For polynomial , . What is the product of all possible values of ?
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P ( P ( x ) ) = 6 x − P ( x ) P ( P ( x ) ) + P ( x ) = 6 x
Now, let the degree of P ( x ) be n . The degree of P ( P ( x ) ) is n n
For the sum of a n th degree polynomial and a n n th degree polynomial to be a polynomial of degree 1 , the only possible value of n is 1 .
Therefore, P ( x ) is a polynomial of the form a x + b .
Substitute it into the equation:
a ( a x + b ) + b + a x + b = 6 x a 2 x + a x + a b + 2 b = 6 x ( a 2 + a ) x + a b + 2 b = 6 x
By comparison:
( a 2 + a ) x = 6 x a b + 2 b = 0
Solve for a :
( a 2 + a ) x = 6 x a 2 + a = 6 a 2 + a − 6 = 0 ( a + 3 ) ( a − 2 ) = 0 a = 2 , − 3
When a = 2 :
2 b + 2 b = 0 4 b = 0 ⟹ b = 0
When a = − 3 :
− 3 b + 2 b = 0 − b = 0 ⟹ b = 0
There are two possible expressions of P ( x ) , and they are:
P ( x ) = 2 x ⟹ P ( 1 0 ) = 2 ( 1 0 ) = 2 0 P ( x ) = − 3 x ⟹ P ( 1 0 ) = − 3 ( 1 0 ) = − 3 0
The product of all possible values of P ( 1 0 )
= 2 0 × − 3 0 = − 6 0 0