I had this question in the Maths Olympiad today. I couldn't solve the part of the greatest common divisor. Please help me understand how to solve it. The question was this:
Let P(x)=x3+ax2+b and Q(x)=x3+bx+a, where a and b are non-zero real numbers. If the roots of P(x)=0 are the reciprocals of the roots of Q(x)=0, then prove that a and b are integers. Also find the greatest common divisor of P(2013!+1) and Q(2013!+1).
Let the roots of P(x)=0 be α,β,andγ. Then we have the following four relations. α+β+γ=−a αβγ=−b1αβ+1βγ+1αγ=b1αβγ=−a
From these, we get a=b=1 So, P(x)=x3+x2+1 and Q(x)=x3+x+1. Now, how to proceed further?
Answer
If d divides P(x),Q(x)
d will divide P(x)−Q(x)=x2−x=x(x−1)
But d can not divide x as (P(x),x)=1⟹d will divide x−1
Again, d will divide x2+x+1−(x2−x)=2x+1
Again, d will divide 2x+1−2(x−1)=3
Observe that 3 divides P(2013!+1),Q(2013!+1)
as 2013!+1\equiv1\pmod3, (2013!+1)^n\equiv1 for any integer n\ge0
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