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jmc

algebra intermediate

Problem

Find the ordered pair where are positive integers satisfying the following equation:
Solution
Looking at the form of the equation, we see that we have two linear terms and their product. We thus apply Simon's Favorite Factoring Trick. The given equation rearranges to , which can be factored to . Since is a positive integer, we see that is odd. Examining the factors on the right side, we see we must have , implying . Solving, we find that .
Final answer
(1,3)