How to find all polynomials with rational coefficients$f(x)=a_nx^n+\cdots+a_1x+a_0$, $a_i\in \mathbb Q$, such that $$\forall r\in\mathbb R\setminus\mathbb Q,\quad f(r)\in\mathbb R\setminus\mathbb Q.$$ thanks in advance
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Any suggestion of your own to approach this? – Did Feb 08 '13 at 20:33
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@did:i don't know how begin to solve this kind of question – M.H Feb 08 '13 at 20:39
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Guess: $ax+b$ with $a,b\in\Bbb Q,\ a\ne 0$. – Berci Feb 08 '13 at 20:56
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@beci:why ax+b is answer. – M.H Feb 08 '13 at 20:58
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@Berci: those are clearly some or all of them because of the closure of the rationals under addition and multiplication. The question is whether that is all of them. – Ross Millikan Feb 08 '13 at 21:40
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The only candidates are those polynomials $f(x)\in\mathbb Q[x]$ that are factored over $\mathbb Q$ as product of first degree polynomials (this is because if $\deg f>1$ and $f$ is irreducible then all of its roots are irrationals.)
The first degree polynomials have this property. Can you see that these are all?
(Hint: The polynomial $f(x)+q$, for suitable $q\in\mathbb Q$, is not a product of first degree polynomials)
P..
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@Berci: can you see why ax+b can take on the value $\sqrt{2}$? If I had two of these linear polynomials as factors, what would happen? – Cheerful Parsnip Feb 08 '13 at 21:10
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Yes, for this particular one, it is clear. Well, probably the last hint helps.. – Berci Feb 08 '13 at 21:40
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Uhmm, I think this line: "The only candidates are those polynomials f(x)∈Q[x] that are factored over Q as product of first degree polynomials (this is because if degf>1 and f is irreducible then all of its roots are irrationals.)" should be fixed, as it's not really correct. What if it can be factored to some product of second degree polynomials, all of which have no real roots? – user49685 Feb 08 '13 at 22:08