English

Squarefree parts of polynomial values

Number Theory 2014-07-21 v1

Abstract

Given a separable nonconstant polynomial f(x)f(x) with integer coefficients, we consider the set SS consisting of the squarefree parts of all the rational values of f(x)f(x), and study its behavior modulo primes. Fixing a prime pp, we determine necessary and sufficient conditions for SS to contain an element divisible by pp. Furthermore, we conjecture that if pp is large enough, then SS contains infinitely many representatives from every nonzero residue class modulo pp. The conjecture is proved by elementary means assuming f(x)f(x) has degree 1 or 2. If f(x)f(x) has degree 3, or if it has degree 4 and has a rational root, the conjecture is shown to follow from the Parity Conjecture for elliptic curves. For polynomials of arbitrary degree, a local analogue of the conjecture is proved using standard results from class field theory, and empirical evidence is given to support the global version of the conjecture.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1407.4890,
  title  = {Squarefree parts of polynomial values},
  author = {David Krumm},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1407.4890},
  year   = {2014}
}