Browse · MATH
Printjmc
algebra senior
Problem
Let and be distinct, non-constant polynomials such that for all If then find the polynomial
Solution
Let and be the degrees of and respectively. Then the degree of is The degree of is so Applying Simon's Favorite Factoring Trick, we get so
Let From and Taking the difference of these equations, we get so Then from the given equation Then The right-hand side is a multiple of so the left-hand side is also a multiple of This is possible only when
Hence, so which means Cancelling on both sides, we get
Let From and Taking the difference of these equations, we get so Then from the given equation Then The right-hand side is a multiple of so the left-hand side is also a multiple of This is possible only when
Hence, so which means Cancelling on both sides, we get
Final answer
x^2