Clever Yet Simple Polynomial Subsitution

Algebra Level 4

Let f ( x ) f(x) be a monic polynomial of degree 2009 2009 such that f ( m ) = 1 f(m) = 1 for m = 1 , 2 , 3 , , 2009 m = 1, 2, 3,\cdots,2009 . Find 2010 ( f ( 2010 ) 2009 ! ) 2010(f(2010)-2009!) .

Note that monic means that the leading coefficient of the polynomial is 1.


The answer is 2010.

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2 solutions

Aayush Gupta
Apr 30, 2014

Call g ( x ) = f ( x ) 1 g(x)=f(x)-1 . This means that the roots of g ( x ) g(x) are 1 , 2 , 3...2009 1, 2, 3...2009 . Since f ( x ) f(x) is monic with degree 2009 2009 , g ( x ) g(x) is also monic with degree 2009 2009 , since we are not changing the leading coefficient or degree when subtracting 1 1 . Thus, we can factor g ( x ) g(x) as g ( x ) = ( x 1 ) ( x 2 ) ( x 3 ) . . . . ( x 2009 ) g(x)=(x-1)(x-2)(x-3)....(x-2009) . Thus, g ( 2010 ) = 2009 ! g(2010)=2009! , and so f ( 2010 ) = 2009 ! + 1 f(2010)=2009!+1 . Substituting this into the answer format, we find the final answer as 2010 \boxed{2010} .

I think you mean f ( 2010 ) = 2009 ! + 1 f(2010)=2009!+1 .

Finn Hulse - 7 years, 1 month ago
Finn Hulse
Apr 30, 2014

Yes, I realized that f ( x ) = ( x 1 ) ( x 2 ) ( x 3 ) ( x 2009 ) + 1 f(x)=(x-1)(x-2)(x-3) \dots (x-2009)+1 . Thus, f ( 2010 ) f(2010) will just be 2009 ! + 1 2009!+1 , and we're simply asked to find 2010 ( 1 ) = 2010 2010(1)=\boxed{2010} . Great problem @Aayush Gupta ! :D

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