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

m (→‎Solution)
m (→‎Solution)
Line 17: Line 17:
  
 
Notice that
 
Notice that
−
<math></math>x^2n = x^2n+x^{2n-1}+x^{2n-2}+...x
+
<cmath>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>
+
         +...</cmath>
  
−
</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)}$,  
+
           the left term from <math>x^n</math> is <math>x^{(n-3v)}</math>,  
  
 
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  

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 \[x^2n = x^2n+x^{2n-1}+x^{2n-2}+...x -x^{2n-1}-x^{2n-2}-x^{2n-3} +...\]

$x^n = x^n+x^{n-1}+x^{n-2} -x^{n-1}-x^{n-2}-x^{n-3} +....$

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 (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
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

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