A follow up problem

Algebra Level 4

Let f ( x ) f(x) be a polynomial of degree 2 n 2n for some natural number n n such that f ( x ) = 1 x f(x)=\dfrac{1}{x} for x = 1 , 2 , 3 , . . . 2 n + 1 x=1,2,3,...2n+1 . What is the value of f ( 2 n + 3 ) f(2n+3) ?

Inspired by a problem by Anirban Singha.


The answer is 1.00.

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1 solution

Aareyan Manzoor
Jul 3, 2019

let there be a polynomial p ( x ) = x f ( x ) 1 p(x) = x f(x)-1 . notice that p ( x ) p(x) has degree 2 n + 1 2n+1 and roots 1 , 2 , . . . , 2 n + 1 1,2,...,2n+1 . hence p ( x ) = a ( x 1 ) ( x 2 ) . . . ( x [ 2 n + 1 ] ) f ( x ) = a ( x 1 ) ( x 2 ) . . . ( x [ 2 n + 1 ] ) + 1 x p(x)= a(x-1)(x-2)...(x-[2n+1])\to f(x) =\dfrac{a(x-1)(x-2)...(x-[2n+1])+1}{x} for some constant a a . for f ( x ) f(x) to be a polynomial, we need x a ( x 1 ) ( x 2 ) . . . ( x [ 2 n + 1 ] ) + 1 x a ( 1 ) ( 2 ) . . . ( [ 2 n + 1 ] ) + 1 a ( 1 ) ( 2 ) . . . ( [ 2 n + 1 ] ) + 1 = 0 a = 1 ( 2 n + 1 ) ! x \big|a(x-1)(x-2)...(x-[2n+1])+1 \to x \big| a(-1)(-2)...(-[2n+1])+1 \\ \to a(-1)(-2)...(-[2n+1])+1=0 \to a= \dfrac{1}{(2n+1)!} hence f ( x ) = 1 ( 2 n + 1 ) ! ( x 1 ) ( x 2 ) . . . ( x [ 2 n + 1 ] ) + 1 x f ( 2 n + 3 ) = 1 ( 2 n + 1 ) ! ( 2 n + 2 ) ! + 1 2 n + 3 = 1 f(x) =\dfrac{\frac{1}{(2n+1)!}(x-1)(x-2)...(x-[2n+1])+1}{x} \to f(2n+3) = \dfrac{\frac{1}{(2n+1)!}(2n+2)!+1}{2n+3}=\boxed{1}

An elegant solution, might I suggest an idea to make the solution more interesting if you were to provide the idea to use p ( x ) p(x) , say for the young minds?

Edward Washington - 1 year, 11 months ago

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