Problem

Source: Turkey TST 1996 Problem 1

Tags: algebra proposed, algebra



Let $ \prod_{n=1}^{1996}{(1+nx^{3^n})}= 1+ a_{1}x^{k_{1}}+ a_{2}x^{k_{2}}+...+ a_{m}x^{k_{m}}$ where $a_{1}, a_{1}, . . . , a_{m}$ are nonzero and $k_{1} < k_{2} <...< k_{m}$. Find $a_{1996}$.