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Vietnam algebra
Problem
Prove that for all positive integers , the polynomial can not be written as a product of non-constant polynomials with integer coefficients.
Solution
Clearly, polynomial has degree and has no real root. Thus, any factor of has even degree. Suppose that can be expressed as the product of polynomials with degree greater than 0, so then with has even degree. Since the sum of degrees of is then there are at least two polynomials, let say of degree 2. Since has the leading coefficient 1, suppose that have leading coefficients 1, which are Since have no real roots, we have for all integers . We have and From this, at least one of two numbers and equal 1. Without loss of generality, we assume that . It follows that , so . We observe that and cannot be equal to 13 so , thus . But in this case the polynomial has real root, which is a contradiction. Therefore, the above assumption is wrong so cannot be expressed as the product of non-constant polynomials.
Techniques
Polynomial operationsIntermediate Value TheoremPrime numbers