Problem

Source: Iberoamerican Olympiad 1990, Problem 3

Tags: algebra, polynomial, number theory proposed, number theory



Let $b$, $c$ be integer numbers, and define $f(x)=(x+b)^2-c$. i) If $p$ is a prime number such that $c$ is divisible by $p$ but not by $p^{2}$, show that for every integer $n$, $f(n)$ is not divisible by $p^{2}$. ii) Let $q \neq 2$ be a prime divisor of $c$. If $q$ divides $f(n)$ for some integer $n$, show that for every integer $r$ there exists an integer $n'$ such that $f(n')$ is divisible by $qr$.