# Let $p(x)$ be a real $7$ degree polynomial with $p(\pi)=\sqrt 3$ and $\int_{-\pi}^{\pi}x^k p(x)=0$ for $0\le k\le 6$. Find $p(0)$ and $p(-\pi)$.

Q.Let $p(x)$ be a real $7$ degree polynomial with $p(\pi)=\sqrt 3$ and $\int_{-\pi}^{\pi}x^k p(x)=0$ for $0\le k\le 6$. Find $p(0)$ and $p(-\pi)$.

Let $p(x)=a_0 + a_1 x+ a_2 x^2+ a_3 x^3+...+a_7 x^7.$

Then we can approach this problem by evaluating the definite integral given in question for each $k$, therefore giving us $7$ equations in $8$ variables $a_0, a_1,...,a_7$. We get eighth equation by using given condition $p(\pi)=\sqrt 3$.

This way we have $8$ equations with $8$ unknowns. We form following system of equations,

$$\left(\begin{matrix} 1 & 0 & \frac {{\pi}^2}3 & 0 & \frac {{\pi}^4}5 & 0 & \frac {{\pi}^6}7 & 0 \\ 0 & \frac 13 & 0 & \frac {{\pi}^2}5 & 0 & \frac {{\pi}^4}7 & 0 & \frac {{\pi}^6}9 \\ \frac 13 & 0 & \frac {{\pi}^2}5 & 0 & \frac {{\pi}^4}7 & 0 & \frac {{\pi}^6}9 & 0 \\ 0 & \frac 15 & 0 & \frac {{\pi}^2}7 & 0 & \frac {{\pi}^4}9 & 0 & \frac {{\pi}^6}{11} \\ \frac 15 & 0 & \frac {{\pi}^2}7 & 0 & \frac {{\pi}^4}9 & 0 & \frac {{\pi}^6}{11} & 0 \\ 0 & \frac 17 & 0 & \frac {{\pi}^2}9 & 0 & \frac {{\pi}^4}{11} & 0 & \frac {{\pi}^6}{13} \\ \frac 17 & 0 & \frac {{\pi}^2}9 & 0 & \frac {{\pi}^4}{11} & 0 & \frac {{\pi}^6}{13} & 0 \\ 1 & \pi & \pi^2 & \pi^3 & \pi^4 & \pi^5 & \pi^6 & \pi^7 \end{matrix}\right) \cdot \left(\begin{matrix} a_0 \\ a_1 \\ a_2 \\ a_3 \\ a_4 \\ a_5 \\ a_6 \\ a_7 \\ \end{matrix}\right)= \left(\begin{matrix} 0 \\ 0 \\ 0 \\ 0 \\ 0 \\ 0 \\ 0 \\ \sqrt 3 \\ \end{matrix}\right)$$ If we solve this system of equations, then we get the values of $a_i$s. This way we have identified the polynomial $p(x)$. Once we have identified the polynomial it is easy to calculate $p(0)$ and $p(-\pi)$. Note that $p(0)=a_0$.

But this approach is very much lengthy. Is there a faster way?

• If you define a sequence of polynomials $p_0,p_1,\ldots,p_7$, $p_\ell$ of degree $\ell$, with analogous orthogonality relations. Won't we automatically get alternation: even, odd, even... Therefore $p(x)$ is automatically odd, and thus $p(0)=0, p(-\pi)=-p(\pi)$? – Jyrki Lahtonen Nov 21 '17 at 11:56
• Look up orthogonal polynomials – Jyrki Lahtonen Nov 21 '17 at 11:57
• I am not able to comprehend your first comment. Maybe it's because I have never come across orthogonal polynomials. I will go through that link. – Error 404 Nov 21 '17 at 14:17
• Mathmore, sorry about that. That first comment was more than a bit sketchy. I think my answer takes us the distance with less theory of orthogonal polynomials. Not all families of orthogonal polynomials follow the odd/even pattern anyway. It is crucial that the interval of integration (as well as the weight function) is symmetric. – Jyrki Lahtonen Nov 21 '17 at 14:20
• @JyrkiLahtonen It's okay. No problems. Can you suggest me some material to learn orthogonal polynomials? Thanks. – Error 404 Nov 21 '17 at 14:25

One way.

Consider the vector space $V$ of polynomials of degree $\le7$. We know from linear algebra that $\dim V=8$ and $\{1,x,x^2,\ldots,x^7\}$ is a basis.

We also know that the subspace $U$ spanned by $\{1,x,\ldots,x^6\}$ has dimension seven. We further know that $$(f,g)=\int_{-\pi}^\pi f(x)g(x)\,dx$$ is an inner product on $V$.

Given all this the conditions $(p(x),x^k)=0$, $k=0,1,2\ldots,6$, define the orthogonal complement $$U^\perp =\{f(x)\in V\mid (f,g)=0\,\forall g\in U\}$$ of $U$ in $V$. The orthogonal complements have complementary dimensions, so $\dim U^\perp=8-7=1$. Thus $U^\perp$ is spanned by a single polynomial $p(x)$. Because $p(x)\notin U$, we know that $\deg p(x)=7$.

But if $f(x)\in U^\perp$ so is $f(-x)$. This is because the substitution $x\mapsto -x$ gives us $$(f(-x),x^k)=(f(x),(-x)^k)=(-1)^k(f(x),x^k)=0$$ for all $k=0,1,2,\ldots,6$.
So $p(-x)\in U^\perp$ and therefore $p(-x)=\lambda p(x)$ for some constant $\lambda\neq0$. A comparison of the leading coefficients of $p(x)$ and $p(-x)$ then leaves $\lambda=-1$ as the only possibility.
Therefore any polynomial $p(x)\in U^\perp$ is odd. That is, $p(-x)=-p(x)$ for all $x$. Consequently $p(0)=0$ and $p(-\pi)=-p(\pi)$.