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Maximum possible number of distinct real roots

Source: 2012 Balkan Shortlist (BMO) A3

April 5, 2020

Problem Statement

Determine the maximum possible number of distinct real roots of a polynomial P(x)P(x) of degree 20122012 with real coefficients satisfying the condition \begin{align*} P(a)^3 + P(b)^3 + P(c)^3 \geq 3 P(a) P(b) P(c) \end{align*} for all real numbers a,b,c∈Ra,b,c \in \mathbb{R} with a+b+c=0a+b+c=0