2010 AMC 12B Problem 21

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21.

Let a>0,a\gt0, and let P(x)P(x) be a polynomial with integer coefficients such that P(1)=P(3)=P(5)=P(7)=a, \begin{aligned} &P(1)=P(3)=P(5) \\ &\quad {}=P(7)=a, \end{aligned} and P(2)=P(4)=P(6)=P(8)=a. \begin{aligned} &P(2)=P(4)=P(6) \\ &\quad {}=P(8)=-a. \end{aligned} What is the smallest possible value of a?a?

105105

315315

945945

7!7!

8!8!

Answer: B
Concepts:polynomialdivisibilityleast common multiple
Difficulty rating: 2300
Solution:

Since 1,3,5,71, 3, 5, 7 are roots of P(x)a,P(x)-a, write P(x)a=(x1)(x3)P(x)-a=(x-1)(x-3) (x5)(x7)Q(x)\cdot(x-5)(x-7)Q(x) with QQ having integer coefficients.

Evaluating at x=2,4,6,8x=2, 4, 6, 8 (where P=aP=-a) gives 2a=15Q(2)=9Q(4)=15Q(6)=105Q(8). \begin{aligned} -2a &=-15\,Q(2) \\ &=9\,Q(4) \\ &=-15\,Q(6) \\ &=105\,Q(8). \end{aligned}

So 15,9,15, 9, and 105105 all divide 2a,2a, hence lcm(15,9,105)=315\operatorname{lcm}(15,9,105)=315 divides 2a.2a. Since 315315 is odd, 315a,315\mid a, so a315.a\ge315.

To attain the bound, let F(x)=(x1)(x3)(x5)(x7),Q(x)=42+(x2)(x6)(608x),P(x)=315+F(x)Q(x). \begin{aligned} F(x)&=(x-1)(x-3) \\ &\quad\cdot(x-5)(x-7), \\ Q(x)&=42+(x-2)(x-6) \\ &\quad\cdot(60-8x), \\ P(x)&=315+F(x)Q(x). \end{aligned} This integer polynomial equals 315315 at 1,3,5,7.1,3,5,7. At 2,4,2,4, the pairs (F(x),Q(x))(F(x),Q(x)) are (15,42),(9,70),(-15,42),(9,-70), and at 6,86,8 they are (15,42),(105,6).(-15,42),(105,-6). Thus F(x)Q(x)=630F(x)Q(x)=-630 each time and P(x)=315.P(x)=-315. Hence the bound is attainable.

Thus, the correct answer is B.

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