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algebra senior
Problem
Let be the set of polynomials of the form where are integers and has distinct roots of the form with and integers. How many polynomials are in ?
Solution
Since the coefficients of the polynomial are real numbers, any nonreal roots must come in conjugate pairs. Thus, when we factor over the integers, each factor is either of the form where is an integer, or where and are integers, and Furthermore, the product of the constant terms must be 50, so for each linear factor, divides 50, and for each quadratic factor, divides 50. We call these linear and quadratic factors basic factors. For each divisor of 50, so let be the set of basic factors where the constant term is
For any basic quadratic factor must satisfy The only solution is which leads to the quadratic factor We also have the linear factors Hence,
For any basic quadratic factor must satisfy The solutions are which leads to the quadratic factors and We also have the linear factors Hence,
For the solutions to are and so
For the solutions to are and so
For the solutions to are and so
For the solutions to are and so
Now, consider the factors of which belong in where We have the following cases:
There is one factor in
There is one factor in and one factor in
There is one factor in and one factor in
There is one factors in and two factors in
Case 1: There is one factor in
There are 8 ways to choose the factor in
Case 2: There is one factor in and one factor in
There are 4 ways to choose the factor in and 7 ways to choose the factor in
Case 3: There is one factor in and one factor in
There are 6 ways to choose the factor in and 6 ways to choose the factor in
Case 4: There is one factors in and two factors in
There are 4 ways to choose the factor in and ways to choose the two factors in
Hence, there are ways to choose the factors in where
After we have chosen these factors, we can include or arbitrarily. Finally, the constant coefficient is either 50 or at this point. If the coefficient is 50, then we cannot include If the constant coefficient is then we must include Thus, whether we include or not is uniquely determined.
Therefore, the total number of polynomials in is
For any basic quadratic factor must satisfy The only solution is which leads to the quadratic factor We also have the linear factors Hence,
For any basic quadratic factor must satisfy The solutions are which leads to the quadratic factors and We also have the linear factors Hence,
For the solutions to are and so
For the solutions to are and so
For the solutions to are and so
For the solutions to are and so
Now, consider the factors of which belong in where We have the following cases:
There is one factor in
There is one factor in and one factor in
There is one factor in and one factor in
There is one factors in and two factors in
Case 1: There is one factor in
There are 8 ways to choose the factor in
Case 2: There is one factor in and one factor in
There are 4 ways to choose the factor in and 7 ways to choose the factor in
Case 3: There is one factor in and one factor in
There are 6 ways to choose the factor in and 6 ways to choose the factor in
Case 4: There is one factors in and two factors in
There are 4 ways to choose the factor in and ways to choose the two factors in
Hence, there are ways to choose the factors in where
After we have chosen these factors, we can include or arbitrarily. Finally, the constant coefficient is either 50 or at this point. If the coefficient is 50, then we cannot include If the constant coefficient is then we must include Thus, whether we include or not is uniquely determined.
Therefore, the total number of polynomials in is
Final answer
528