Solution:
If any of H,M,T are zero, the product is 0. We can do better (examples below), so we may now restrict attention to the case when H,M,T=0.
When M∈{−2,−1,1,2}, a little casework gives all the possible (H,M,T)=(2,1,4),(4,1,2),(−1,−2,1),(1,−2,−1).
- If M=−2, i.e. H−4+T=4HT, then −15=(4H−1)(4T−1), so 4H−1∈{±1,±3,±5,±15} (only −1,+3,−5,+15 are possible) corresponding to 4T−1∈{∓15,∓5,∓3,∓1} (only +15,−5,+3,−1 are possible). But H,T are nonzero, we can only have 4H−1∈{+3,−5}, yielding (−1,−2,1) and (1,−2,−1).
- If M=+2, i.e. H+4+T=4HT, then 17=(4H−1)(4T−1), so 4H−1∈{±1,±17} (only −1,−17 are possible) corresponding to 4T−1∈{±17,±1} (only −17,−1 are possible). But H,T are nonzero, so there are no possibilities here.
- If M=−1, i.e. H−2+T=HT, then −1=(H−1)(T−1), so we have H−1∈{±1} and T−1∈{∓1}, neither of which is possible (as H,T=0).
- If M=+1, i.e. H+2+T=HT, then 3=(H−1)(T−1), so we have H−1∈{±1,±3}. Since H,T=0, H−1∈{+1,+3}, yielding (2,1,4) and (4,1,2).
Now suppose there is such a triple (H,M,T) for ∣M∣≥3. The equation in the problem gives (M2H−1)(M2T−1)=2M3+1. Note that since H,T=0, ∣2M3+1∣=∣M2H−1∣⋅∣M2T−1∣≥min(M2−1,M2+1)2=M4−2M2+1>2∣M∣3+1 gives a contradiction.