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Print69th Belarusian Mathematical Olympiad
Belarus number theory
Problem
Is it true that for any nonzero rational numbers and one can find integers and such that the number is integer?
Solution
Answer: no. Let and let be equal to some irreducible fraction with the denominator such that the squares of integers are never congruent to modulo (i.e., is a quadratic nonresidue modulo ). For example, let . Transform the expression from the problem condition: For this number to be integer, must be divisible by , which is impossible. Hence for and such integers and don't exist.
Final answer
No
Techniques
Quadratic residuesTechniques: modulo, size analysis, order analysis, inequalities