Binomial polynomial 2026-10-05
For , define and . The binomial coefficient formula shows for every nonnegative integer . Since these integers are dense in the p-adic integers, continuity of the polynomial implies , so it is an integer-valued polynomial there and . The Pascal's identity gives for the forward difference operator.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2004 ia Paper 4 7E Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
The binomial polynomial equals when . For , it has value if and value zero otherwise. These are integers. If , thenHence each is an integer-valued polynomial on all of , including negative arguments.
For , factor the common product in the two polynomials:For the common product is empty and equals , so this argument also covers that boundary case.
The polynomial has polynomial degree and leading coefficient . For a polynomial of polynomial degree with leading coefficient , subtract ; the remainder has smaller polynomial degree. Repeating gives the required expansion with rational numbers . For uniqueness, suppose two expansions differ and let be the largest index with different coefficients. Their difference then has a nonzero term of polynomial degree , with leading coefficient equal to that coefficient difference divided by . It cannot be the zero polynomial. Thus the expansion is unique.
Replacing by in the earlier identity gives for , while . By linearity of the forward difference operator,An empty sum is zero when . If were nonconstant, with polynomial degree and leading coefficient , then would have polynomial degree and leading coefficient . Therefore forces to be constant.
There is a direct way to recover every coefficient. Since and for , repeated application of the forward difference operator givesThe last equality follows by expanding , where ; the commuting shifts obey the binomial theorem. If is an integer-valued polynomial, every summand on the right is an integer, proving that all are integers. Together with the first paragraph this gives both directions of the Newton series for an integer-valued polynomial sequence description.