine whether there exist a polynomial in two variables, with integer coefficients, and two points and in the plane, satisfying all the following conditions (i) is an integer point (i.e., and are integers); (ii) ; (iii) , for all integer points in the plane other than ; (iv) , for all points in the plane other than .
Solution
The triple does exist, so the answer is yes. Let , . The idea is to search for a polynomial such that is the equation of an ellipse centered at , passing through and with tangent line at . In fact, if is chosen like this, the ellipse is completely contained in the region , with the only integer point on the ellipse or in its interior; clearly, the absolute minimum of is attained at and is positive at all integer points other than . Therefore, we consider polynomials of the type where are integers with . The condition that the ellipse passes through , with tangent line at , is expressed by

It is then sufficient to choose , , any integer greater than and .

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Alternative solution.

(Alternative Solution. D. Schwarz) Given any integer point , there exist infinitely many points with , and such that , for example , , with , , and . We now will consider polynomials of the type where and large enough for to have integer coefficients. One then has , while for all points in the plane, other than . One also then has , while one has, for all integer points in the plane, other than , for some (for example when ), therefore . In order to have it is thus enough that , therefore let us take and then choose some appropriate .
Final answer
Yes

Techniques

PolynomialsCartesian coordinatesConstructions and loci