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Find all polynomials P∈C[X] such that:
P(X2)=P(X)2
Solutions
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Let P∈C[X] such that P(X2)=P(X)2
- If P=c∈R
c=c2⟹c(c−1)=0⟹c∈{0,1}
- If P is not constant, let n=deg(P)
We find the leading coefficient of P:
Let an be the leading coefficient of P(X). By comparing the leading coefficients on both sides of P(X2)=P(X)2:
an=an2⟹an∈{0,1}Since deg(P)=n, an=0.
Therefore, an=1
With the leading coefficient known, we can write, using the Euclidean division of P(X) by Xn:
P(X)=Xn+R(X)where deg(R)=q<nSubstituting this into P(X2)=P(X)2:
X2n+R(X2)=(Xn+R(X))2=X2n+2XnR(X)+R(X)2Subtracting X2n from both sides gives:
R(X2)=2XnR(X)+R(X)2Now, assume R=0: The left-hand side has degree deg(R(X2))=2q. On the right-hand side, deg(2XnR(X))=n+q and deg(R(X)2)=2q. Since q<n, we have 2q<n+q, so the degree of the right-hand side is strictly n+q. Equating the degrees:
2q=n+q⟹q=nThis contradicts the condition q<n. Thus, we must have R=0, which implies P(X)=Xn.
Conversely, if P=Xn, P(X2)=X2n=(Xn)2=(P(X))2
Conclusion: The set of all polynomial solutions in C[X] is:
S={0}∪{Xn∣n∈N}