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jmc

algebra intermediate

Problem

Find the least positive integer for which the equation has no integer solutions for . (The notation means the greatest integer less than or equal to .)
Solution
Suppose Then This is equivalent to or Thus, the equation has no solutions precisely when there is no integer in the interval The length of the interval is For so This means the length of the interval is greater than 1, so it must contain an integer.

We have that For the interval is Since this interval does not contain an integer.

Thus, the smallest such is
Final answer
49