Maths Olympiad Prep

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Number theory Difficulty 5.6 AIME, harder Prove it China

Determine all possible values of integer kk for which there exist positive integers aa and bb such that b+1a+a+1b=k\frac{b+1}{a} + \frac{a+1}{b} = k.

Solution

choose any (a,b)(a, b) such that bb is the smallest. Then the quadratic equation
x2+(1kb)x+b2+b=0 x^2 + (1 - kb)x + b^2 + b = 0
has an integral root x=ax = a. Let x=ax = a' be the second root, it follows from a+a=kb1a + a' = kb - 1 that aZa' \in \mathbb{Z}, and from
aa=b(b+1) a \cdot a' = b(b + 1)
that a>0a' > 0. Hence, we have
b+1a+a+1b=k. \frac{b+1}{a'} + \frac{a'+1}{b} = k.
And it follows from the assumption on bb that
ab,ab.a \geq b, a' \geq b.
So one of aa and aa' is equal to bb. Without loss of generality, we may assume a=ba = b, so k=2+2bk = 2 + \frac{2}{b}, and so b2b \mid 2 i.e., b=1b = 1 or 22, and k=3k = 3 or 44, respectively.
If a=b=1a = b = 1, then k=4k = 4; if a=b=2a = b = 2, then k=3k = 3.
Consequently, k=3k = 3 or 44 is the only solution. \square

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