Constant craving has always been

Algebra Level 2

Suppose that f ( x ) f(x) is a polynomial with integer coefficients, such that f ( n ) f(n) is a multiple of n n , for all positive integers n n . What is the constant term of f ( x ) f(x) ?


The answer is 0.

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8 solutions

Julio Reyes
Oct 6, 2013

Since f ( x ) f(x) is a polynomial, it will have the form:

a i x i + a i 1 x i 1 + + a 2 x 2 + a 1 x + a 0 a_ix^i + a_{i-1}x^{i-1} + \cdots + a_2x^2 + a_1x + a_0

Realize that any component of the form a i x i a_ix^i will be a multiple of the value of x . A multiple is the product of an integer and a quantity. So, whether we multiply x by itself through exponentiation or by a coefficient, we will always be able to divide the product by x .

Furthermore, the sum of multiples of x is also a multiple of x , since we are able to factor an x and divide it out. Therefore, the following segment of the polynomial is also a multiple of x :

a i x i + a i 1 x i 1 + + a 2 x 2 + a 1 x a_ix^i + a_{i-1}x^{i-1} + \cdots + a_2x^2 + a_1x

Now, the only thing that we need to look at is the constant in the polynomial. As we saw in the previous statement, the sum is a multiple of x if the addends are also a multiple of x . However, this would mean the constant would have to be different for each case of n . This violates the definition of a constant.

The only constant that would not have an effect on the multiplicity of the rest of the polynomial would be 0 \fbox{0}

Nice argument

Surendra Ratha - 7 years, 8 months ago

Good

Wei Jie Tan - 7 years, 8 months ago

Yes, you are quite right.

Tamanna Zinia - 7 years, 8 months ago
Michael Tang
Oct 7, 2013

Let f ( n ) = a i n i + a i 1 n i 1 + + a 1 n + a 0 . f(n) = a_in^i + a_{i-1}n^{i-1} + \ldots + a_1n + a_0. Notice that all of the terms in this expression are multiples of n , n, except for a 0 , a_0, the constant term, which means that a 0 a_0 must be a multiple of n . n. Therefore, a 0 a_0 must be a multiple of all positive integers. The only number with this property is a 0 = 0 . a_0 = \boxed0.

Akshat Jain
Oct 9, 2013

It's simple. If the function f ( n ) f(n) is divisible by all values of n n , then all the terms of the function must contain n n as a factor. But since the constant term always holds a constant value, the constant term, in this case, must be either n n or 0 0 . Since it can be n n because it's value is not fixed, it is sure to be 0 0 .

Abin Das
Oct 7, 2013

Let f(x)=a x 2 x^{2} +bx+c.If f(x) is divisible by x,c must also be divisible by x.Thus c must be divisible by all positive values.0 is the only value which satisfies this.Thus 0 is the answer.

How do you know that f f is a quadratic?

Michael Tang - 7 years, 8 months ago

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quadratics are essentially polynomials

Brandon Evans - 7 years, 8 months ago

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is it really essentially?

Rafael Muzzi - 7 years, 8 months ago

this is possible not only for quadratics but for all polynomials

Kshitij Khandelwal - 7 years, 8 months ago
Aradhya Kasera
Oct 6, 2013

One can just let f(x)=x... What a silly problem.

Moderator note:

This is one of the problems in which I feel it is best to have members view it and work out the logic for themselves, despite having an easily guessed numerical answer. Just because the answering system is not ideal, doesn't mean that I shouldn't show such beautiful mathematical arguments.

That doesn't prove the constant term has to be 0.

Sam Dreilinger - 7 years, 8 months ago

Of course, but it does give a quick and dirty solution to an AIME-style problem

Aradhya Kasera - 7 years, 8 months ago

Agreed, pretty easy problem when you think about it...

Daniel Gong - 7 years, 8 months ago

f(n) has to be a multiple of n, not n

Daniel Teixeira - 7 years, 8 months ago

Constant term is f(0) which is a multiple of 0 and all multiples of zero are zero so f(0)=0

Nick Smith
Oct 8, 2013

f(x) = (x + a)^e

If a > 0 then f(n) cannot be divided evenly into n parts.

For example if f(x) = (x + a)^3 = x^3 + 3a^2 x + 3ax^2 + a^3

then f(x) / x = x^2 + 3a^2 + 3ax + a^3/x

So if a > 0 then the a^e term will always be a^e/x

If a = 0 then f(x) = x^e which can be divided by an x term only

f(x) / x = x^e / x = x^(e - 1)

Where I stated the condition a > 0 is more accurately described as 0 < a < 0

Nick Smith - 7 years, 8 months ago

f(x) = x^n + x^(n-1) + x + c

c = 0

so that

f(x) = x^n + x^(n-1) + x which is divisible by x itself

giving x^n ...+ c

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