The Perplexing Polynomial

Algebra Level pending

This is not an original problem

Let p(x) be the polynomial ( 1 x ) a ( 1 x 2 ) b ( 1 x 3 ) c ( 1 x 32 ) k (1-x)^a(1-x^2)^b(1-x^3)^c\cdots(1-x^{32})^k , where a, b, ..., k are integers. When expanded in powers of x, the coefficient of x is -2 and the coefficients of x 2 , x 3 , . . . , x 32 { x }^{ 2 },{ x }^{ 3 },...,{ x }^{ 32 } are all zero.

Find k. Then, write k in the form 2 n 2 m { 2 }^{ n }-2^{ m } What is n+m?

based on a problem from the USAMO


The answer is 38.

This section requires Javascript.
You are seeing this because something didn't load right. We suggest you, (a) try refreshing the page, (b) enabling javascript if it is disabled on your browser and, finally, (c) loading the non-javascript version of this page . We're sorry about the hassle.

0 solutions

No explanations have been posted yet. Check back later!

0 pending reports

×

Problem Loading...

Note Loading...

Set Loading...