Find the Coefficient of x17 in a Tricky Polynomial Product

Thread starter Char. Limit
Start date Jun 27, 2011
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Puzzle

Jun 27, 2011

Char. Limit

Gold Member

Quick! Without factoring or using any multinomial theorems, give me the coefficient of x¹⁷ in the polynomial product:

(x³+23x)(x⁶+35x⁴+1685)(x¹⁹+1246x⁹)

Can you do it?

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Jun 27, 2011

micromass

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Is it 0?

Jun 27, 2011

ARAVIND113122

it is 0.

Jun 27, 2011

Char. Limit

Gold Member

Yes, it is 0, as can be proven using just the properties of even and odd functions.

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