Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-algebra-1-and-differential-equations-1-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2014/2/c/iv/solution
Past exam of the algebra 1 and differential equations 1 course of the University of Oxford 2014 2 c iv Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-31
The fixed points of reciprocal root pairing are and , so part (iii) alone does not establish their parity. Use the polynomial identity itself.
Write , where and allow if one is not a root. After substituting in and canceling away from , obtainLetting yields , so is even.
Similarly write with . This time cancellation gives . Letting yields , so is even. ThusThe conclusion includes multiplicity zero. It is a consequence of the reciprocal identity in even degree, which is stronger at these fixed points than just pairing the roots.
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