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algebra senior
Problem
Consider all polynomials of a complex variable, , where and are integers, , and the polynomial has a zero with What is the sum of all values over all the polynomials with these properties?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
Solution
First, assume that , so or . does not work because . Assume that . Then , we have , so . Also, has to be true since . Now gives , therefore the only possible choices for are . In these cases, . The sum of over these cases is . Second, assume that , so for some real , . By conjugate roots theorem we have that , therefore is a factor of , and we may assume that for some real . Expanding this polynomial and comparing the coefficients, we have the following equations: From the first and the third we may deduce that and that , if (we will consider by the end). Let . From the second equation, we know that is non-negative. Consider the following cases: Case 1: . Then , , so , . However, this has already been found (i.e. the form of ). Case 2: . Then since , we have . However, , therefore . This is true only when . Also, we get again. In this case, , so , , . has a root . . Last case: . We have and that has a root . . Therefore the desired sum is .
Final answer
B