Let x and y be different positive integers. Prove that x3−y3x2+4xy+y2 is never an integer.
Solutions — 2
Solution 1
By symmetry we can assume that x>y. If x−y=1, then x3−y3x2+4xy+y2=(x−y)(x2+xy+y2)x2+4xy+y2=(x−y)((x−y)2+3xy)(x−y)2+6xy==1+3xy1+6xy=1+1+3xy3xy, which is clearly not an integer. If x−y≥2, then x3−y3x2+4xy+y2=(x−y)(x2+xy+y2)x2+4xy+y2≤2(x2+xy+y2)x2+4xy+y2<<2(x2+xy+y2)2x2+2xy+2y2=1, where the last inequality follows from x2−2xy+y2=(x−y)2>0.
Solution 2
If x3−y3x2+4xy+y2 were an integer, then x3−y3x2+4xy+y2⋅(x−y)−1=x2+xy+y23xy
x3−y3x2+4xy+y2=(x−y)(x2+xy+y2)x2+4xy+y2≤2(x2+xy+y2)x2+4xy+y2<<2(x2+xy+y2)2x2+2xy+2y2=1, where the last inequality follows from x2−2xy+y2=(x−y)2>0.
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