Let a, b be positive real numbers with b−a>2. Prove that for any two distinct integers m, n in the interval [a,b), there is a nonempty set S consisting of some integers in the interval [ab,(a+1)(b+1)), such that mn∏x is a square of a rational number. (Posed by Yu Hongbing)
Solution
We first prove the following lemma:
Lemma. Let u be an integer with a≤u<u+1<b. Then there are two distinct integers x, y in the interval [ab,(a+1)(b+1)), such that u(u+1)xy is a square of an integer.
Proof of lemma. Let v be the smallest integer not less than uab, i.e. v satisfies uab≤v<uab+1; hence ab≤uv<ab+u(ab+a+b+1),1◯ and thus ab<(u+1)v=uv+v<ab+u+uab+1<ab+a+b+1 (since a≤u<b).2◯ (Here we have used a well-known result: the function f(t)=t+tab (a≤t≤b) attains its maximum at t=a or b.)
By ① and ②, we see that uv and (u+1)v are two distinct integers in the interval I=[ab,(a+1)(b+1)). Let x=uv and y=(u+1)v. Then u(u+1)xy=v2 is a square of an integer number. We have verified the lemma.
Going back to the original problem, suppose that m<n. Then a≤m≤n−1<b. It follows from the lemma that for every k=m,m+1,…,n−1, there exist xk, yk, two distinct integers in the interval [ab,(a+1)(b+1)), and integer Ak, such that k(k+1)xkyk=Ak2. Multiplying all together, we find that mn(m+1)2⋯(n−1)2∏k=mn−1xkyk=k=m∏n−1Ak2 is a square of an integer.
Let S be the set of numbers that appear in xi, yi (m≤i≤n−1) odd times. If S is nonempty, then it follows from the above equality that mn∏xi is a square of a rational number.
If S is empty, then mn is a square of an integer. Since a+b>2ab, we have ab+a+b+1>ab+2ab+1, i.e. (a+1)(b+1)>ab+1, which means that there is at least an integer in the interval [ab,(a+1)(b+1)). As a result there is a perfect square in the interval [ab,(a+1)(b+1)). Suppose that r2∈[ab,(a+1)(b+1)) (r∈Z), and let S′={r2}. Then mn∏x∈S′x is a square of a rational number.
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