Problem

Source: India EGMO 2022 TST P6

Tags: algebra, polynomial



Suppose $P(x)$ is a non-constant polynomial with real coefficients, and even degree. Bob writes the polynomial $P(x)$ on a board. At every step, if the polynomial on the board is $f(x)$, he can replace it with 1. $f(x)+c$ for a real number $c$, or 2. the polynomial $P(f(x))$. Can he always find a finite sequence of steps so the final polynomial on the board has exactly $2020$ real roots? What about $2021$? ~Sutanay Bhattacharya