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Saudi Arabia Mathematical Competitions

Saudi Arabia number theory

Problem

Find all positive integers for which the equation has solutions in integers.
Solution
For any integer we have , hence for any integers and , we have For , we have , that is there are no solutions in this case.

If , then the equation becomes , which has no solutions because of the possible residues above.

If , then we get the equation , which has no solutions because of the possible residues above.

If , then the equation becomes . For any integer we have , hence for any integers and , we have The equation has no solutions because of the possible residues above.

If , then the equation becomes , with solution .

If , then we get the equation , with solution .

The equation has solutions in integers if and only if and .
Final answer
n = 4 and n = 5

Techniques

Modular ArithmeticTechniques: modulo, size analysis, order analysis, inequalities