Determine all positive integers for which is the sixth power of an integer.
, 2019
Solution
Clearly, satisfies the required condition. We now proceed to rule out all integers .
If is odd, , then falls strictly between the squares of two consecutive integers,
so it is not the square, and hence all the less the sixth power of an integer.
Similarly, if , then falls strictly between the cubes of two consecutive integers,
so it is not the cube, and hence all the less the sixth power of an integer.
If , then , so it is not the square, and hence all the less the sixth power of an integer.
Finally, to rule out the only case left, , notice that
Since , it has a prime divisor , , so is not a quadratic residue modulo . Consequently, is not a quadratic residue modulo , and hence all the less the square of an integer, let alone the sixth power of one such.