Discrete Mathematics with Applications 4th Edition

Published by Cengage Learning
ISBN 10: 0-49539-132-8
ISBN 13: 978-0-49539-132-6

Chapter 4 - Elementary Number Theory and Methods of Proof - Exercise Set 4.2 - Page 169: 33

Answer

See below.

Work Step by Step

(a) $(x-r)(x-s)=x^2-(r+s)x+rs$ i) both $r$ and $s$ are odd integers, we have $-(r+s)$ as an even integer and $rs$ as odd integer. ii) both $r$ and $s$ are even integers, we have $-(r+s)$ as an even integer and $rs$ as even integer. iii) one even and one odd integers, we have $-(r+s)$ as an odd integer and $rs$ as even integer. (b) Answers from part-(a) covers all the possible cases of $r$ and $s$, for $x^2-1253x+255$, coefficients $-(r+s)$ and $rs$ are both odd, which is not a case in the results from part-(a), thus it cannot be written as a product of two polynomials with integer coefficients.
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