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Decomposing a polynomial into a sum of polynomials

Source:

September 20, 2010
algebrapolynomialAdditive combinatoricscountingcombinatoricsIMO Shortlist

Problem Statement

The polynomial 1976(x+x2++xn)1976(x+x^2+ \cdots +x^n) is decomposed into a sum of polynomials of the form a1x+a2x2++anxna_1x + a_2x^2 + \cdots + a_nx^n, where a1,a2,,ana_1, a_2, \ldots , a_n are distinct positive integers not greater than nn. Find all values of nn for which such a decomposition is possible.