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Estonia number theory

Problem

Let and be different positive integers. Prove that is never an integer.
Solution
By symmetry we can assume that . If , then which is clearly not an integer. If , then where the last inequality follows from .

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Alternative solution.

If were an integer, then

$x^2 - 2xy + y^2 = (x-y)^2 > 0$.

Techniques

Factorization techniquesPolynomial operationsLinear and quadratic inequalities