Let x=dp, y=dq, where d=(x,y) is the greatest common divisor of x,y, p,q∈N, (p,q)=1, p>q, then
(d(p−q))d2pq=(dp)dq(dq)dp⇔(d(p−q))dpq=(dp)q(dq)p⇔ddpq(p−q)dpq=dp+qpqqp.
We want to prove: p+q<dpq,
Suppose p+q≥dpq, then (p−q)dpq=dp+q−dpqpqqp⇒p∣(p−q)dpq and q∣(p−q)dpq, but (p−q,p)=(p−q,q)=(p,q)=1⇒p=1,q=1 (contradiction) therefore p+q<dpq, so ddpq−p−q(p−q)dpq=pqqp⇒(p−q)∣pqqp, and also (p−q,p)=(p−q,q)=(p,q)=1⇒p−q=1, that is p=q+1, therefore
ddpq−p−q=pqqq+1,(1)
so p,q are divisors of d. Since (p,q)=1, d can be written as d=s×t, where the prime factors of t are only p, the prime factors of s are only q, and (s,t)=1. From equation (1) we get:
tdpq−p−q=pq=(q+1)q.(2)
Since dpq−p−q is coprime to q, from (2) we know t must be a p-th power of some natural number, let t=t1q. Then
t1dpq−p−q=q+1⇔t1dq(q+1)−(2q+1)=q+1, since q+1>1, hence t1>1. If q≥3, then
dq(q+1)−(2q+1)≥3(q+1)−(2q+1)=q+2⇒t1dpq−p−q≥2q+2>q+1 (contradiction)
If q=2, then t16d−5=3⇒t1=3, d=1 and x=d(q+1)=3, y=dq=2 (contradiction). Therefore
q=1, then t12d−3=2⇒t1=2, d=2⇒x=4,y=2.