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Conference rusure::math

Title:Mathematics at DEC
Moderator:RUSURE::EDP
Created:Mon Feb 03 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2083
Total number of notes:14613

1711.0. "CMJ Problem 491" by RUSURE::EDP (Always mount a scratch monkey.) Thu Jan 28 1993 10:16

    Proposed by Michael Handelsman, Erasmus Hall High School, Brooklyn, NY.
    
    Let R be a rational function given by R(x) = P(x)/x^n, where P is a
    polynomial with real coefficients and P(0) != 0.  Find P(x) if
    R'(1/x) = -x^2 R'(x) for all x != 0.
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1711.1HERON::BUCHANANThe was not found.Fri Jan 29 1993 09:1719
>    Let R be a rational function given by R(x) = P(x)/x^n, where P is a
>    polynomial with real coefficients and P(0) != 0.  Find P(x) if
>    R'(1/x) = -x^2 R'(x) for all x != 0.

	d R(1/x)   d R(x)
=>	-------- = ------	for all x <> 0
	   dx	     dx

=>	R(1/x) = R(x) + C	for all x <> 0

	Consideration at x = 1 shows that C is 0, so:

=>	R(1/x) = R(x).

	The relationship will hold for those P(x) which are linear sums of
the polynomials Q_k(x) = x^(n+k) + x^(n-k).   (& Q_n(x) must be present in the
sum so that P(0) <> 0.)

Andrew.
1711.2how did Andrew get this step?STAR::ABBASIiam NOT a crock !Fri Jan 29 1993 11:1019
>>    Let R be a rational function given by R(x) = P(x)/x^n, where P is a
>>    polynomial with real coefficients and P(0) != 0.  Find P(x) if
>>    R'(1/x) = -x^2 R'(x) for all x != 0.

>	d R(1/x)   d R(x)
>=>	-------- = ------	for all x <> 0
>	   dx	     dx
    
    who does that follow?
    
    we were told that  R'(1/x) = -x^2 R'(x), why are you writing  
    R'(1/x) = R'(x)  ??
    
    is there something obviouse iam missing? (please note i still had not
    had my morning coffee).
    
    thanks!
    \nasser
    
1711.3HERON::BUCHANANThe was not found.Fri Jan 29 1993 12:3926
>>>    Let R be a rational function given by R(x) = P(x)/x^n, where P is a
>>>    polynomial with real coefficients and P(0) != 0.  Find P(x) if
>>>    R'(1/x) = -x^2 R'(x) for all x != 0.
>
>>	d R(1/x)   d R(x)
>>=>	-------- = ------	for all x <> 0
>>	   dx	     dx
>    
>    who does that follow?
>    
>    we were told that  R'(1/x) = -x^2 R'(x), why are you writing  
>    R'(1/x) = R'(x)  ??

	I guess it's a question of how you interpret R'(1/x).

	I take it to be:

		d R(1/x)
		--------
		d (1/x)

ie: the formal derivative of R(y), dR(y)/dy, with 1/x then substituted for y.  
I think this is the most common interpretation, although there was some 
flaming in sci.math over the issue recently, I believe.

Andrew.