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Autumn Tournament

Number theory Difficulty 4.8 AIME Prove it Bulgaria

Solve in positive integers the equation
m1n+n1m=2+2mn(m+n)1m+1n. m^{\frac{1}{n}} + n^{\frac{1}{m}} = 2 + \frac{2}{mn(m+n)^{\frac{1}{m}+\frac{1}{n}}}.

Solution

There are no solutions in positive integers. Without loss of generality, assume that m≥nm \ge n. If n≥3n \ge 3, then
(1+1m)m=∑k=0m(mk)1mk<∑k=0m1k!<∑k=0∞1k!=e<n  ⟹  n1m>1+1m \left(1 + \frac{1}{m}\right)^m = \sum_{k=0}^{m} \binom{m}{k} \frac{1}{m^k} < \sum_{k=0}^{m} \frac{1}{k!} < \sum_{k=0}^{\infty} \frac{1}{k!} = e < n \implies n^{\frac{1}{m}} > 1 + \frac{1}{m}
Similarly, m1n>1+1nm^{\frac{1}{n}} > 1 + \frac{1}{n}, whence
m1n+n1m>2+1m+1n≥2+2mn>2+2mn(m+n)1m+1n. m^{\frac{1}{n}} + n^{\frac{1}{m}} > 2 + \frac{1}{m} + \frac{1}{n} \ge 2 + \frac{2}{mn} > 2 + \frac{2}{mn(m+n)^{\frac{1}{m}+\frac{1}{n}}}.
The cases n=1,2n = 1, 2 can be solved directly. □\square

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Source: MathNet, licensed CC-BY-4.0. Statement reproduced verbatim; metadata (topic, difficulty) added by this project.