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67th Czech and Slovak Mathematical Olympiad

Czech Republic number theory

Problem

Do there exist positive integers , such that is a square of an integer?
Solution
Such numbers don't exist. For the sake of contradiction, assume that there exist positive integers , , such that which rewrites as From we deduce and hence for . In particular, . However, this is impossible as the squares of integers give remainders upon division by .
Final answer
No

Techniques

Greatest common divisors (gcd)Quadratic residues