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PrintSlovenija 2008
Slovenia 2008 number theory
Problem
Find all integral solutions of the equation
Solution
If satisfies the equation then so does . We can thus limit ourselves to only non-negative values of .
Multiply the equation by to get . This implies .
We see that has to be a divisor of , so , and . Since we have assumed that , we get .
When we have , when we have and when we have .
Hence, the only integral solutions of the equation are , , , , and .
Multiply the equation by to get . This implies .
We see that has to be a divisor of , so , and . Since we have assumed that , we get .
When we have , when we have and when we have .
Hence, the only integral solutions of the equation are , , , , and .
Final answer
(2, 1), (3, 2), (4, -5), (-2, 1), (-3, 2), (-4, -5)
Techniques
Techniques: modulo, size analysis, order analysis, inequalities