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Number theory Difficulty 5.7 AIME, harder Prove it China

Let nn be a square-free positive even number, kk be an integer, pp be a prime number, satisfying p<2np < 2\sqrt{n}, pnp \nmid n, pn+k2p \mid n + k^2. Prove that nn can be written as n=ab+bc+can = ab + bc + ca, where a,b,ca, b, c are distinctive positive integers.

Solution

Since nn is even, we have p2p \neq 2. As pnp \nmid n, we have pkp \nmid k. We may assume without loss of generality 0<k<p0 < k < p. Set a=ka = k, b=pkb = p - k, then c=nk(pk)p=n+k2pkc = \frac{n - k(p - k)}{p} = \frac{n + k^2}{p} - k.

By assumption, cc is an integer, and a,ba, b are distinct positive integers. It remains to be shown that c>0c > 0, and cac \neq a, bb. By the AM-GM inequality, we have nk+k2n>p\frac{n}{k} + k \ge 2\sqrt{n} > p, thus n+k2>pkn + k^2 > pk, hence c>0c > 0. If c=ac = a, then n+k2pk=k\frac{n + k^2}{p} - k = k, thus n=k(2pk)n = k(2p - k). Since nn is even, kk is also even, as a consequence nn is divisible by 44, which contradicts the fact that nn is square-free. If c=bc = b, then n=p2k2n = p^2 - k^2. Since nn is even, kk is odd, implying that nn is again divisible by 44, which is a contradiction.

We conclude that a,b,ca, b, c satisfy all the requirements, completing the proof. □

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