Abstract
In this paper we completely classify binomials in one variable which have a nontrivial factor which is composite, i.e., of the shape g(h(x)) for polynomials g, h both of degree > 1. In particular, we prove that, if a binomial has such a composite factor, then deg g ≤ 2 (under natural necessary conditions). This is best-possible and improves on a previous bound deg g ≤ 24.
This result provides evidence toward a conjecture predicting a similar bound when binomials are replaced by polynomials with any given number of terms.
As an auxiliary result, which could have other applications, we completely classify the solutions in roots of unity of certain systems of linear equations.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
F. Beukers and C. Smyth, Cyclotomic points on curves, in: Number Theory for the Millennium, I (Urbana, IL, 2000), A. K. Peters, Natick, MA, 2002, pp. 67–85.
J. H. Conway and A. J. Jones, Trigonometric Diophantine equations (On vanishing sums of roots of unity), Acta Arithmetica 30 (1976), 229–240.
R. Dvornicich and U. Zannier, On Sums of Roots of Unity, Monatshefte für Mathematk 129 (2000), 97–108.
C. Fuchs and U. Zannier, Composite rational functions expressible with few terms, Journal of the European Mathematical Society 14 (2012), 175–208.
A. Schinzel, Polynomials with Special Regard to Reducibility, Encyclopedia of Mathematics and its Applications, Vol. 77, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2000.
U. Zannier, On the number of terms of a composite polynomial, Acta Arithmetica 127 (2007), 157–167; Addendum, ibid. 140 (2009), 93–99.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dvornicich, R., Zannier, U. Composite factors of binomials and linear systems in roots of unity. Isr. J. Math. 229, 381–391 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11856-018-1806-x
Received:
Revised:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11856-018-1806-x