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Number theory Difficulty 3.2 AMC 10/12 Prove it Greece

If vv is a positive integer and the number v(v+3)v(v+3) is a perfect square, prove that vv is not a multiple of 3.

Solution

Let v(v+3)=w2v(v+3) = w^2, wZw \in \mathbb{Z}. We assume that: v=3κv = 3\kappa, κN\kappa \in \mathbb{N}^*. Then we have:
v(v+3)=3κ(3κ+3)=9κ(κ+1)=w233κ(κ+1)=w23w2 v(v+3) = 3\kappa(3\kappa+3) = 9\kappa(\kappa+1) = w^2 \Leftrightarrow 3 \cdot 3\kappa(\kappa+1) = w^2 \Rightarrow 3|w^2
from which, since 3 is a prime, it follows that 3w3|w.
Hence κ(κ+1)=(w3)2, with w3Z, and thus we have \text{Hence } \kappa(\kappa+1) = \left(\frac{w}{3}\right)^2, \text{ with } \frac{w}{3} \in \mathbb{Z}, \text{ and thus we have}
κ2<κ(κ+1)=(w3)2<(κ+1)2κ<w3<κ+1, a contradiction. \kappa^2 < \kappa(\kappa+1) = \left(\frac{w}{3}\right)^2 < (\kappa+1)^2 \Rightarrow \kappa < \left|\frac{w}{3}\right| < \kappa+1, \text{ a contradiction.}
Hence vv is not a multiple of 3.

Alternative solution:
Let v(v+3)=w2v(v+3) = w^2, wZw \in \mathbb{Z}. Then we have
v2+2v+1v2+3v<v2+4v+4(v+1)2w2<(v+2)2,wZw=v+1 if w=(v+1). \begin{align*} v^2 + 2v + 1 \le v^2 + 3v < v^2 + 4v + 4 &\Rightarrow (v+1)^2 \le w^2 < (v+2)^2, w \in \mathbb{Z} \\ &\Rightarrow w = v+1 \text{ if } w = -(v+1). \end{align*}
It follows that
v(v+3)=(v+1)23v=2v+1v=1πoλ.3. v(v+3) = (v+1)^2 \Leftrightarrow 3v = 2v+1 \Leftrightarrow v = 1 \ne \pi o \lambda .3.

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