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We known $\forall P\in \mathbb C(x)=\{\dfrac N D:(N, D) \in \mathbb C[x] \} $, if $P(\mathbb Z) \subset \mathbb Z$ then $P\in \mathbb Q[x] $.

Is it true that $\forall P\in \mathbb C(x, y)=\{\dfrac N D:(N, D) \in \mathbb C[x, y] \} ,$

if $P(\mathbb Z, \mathbb Z)=\{P(n,m) : (n,m)\in\mathbb Z^2\} \subset \mathbb Z$ then $ P\in \mathbb Q[x, y] $?

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  • $\begingroup$ To make sense, you need more words, such as "if" and "then". $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 5, 2023 at 11:00
  • $\begingroup$ Yes, and something stronger is true, see the answer here. $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 5, 2023 at 12:58
  • $\begingroup$ $\mathbb C(x, y) =\{\dfrac N D\text{ ; } (N, D) \in \mathbb C[x, y]^2\} $ $\endgroup$
    – Dattier
    Commented Feb 5, 2023 at 13:10
  • $\begingroup$ What's $P(Z,Z)$? Is this $P(Z\times Z)$ or $\{ P(n,n): n\in Z\}$? $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 5, 2023 at 14:28
  • $\begingroup$ P(Z, Z) ={P(n, m) : (n, m) \in Z^2} $\endgroup$
    – Dattier
    Commented Feb 5, 2023 at 14:30

1 Answer 1

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This is well known, but I'll give a short proof using 3 dimensions as an example.

Every power $x^n$ can be written as the integer linear combination of binomial coefficients $\binom xj$ for $0\le j\le n$. So we can write our polynomial as a finite sum $$p(x,y,z)=\sum_{i,j,k} a_{i,j,k} \binom xi\binom yj\binom zk.$$ Now consider the lexicographically least $(i,j,k)$ such that $x^iy^jz^k$ is present in $p$. Then $p(i,j,k)=a_{i,j,k}$ so $a_{i,j,k}$ is an integer. Now subtract off $a_{i,j,k}\binom xi\binom yj\binom zk$ and repeat. Finally we have that all $a_{i,j,k}$ are integers.

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  • $\begingroup$ $P\in \mathbb C(x, y) $ iff $\exists N, D\in \mathbb C[x, y], P= \dfrac N D$ $\endgroup$
    – Dattier
    Commented Feb 12, 2023 at 10:19
  • $\begingroup$ Hence P is a fraction and not a polynomial. $\endgroup$
    – Dattier
    Commented Feb 12, 2023 at 10:24
  • $\begingroup$ Ok, I thought you were asking about polynomials. I'm not sure your notation is standard enough to not require definition. $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 12, 2023 at 11:21

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