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National Competition

Austria algebra

Problem

Let be integers such that is an integer. Prove that each of the numbers is an integer.
Solution
Set , and . By assumption, is an integer. It is easily seen that and are integers, too.

According to Vieta's formulae, the rational numbers are the roots of a cubic polynomial with integer coefficients. As the leading coefficient is 1, these roots are integers.

Techniques

Vieta's formulasIrreducibility: Rational Root Theorem, Gauss's Lemma, EisensteinSymmetric functions