Let f ∈ ℤ[X] and let q be a prime power pl(l ≥ 2). Hua stated and proved that
![](//static-cambridge-org.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/content/id/urn%3Acambridge.org%3Aid%3Aarticle%3AS0004972700013563/resource/name/S0004972700013563_eqnU1.gif?pub-status=live)
for some unspecified constant C > 0 depending on the derivative f′ of f; M denoting the maximum multiplicity of the roots of the congruence
p−tf′(x) ≡ 0 (mod p),
where t is an integer chosen so that the polynomial p−tf′(x) is primitive. An explicit value for C was given by Chalk for p ≥ 3. Subsequently, Ping Ding (in two successive articles) obtained better estimates for p ≥ 2.
This article provides a better result, based upon a more precise form of Hua's main lemma, previously overlooked.