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Hellenic Mathematical Olympiad

Greece number theory

Problem

Prove that there is an infinite number of triads of positive integers such that
Solution
We write the given relation in the form

We observe that substituting by , leaves invariant the right part of the equality. Thus, if is a solution of the given equation with , then , with , is a solution, as well, because

Since is a solution of the given equation, we obtain a new solution , and then we find the solution . Thus we conclude that the given equation has an infinite number of solutions.

Techniques

Infinite descent / root flippingVieta's formulas