Browse · MATH
Printjmc
algebra senior
Problem
A function is defined for all real numbers and satisfies and for all If what is the least number of roots must have in the interval ?
Solution
The first equation is equivalent to the following: if , then . Similarly, the second equation is equivalent to the following: if , then .
Then note that for any , we have because and . This means that if is a root of , then so is , and conversely, if is a root of , then so is . Since is a root, we see that if is a multiple of , then . We also have , so if , then .
To see that these are all the necessary roots, observe that satisfies all the given conditions, and only has these roots. This is because if and , then , and vice versa. Similarly, if and , then , and vice versa.
There are multiples of in the given interval, and integers that are modulo in the given interval, making roots of
Then note that for any , we have because and . This means that if is a root of , then so is , and conversely, if is a root of , then so is . Since is a root, we see that if is a multiple of , then . We also have , so if , then .
To see that these are all the necessary roots, observe that satisfies all the given conditions, and only has these roots. This is because if and , then , and vice versa. Similarly, if and , then , and vice versa.
There are multiples of in the given interval, and integers that are modulo in the given interval, making roots of
Final answer
401