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Number theory Difficulty 4.9 AIME Prove it Estonia

Do there exist integers xx and yy such that:

a. x2+(x+1)2+(x+2)2=y2x^2 + (x + 1)^2 + (x + 2)^2 = y^2?

b. x2+(x+1)2+(x+2)2+(x+3)2=y2x^2 + (x + 1)^2 + (x + 2)^2 + (x + 3)^2 = y^2?

Solution

Answer: (a) No; (b) No.

a. The integers xx, x+1x+1, x+2x+2 are congruent to 00, 11, 22 modulo 33 in some order. The squares of these integers are congruent to 00, 11, 11 modulo 33, respectively. Hence the l.h.s. of the equation is congruent to 22 while the r.h.s. is congruent to 00 or 11 modulo 33. Thus the equality cannot hold.

b. Among the integers xx, x+1x+1, x+2x+2, x+3x+3, there are two even numbers and two odd numbers. The squares of even numbers are divisible by 44 while the squares of odd numbers are congruent to 11 modulo 44. Thus the l.h.s. of the equation is congruent to 22 while the r.h.s. is congruent to 00 or 11 modulo 44. Hence the equality cannot hold.

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