IMC 2001 · Problem 1

Day 28th IMC · Prague, Czech Republic

Statement

Let r,s1r, s \ge 1 be integers and a0,a1,,ar1,b0,b1,,bs1a_0, a_1, \dots, a_{r-1}, b_0, b_1, \dots, b_{s-1} be real non-negative numbers such that

(a0+a1x+a2x2++ar1xr1+xr)(b0+b1x+b2x2++bs1xs1+xs)=(a_0 + a_1 x + a_2 x^2 + \dots + a_{r-1}x^{r-1} + x^r)(b_0 + b_1 x + b_2 x^2 + \dots + b_{s-1}x^{s-1} + x^s) = =1+x+x2++xr+s1+xr+s.= 1 + x + x^2 + \dots + x^{r+s-1} + x^{r+s}.

Prove that each aia_i and each bjb_j equals either 00 or 11.

Official solution

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