MathDB
so many P(1) (2023 HMMT A4)

Source:

February 25, 2023
HMMT

Problem Statement

Suppose P(x)P (x) is a polynomial with real coefficients such that P(t)=P(1)t2+P(P(1))t+P(P(P(1)))P (t) = P (1)t^2 + P (P (1))t + P (P (P (1))) for all real numbers tt. Compute the largest possible value of P(P(P(P(1))))P(P(P(P(1)))).