A positive integer is called *super special* if it can be represented in the form for some positive integers . Prove that:
(a) There are infinitely many super special positive integers;
(b) 2014 is not super special.
Solution
(a) Every perfect cube of a positive integer is super special because we can write
for some positive integers .
(b) Observe that . If is super special, then we have,
for some positive integers . We may assume that is minimal with this property. Now, we will use the fact that if divides , then it divides both and . Indeed, if does not divide , then it does not divide too. The relation implies . The latter congruence is equivalent to . Now, according to Fermat's Little Theorem, we obtain , that is divides , not possible.
It follows , for some positive integers and . Replacing in (1) we get
i.e. . It follows and , and replacing in (2) we get
Clearly, , contradicting the minimality of .
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