Problem:
Is there a polynomial p(x) with integer coefficients such that
p(2013)=1789 and p(1515)=1830?
My attempt:
After ruling out polynomials of degree 1, 2 and 3, and with further inspection, it appeared to me that such a polynomial doesn't exist.
Is my below proof accurate?
Suppose that p exists, and let
q(x)=p(x)−1789 and s(x)=p(x)−1830
then, q(2013)=0 and s(1515)=0, so clearly,
q(x)=(x−2013)f(x) and s(x)=(x−1515)g(x),
for some polynomials f and g with integer coefficients.
Let a, c and d be the constant terms of p, g and f, respectively, and observe that the constant terms of s and q are
−1515c=a−1830 and −2013d=a−1789, respectively. (∗)
Thus,
a≡1830≡315(mod1515) and a≡1789(mod2013).
But this system of congruence doesn't have a simultaneous solution (since gcd).
Hence, there's no integer value of a that satisfies (*), which is a contradiction.
Therefore, p doesn't exist.
If the above is correct, is there perhaps a more direct way of proving this?
Answer
p(2013)-p(1515) is divisible by 2013-1515=498, but 1789-1830=-41 is not.
It follows from the following reasoning.
Let p(x)=a_0x^n+a_1x^{n-1}+...+a_n, where a_i\in\mathbb Z.
Thus, p(m)-p(k)=a_0(m^n-k^n)+a_1(m^{n-1}-k^{n-1})+...+a_{n-1}(m-k)=
=(m-k)(a_0(m^{n-1}+m^{n-2}k+...+k^{n-1})+a_1(m^{n-2}+...+k^{n-2})+...+a_{n-1}).
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