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Number theory Difficulty 5.4 AIME, harder Prove it Hong Kong

Determine all positive rational numbers r1r \neq 1 such that r1r1r^{\frac{1}{r-1}} is rational.

Solution

rr can be any number of the form 1+1k1 + \frac{1}{k}, where kk is an integer different from 00, 1-1.

If r>1r > 1, let r=1+mnr = 1 + \frac{m}{n} where m,nZ+m, n \in \mathbb{Z}^+ and (m,n)=1(m, n) = 1. Since
r1r1=(n+mn)nm r^{\frac{1}{r-1}} = \left(\frac{n+m}{n}\right)^{\frac{n}{m}}
and (n+m,n)=(m,n)=1(n+m, n) = (m, n) = 1, we must have n+m=amn+m = a^m and n=bmn = b^m for some a,bZ+a, b \in \mathbb{Z}^+. This gives ambm=ma^m - b^m = m. Clearly, ab+1a \ge b + 1. Therefore, we have
m=ambm=(ab)(am1+am2b++abm2+bm1)(1)(1+1++1)=m. m = a^m - b^m = (a-b)(a^{m-1} + a^{m-2}b + \dots + ab^{m-2} + b^{m-1}) \ge (1)(1+1+\dots+1) = m.
Equality must hold. This means m=1m = 1 (since otherwise a=b=1a = b = 1, contradiction) and ab=1a - b = 1. Conversely, when m=1m = 1, r=1+1nr = 1 + \frac{1}{n}, so that r1r1=(n+1n)nQr^{\frac{1}{r-1}} = \left(\frac{n+1}{n}\right)^n \in \mathbb{Q}.

If r<1r < 1, let r=1mnr = 1 - \frac{m}{n} where m,nZ+m, n \in \mathbb{Z}^+ and (m,n)=1(m, n) = 1. Since
r1r1=(nmn)nm=(nnm)nm r^{\frac{1}{r-1}} = \left(\frac{n-m}{n}\right)^{-\frac{n}{m}} = \left(\frac{n}{n-m}\right)^{\frac{n}{m}}
and (n,nm)=(n,m)=1(n, n-m) = (n, -m) = 1, we must have n=amn = a^m and nm=bmn-m = b^m for some a,bZ+a, b \in \mathbb{Z}^+. This gives ambm=ma^m - b^m = m. Again, the only solution is m=1m = 1 and ab=1a-b = 1.

When m=1m = 1, r=11nr = 1 - \frac{1}{n}. Since r>0r > 0, we need n>1n > 1. In that case, we have
r1r1=(nn1)nQ$. r^{\frac{1}{r-1}} = \left(\frac{n}{n-1}\right)^n \in \mathbb{Q}\$.
Therefore, r=1+1nr = 1 + \frac{1}{n} for n1n \ge 1 or r=11nr = 1 - \frac{1}{n} for n>1n > 1.

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