Paucity phenomena for polynomial products (Q6593644)

Let \(P(x)\in\mathbb{Z}[x]\) be a polynomial with at least two distinct complex roots. Consider the equation \(\prod_{1\leq i\leq k} P(x_i)=\prod_{1\leq j\leq k} P(y_j)\) where all \(x_i,y_j\in\{1,2,\ldots,N\}\). This equation has \(k!N^k\) trivial solutions, where \(y_1,\ldots,y_k\) are the same as \(x_1,\ldots,x_k\) but may be in different order.\N\NIt is proved that the number of non-trivial solutions is \(O_{P,k,\varepsilon}(N^{k-1/6e_P+\varepsilon}),\) where \(e_P\) is the maximum multiplicity of any complex root of \(P\). Hence, asymptotically, almost all solutions are trivial.