Solution:
Let us first consider the pairs (m,n) with m≤n. We have
52=m1+n1−mn1≤m1+m1−mn1<m2
from which m<5. Moreover
52=m1+n1−mn1>m1
from which m>25, that is, since m is an integer, m≥3. Setting m=3 we obtain
31+n1−3n1=52
from which n=10. Setting m=4 we obtain
41+n1−4n1=52
from which n=5. Finally, considering the symmetric case in which n≤m we get that the solution pairs must belong to the set {(3,10),(4,5),(10,3),(5,4)}. It is finally immediate to verify that the four pairs above are indeed solutions of the given equation.
Second solution.
Multiplying the given equation by 10mn (recall that m and n are nonzero), we obtain
4mn−10m−10n+10=0,
that is,
(2m−5)(2n−5)=15
Here too let us first assume that m≤n. The only pairs of integers whose product is 15, with the first term less than or equal to the second, are (3,5),(1,15),(−5,−3) and (−15,−1).
- Setting 2m−5=1, 2n−5=15, we obtain (m,n)=(3,10).
- Setting 2m−5=−5, 2n−5=−3, we obtain m=0, which is not acceptable.
- Setting 2m−5=−15, 2n−5=−1, we obtain (m,n)=(−5,2), which is not acceptable since m is negative.
Then, considering the pairs (m,n) with n<m, we obtain that the solutions are {(3,10),(4,5),(10,3),(5,4)}.