A note on integer polynomials with small integrals (Q2250853)

Let \(d_N\) be the least common multiple of the first \(N\) positive integers, and for a polynomial \(P(X)\in\mathbb Z[X]\) put \[ I(N)=\left| \int_0^1 P(x) \,dx\right| . \] The author studies the set \(S_N\) of polynomials \(P\in\mathbb Z[X]\) of degree \(N-1\), satisfying \(I(P)=1/d_N\), which are of importance in the search for lower bounds for the prime counting function \(\pi(X)\). He shows that for each \(N\) there is a polynomial \(P\in S_N\) divisible by \(X^{k(N)}\) with \(k(N)=(1+o(1))N/2\), as well as polynomials having at most one zero in the interval \((0,1)\). It is shown moreover that for even \(N\) there are polynomials \(P\in S_N\) having all its zeros in \((0,1)\).