Is P P unique?

Let P ( x ) P(x) be a cubic polynomial with integer coefficients such that P P has 3 negative integer roots and P ( 1 ) = 3553 P(1)=3553 . Find P ( 1 ) P(-1) .


The answer is 2295.

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1 solution

Patrick Chatain
Jun 7, 2016

Relevant wiki: Diophantine Equations - Solve by Factoring

Let a -a , b -b and c -c be the roots of P P where a a , b b and c c are positive integers.

Then P ( x ) P(x) can be written in the form A ( x + a ) ( x + b ) ( x + c ) A(x+a)(x+b)(x+c)

Now P ( 1 ) = A ( 1 + a ) ( 1 + b ) ( 1 + c ) = 3553 = 11 × 17 × 19 P(1)=A(1+a)(1+b)(1+c)=3553=11\times17\times19

But as a a , b b and c c are positive integers then 1 + a 1+a , 1 + b 1+b and 1 + c 1+c are all positive integers greater than 1.

Therefore ( 1 + a , 1 + b , 1 + c ) = ( 11 , 17 , 19 ) (1+a,1+b,1+c)=(11,17,19) (in some permutation) and A = 1 A=1

Then ( a , b , c ) = ( 10 , 16 , 18 ) (a,b,c)=(10,16,18) (in some permutation)

Thus P ( x ) = ( x + 16 ) ( x + 10 ) ( x + 18 ) P(x)=(x+16)(x+10)(x+18) and P ( 1 ) = ( 1 + 16 ) ( 1 + 10 ) ( 1 + 18 ) = ( 15 ) ( 9 ) ( 17 ) = 2295 P(-1)=(-1+16)(-1+10)(-1+18)=(15)(9)(17)=2295

Nicely done!

Kayson Hansen - 5 years ago

Did the same

Aditya Kumar - 5 years ago

Nice problem & a nice solution, did the same way! +1!

Rishabh Tiwari - 5 years ago

Did the same!

Atomsky Jahid - 5 years ago

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