Difference between revisions of "1980 AHSME Problems/Problem 28"

m (Solution)
m (Solution)
Line 10: Line 10:
  
 
== Solution ==
 
== Solution ==
Assume <math>h(x)=x^2+x+1</math>
+
Let <math>h(x)=x^2+x+1</math>.
<math>(x+1)^2n = (h(x)+x)^n = g(x)*h(x) + x^n</math>
 
  
<math>x^2n = x^2n+x^{2n-1}+x^{2n-2}
+
Then we have
 +
<cmath>(x+1)^2n = (x^2+2x+1)^n = (h(x)+x)^n = g(x) \cdot h(x) + x^n,</cmath>
 +
where <math>g(x)</math> is <math>h^{n-1}(x) + nh^{n-2}(x) \cdot x + ... + x^{n-1}</math> (after expanding <math>(h(x)+x)^n</math> according to the Binomial Theorem.
 +
 
 +
Notice that
 +
<math></math>x^2n = x^2n+x^{2n-1}+x^{2n-2}+...x
 
           -x^{2n-1}-x^{2n-2}-x^{2n-3}
 
           -x^{2n-1}-x^{2n-2}-x^{2n-3}
         +...</math>
+
         +...<math>
  
<math>x^n = x^n+x^{n-1}+x^{n-2}
+
</math>x^n = x^n+x^{n-1}+x^{n-2}
 
         -x^{n-1}-x^{n-2}-x^{n-3}
 
         -x^{n-1}-x^{n-2}-x^{n-3}
   +....</math>
+
   +....<math>
  
Therefore, the left term from <math>x^2n</math> is <math>x^{(2n-3u)}</math>
+
Therefore, the left term from </math>x^2n<math> is </math>x^{(2n-3u)}<math>
           the left term from <math>x^n</math> is <math>x^{(n-3v)}</math>,  
+
           the left term from </math>x^n<math> is </math>x^{(n-3v)}$,  
  
 
If divisible by h(x), we need 2n-3u=1 and n-3v=2  or  
 
If divisible by h(x), we need 2n-3u=1 and n-3v=2  or  
 
                               2n-3u=2 and n-3v=1
 
                               2n-3u=2 and n-3v=1
  
The solution will be n=1/2 mod(3). Therefore n=21 is impossible
+
The solution will be n=1 or 2 mod(3). Therefore n=21 is impossible
  
 
~~Wei
 
~~Wei

Revision as of 18:38, 30 October 2021

Problem

The polynomial $x^{2n}+1+(x+1)^{2n}$ is not divisible by $x^2+x+1$ if $n$ equals

$\text{(A)} \ 17 \qquad  \text{(B)} \ 20 \qquad  \text{(C)} \ 21 \qquad  \text{(D)} \ 64 \qquad  \text{(E)} \ 65$

Solution

Let $h(x)=x^2+x+1$.

Then we have \[(x+1)^2n = (x^2+2x+1)^n = (h(x)+x)^n = g(x) \cdot h(x) + x^n,\] where $g(x)$ is $h^{n-1}(x) + nh^{n-2}(x) \cdot x + ... + x^{n-1}$ (after expanding $(h(x)+x)^n$ according to the Binomial Theorem.

Notice that $$ (Error compiling LaTeX. Unknown error_msg)x^2n = x^2n+x^{2n-1}+x^{2n-2}+...x

          -x^{2n-1}-x^{2n-2}-x^{2n-3}
        +...$$ (Error compiling LaTeX. Unknown error_msg)x^n = x^n+x^{n-1}+x^{n-2}
        -x^{n-1}-x^{n-2}-x^{n-3}
 +....$Therefore, the left term from$x^2n$is$x^{(2n-3u)}$the left term from$x^n$is$x^{(n-3v)}$, 

If divisible by h(x), we need 2n-3u=1 and n-3v=2 or

                             2n-3u=2 and n-3v=1

The solution will be n=1 or 2 mod(3). Therefore n=21 is impossible

~~Wei

See also

1980 AHSME (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 27
Followed by
Problem 29
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
All AHSME Problems and Solutions

The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions. AMC logo.png