Let is a polynomial with integer coefficients such that: Find the minimum positive value of .
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Since P ( 1 ) = P ( 3 ) = P ( 5 ) = P ( 7 ) = a , there exist a polynomial Q ( x ) with integer coefficients and P ( x ) = Q ( x ) ( x − 1 ) ( x − 3 ) ( x − 5 ) ( x − 7 ) + a Put x = 2 , 4 , 6 , 8 in above equality, we get: − 2 a = − 1 5 Q ( 2 ) = 9 Q ( 4 ) = − 1 5 Q ( 6 ) = 1 0 5 Q ( 8 ) .
From this, 2 a is divisible by 1 5 , 9 , and 1 0 5 , so a is divisible by 3 1 5 .
Hence, the minimum positive value of a is 3 1 5 .
The equality holds iff Q ( 2 ) = Q ( 6 ) = 4 2 , Q ( 4 ) = − 7 0 , Q ( 8 ) = − 6 .
We can choose Q ( x ) = − 8 x 3 + 1 2 4 x 2 − 5 7 6 x + 7 6 2 and P ( x ) = ( − 8 x 3 + 1 2 4 x 2 − 5 7 6 x + 7 6 2 ) ( x − 1 ) ( x − 3 ) ( x − 5 ) ( x − 7 ) + 3 1 5 .