Solution:
The equation is equivalent to
(3x)2+2⋅32y+1=3x[2(2y+1)+1−1]
Letting a=3x and b=2y+1, we have
a2+2⋅3b=a(2b+1−1)
Case 1: b=1
We have a2−3a+6=0 which has no integer solution for a. Thus, there is no solution in this case.
Case 2: b=3
We have a2−15a+54=0, whose roots are 6 and 9, both divisible by 3. This case then has the solutions (2,1) and (3,1) for the original equation.
Case 3: b=5
We have a2−63a+486=0, whose roots are 9 and 54, both divisible by 3. We get as additional solutions (3,2) and (18,2).
Case 4: b≥7, b odd
It follows from (1) that a∣2⋅3b. Since a is divisible by 3, either a=3p for some 1≤p≤b or a=2⋅3q for some 1≤q≤b.
For the first case a=3p, let q=b−p. Then we have
2b+1−1=a+a2⋅3b=3p+2⋅3q
For the second case a=2⋅3q, let p=b−q. Then we have
2b+1−1=a+a2⋅3b=2⋅3q+3p
In either case,
2b+1−1=3p+2⋅3q
where p+q=b. Consequently, 2b+1>3p and 2b+1>2⋅3q. Thus,
3p<2b+12⋅3q<2b+1=83b+1<93b+1=332(b+1)=2⋅83b<2⋅93b=2⋅332b<2⋅332(b+1)
Thus, p,q<32(b+1). Since p=b−q and q=b−p, we get p,q>b−32(b+1)=3b−2. Therefore,
3b−2<p,q<32(b+1)
Let r=min{p,q}. Since r>3b−2≥35, then r≥2. Consequently, the right hand side of (2) is divisible by 9. Thus, 9 divides 2b+1−1. This is true only if 6∣b+1. Since b≥7, then b≥11. Thus, we can let b+1=6s for some positive integer s, and we can write
2b+1−1=26s−1=43s−1=(2s−1)(2s+1)(42s+4s+1)
Since 4s≡1mod3, then 42s+4s+1=(4s−1)2+3⋅4s is always divisible by 3 but never by 9. Furthermore, at most one of 2s−1 and 2s+1 is divisible by 3, being consecutive odd numbers. Since 3r∣2b+1−1, then either 3r−1∣2s−1 or 3r−1∣2s+1. From both cases, we have 3r−1≤2s+1. Thus,
3r−1≤2s+1≤3s=36b+1
Therefore,
3b−2−1<r−1≤6b+1
which implies b<11. However, there is no odd integer b between 7 (included) and 11 (excluded) such that 6∣b+1. There are then no solutions for this last case.
Therefore, the solutions (x,y) of the given equation are (2,1),(3,1),(3,2), and (18,2).