Number theoryDifficulty 7.3National olympiad, round 2Prove itIran
Sn={x2+ny2:x,y∈Z}. Find all positive integers n such that there exists an element of Sn which doesn't belong to any of the sets S1,S2,…,Sn−1.
Solution
Answer. Any square-free number.
Since Sj doesn't exist for j≤1, the statement is held for i=1. On the other hand if for an integer n>1 there exists a prime number p, which p2∣n, n is not a valid number; Because for all integer numbers x,y x2+ny2=x2+(p2n)(yp)2. which means that Sn⊆Sp2n. Now we prove that any square-free number has the property.
Lemma. If n is a square-free positive integer then there are distinct odd prime numbers pk for 1≤k≤n−1 where −n is a quadratic residue modulo pk but −k is not. i.e. in Legendre symbol (pk−n)=1,(pk−k)=−1.(1) Proof. Assume that n=q1…qm, where qi's are prime numbers. The claim is that at least one of the qi's does not divide k; otherwise if for 1≤i≤mqi divides k then n∣k⟶n≤k; Which is a contradiction. Without loss of generality assume that qm is one of the numbers that does not divide k. So k=q1…qrℓ1…ℓtD2 where 0≤r<m. If q1…qmℓ1…ℓt is an odd number then the numbers 4,q1,…,qm,ℓ1,…,ℓt are pairwise coprime so by applying the Chinese remainder theorem there exists an integer x where ⎩⎨⎧x≡3(mod4)x≡−1(modqi)x≡u(modqm)x≡−1(modℓi)1≤i≤m−11≤i≤t. Where u is an integer number which −u is a non-quadratic residue modulo qm. Notice that thus qm is an odd prime number such a number exists. Because x and 4q1…qmℓ1…ℓt are coprime, By applying Dirichlet theorem, there are infinitely many prime numbers of the form x+4q1…qmℓ1…ℓtd. Take one of those like pk where pk>max(n,3). By applying the law of quadratic reciprocity for odd prime numbers pk and qj (qjpk)(pkqj)=(−1)4(pk−1)(qj−1).(2) pi≡3(mod4)⟹2pk−1≡1(mod2) So (−1)2(pk−1)(qj−1)=(−1)2qj−1. It's easy to check that (qj−1)=(−1)2qj−1. Also for 1≤j≤m−1 (qjpk)=(qj−1). Then according to (2) (qjpk)(pkqj)=(qj−1)(pkqj)=(−1)4(pk−1)(qj−1)=(−1)2qj−1=(qj−1). So (pkqj)=1∀j:1≤j≤m−1 In the same way (pkℓs)=1∀s:1≤s≤t. In addition (qmpk)(pkqm)=(−1)4(pk−1)(qm−1)=(−1)2qm−1=(qm−1). Also (qmpk)(pkqm)=(qmu)(pkqm)=(qm−1×−u)(pkqm)=−(qm−1)(pkqm) So −(qm−1)(pkqm)=(qm−1)⟶(pkqm)=−1 Since the Legendre symbol is a completely multiplicative function of its top argument, then (pk−k)(pk−n)=(pk−1)j=1∏r(pkqj)s=1∏t(pkℓs)(pkD2)=(pk−1)j=1∏rs=1∏t1=−1,=(pk−1)j=1∏m(pkqj)=(pk−1)(pkqm)j=1∏m−11=−1×−1=1. So if n and ℓ1…ℓt are odd numbers, pk has been found. If one is ℓj's is two; Assume that ℓt=2 and take ⎩⎨⎧x≡7(mod8)x≡−1(modqi)x≡u(modqm)x≡−1(modℓi)1≤i≤m−11≤i≤t−1. Since qm does not divide k then it is an odd prime number and like before u exists. Because x and 8q1…qmℓ1…ℓt−1 are coprime, By applying Dirichlet theorem, there are infinitely many prime numbers of the form x+8q1…qmℓ1…ℓt−1d. Take one of those like pk where pk>max(n,3). Thus (pk2)=(−1)8pk2−1=1 So (pkℓ1)=1 and the proof is the same as before. Also if one of the q1,q2,…,qm−1 is two the proof is still as before. Now assume that qm=2. ⎩⎨⎧x≡3(mod8)x≡−1(modqi)x≡−1(modℓi)1≤i≤m−11≤i≤t−1. In this case (By applying Dirichlet theorem we can take pk similarly) (pk2)=(−1)8pk2−1=−1. So (pkqm)=−1. And the proof of the lemma is done.
Now back to the main problem. Take p1,p2,…,pn−1 as lemma says. Because −n is a quadratic residue mod pi, there exists an integer number a such that a2≡−n(modpi)⟹a2+n≡0(modpi). Also (a+pi)2+n−(a2+n)=pi(2a+pi). Since n=0(modpi) and pi is odd then 2a is not divisible by pi and then 2a+pi is not divisible by pi. So if a2+n is divisible by pi2 then (a+pi)2+n is not and (a+pi)2+n≡0(modpi). So there exists an integer number xi∈{a,a+p} which {(xi)2+n≡0(modpi)(xi)2+n≡0(modpi2). The numbers p12,p22,…,pn−12 are pairwise coprime so by applying Chinese remainder theorem there exists an integer number x such that x≡xk(modpk2)∀j:2≤j≤l. Claim 1. The number x2+n doesn't belong to any of the subsets S1,S2,…,Sn. Proof. If not, then there is an integer 1≤r≤n−1 which x2+n∈Sr. Because 1≤r≤n−1 so take pr. Also there exists integer numbers u,v such that x2+n=u2+rv2.(3) By the definition of pr ⎩⎨⎧x≡xr(modpr),(xr)2+n≡0(modpr),(xr)2+n≡0(modpr2).(4) According to equation (3) u2+rv2≡0(modpr). Since r=0(modpr), then u≡0(modpr)⟺v≡0(modpr). So if one of them is divisible by pi then the another one is too and then the whole number u2+rv2 will be divisible by pi2 which contradicts with (4). Also u2+rv2≡0(modpr)⟹u2≡(−r)v2(modpr). By Taking 2pr−1 exponent of each side of the last equivalence upr−1≡(−r)2pr−1vpr−1(modpr).(5) Since u,v≡0(modpr) by Fermat's little theorem upr−1≡vpr−1≡1(modpr) And from (5) (−r)2pr−1≡1(modpr). Let g be the primitive root of the Zp∗ so there exists an integer number m which gm≡−r(modpr). By Taking 2pr−1 exponent of each side of the equivalence g2pr−1≡(−r)2pr−1≡1(modpr). Since the order of g is pr−1 in Zp∗ pr−1∣m2pr−1⟹2∣m. So m is an even number and then −r is a quadratic residue which is a contradiction. This contradiction shows that our first assumption that x2+n belongs to Sr is wrong so n has the property that is mentioned in the question. So all of the numbers with the property have been found. □
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