3. [15] Let $p(x)=a_{n} x^{n}+a_{n-1} x^{n-1}+\ldots+a_{0}$, where each $a_{i}$ is either 1 or -1 . Let $r$ be a root of $p$. If $|r|>\frac{15}{8}$, what is the minimum possible value of $n$ ?
Answer: 4 We claim that $n=4$ is the answer. First, we show that $n>3$. Suppose that $n \leq 3$. Let $r$ be the root of the polynomial with $|r| \geq \frac{15}{8}$. Then, by the Triangle Inequality, we have:
$$
\begin{array}{c}
\left|a_{n} r^{n}\right|=\left|a_{n-1} r^{n-1}+a_{n-2} r^{n-2}+\ldots+a_{0}\right| \leq\left|a_{n-1} r^{n-1}\right|+\left|a_{n-2} r^{n-2}\right|+\ldots+\left|a_{0}\right| \\
|r|^{n} \leq\left|r^{n-1}\right|+\left|r^{n-2}\right|+\ldots+|1|=\frac{|r|^{n}-1}{|r|-1} \\
|r|^{n+1}-2|r|^{n}+1 \leq 0 \Rightarrow 1 \leq|r|^{n}(2-|r|)
\end{array}
$$

The right-hand side is increasing in $n$, for $|r|>1$, so it is bounded by $|r|^{3}(2-|r|)$. This expression is decreasing in $r$ for $r \geq \frac{3}{2}$. When $|r|=\frac{15}{8}$, then the right-hand side is less than 1 , which violates the inequalities. Therefore $n>3$. Now, we claim that there is a 4 th degree polynomial with a root $r$ with $|r| \geq \frac{15}{8}$. Let $p(x)=x^{4}-x^{3}-x^{2}-x-1$. Then $p\left(\frac{15}{8}\right)2$. By the Intermediate Value Theorem, $p(x)$ has such a root $r$.