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PrintSilk Road Mathematics Competition
number theory
Problem
Prove that for every prime number there exists infinitely many 4-tuples of pairwisely distinct positive integers such that the number is a square of an integer.
Solution
Firstly, note that the equation has infinitely many solutions in positive integers. (Pell's equation) Then for every prime number there exist infinitely many positive integers and such that . Putting , , we have It is remained to check that . Note that . If then If , then for .
Techniques
Pell's equationsTechniques: modulo, size analysis, order analysis, inequalities