Number theoryDifficulty 5.8AIME, harderProve itHong Kong
Find all positive integer(s) n such that (2n−1)(5n−1) is a perfect square.
Solution
n=1. When n=1, (21−1)(51−1)=4 is a perfect square. Suppose n>1.
* If n≡3(mod4), we have (2n−1)(5n−1)≡(2)(−1)≡3(mod5), which is not true for a square.
* If n≡1(mod4), we rewrite (2n−1)(5n−1)=(2n−1)⋅4(5n−1+5n−2+⋯+1). If this is a square, so is (2n−1)(5n−1+5n−2+⋯+1). However, (2n−1)(5n−1+5n−2+⋯+1)≡(−1)(1+1+⋯+1)=−n≡3(mod4), which is not true for a square.
* If n=2m is even, suppose (2n−1)(5n−1) is a perfect square. Let 2n−1=ds2 and 5n−1=dt2 where d is squarefree. We first show that d>1. Indeed, if d=1, then 52m−t2=1. This gives (5m−t)(5m+t)=1, which is impossible as t>0. Now, it is known that the solutions to Pell's equation x2−dy2=1 are generated by (x1+y1d)n=xn+ynd, where (x1,y1) is the fundamental solution. Claim. Let (xk,yk) be a solution to x2−dy2=1. (i) If k≡0(mod2), then xk≡1(mod2) and yk≡0(mod2). (ii) If k≡1(mod2), then xk≡x1(mod2) and yk≡y1(mod2).
Proof. (i) Let k=2l. Then we have xk+ykd=(x1+y1d)2l=(xl+yld)2=xl2+dyl2+2xlyld=2xl2−1+2xlyld. So xk=2xl2−1≡1(mod2) and yk=2xlyl≡0(mod2).
x2l+1=x2lx1+y2ly1d≡x1(mod2), y2l+1=x2ly1+x1y2l≡y1(mod2). □ Now, since 22m−1=ds2, (x,y)=(2m,s) is a solution to x2−dy2=1. By the claim, we must have x1≡0(mod2). Similarly, since 52m−1=dt2, (xk,yk)=(5m,t) is another solution. By the claim, as 5m≡x1(mod2), we must have k≡0(mod2). Let k=2l. Then we have 5m=x2l=2xl2−1. This implies 2xl2−1≡0(mod5), and hence xl2≡3(mod5). This is impossible. Therefore, the only solution is n=1.
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