Given a polynomial with integer coefficients $$P(x) = x^{20} + a_{19}x^{19} +... + a_1x + a_0,$$having $20$ different real roots. Determine the maximum number of roots such a polynomial $P$ can have in the interval $(99, 100)$.
Problem
Source: 2022 Grand Duchy of Lithuania, MC p1 (Baltic Way TST) https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c1321893_grand
Tags: algebra, polynomial
18.11.2022 19:03
parmenides51 wrote: Given a polynomial with integer coefficients $$P(x) = x^{20} + a_{19}x^{19} +... + a_1x + a_0,$$having $20$ different real roots. Determine the maximum number of roots such a polynomial $P$ can have in the interval $(99, 100)$. Claim : a monic polynomial $P(x)\in\mathbb Z[x]$ with degree $n$ can have at most $n-1$ real roots in $(m,m+1)$ and this number can indeed be reached. Note that considering $Q(x)=P(x+m)$ we can WLOG consider real roots in $(0,1)$ 1) A monic polynomial $Q(x)\in\mathbb Z[x]$ with degree $n$ can not have $n$ real roots in $(0,1)$
2) $\exists$ monic polynomial $Q(x)\in\mathbb Z[x]$ with degree $n$ and at least $n-1$ real roots in $(0,1)$ (and so, according to 1) above, exactly $n-1$ real roots in $(0,1)$)
Hence the answer $\boxed{\text{Maximum is }19\text{ real roots in }(99,100)}$