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Number theory Difficulty 8.0 Shortlist Find the answer

Find all pairs of positive integers (x,y)(x,y) with the following property:
If a,ba,b are relative prime and positive divisors of x3+y3 x^3 + y^3, then a+b1a+b - 1 is divisor of x3+y3x^3+y^3.

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Solution

To solve this problem, we need to find all pairs of positive integers (x,y)(x, y) such that if aa and bb are relatively prime positive divisors of x3+y3x^3 + y^3, then a+b1a + b - 1 is also a divisor of x3+y3x^3 + y^3.

Let's analyze the problem by considering the possible cases and simplifying the condition.

**Step 1: Simplification of x3+y3x^3 + y^3**

The sum of cubes can be expressed as:
x3+y3=(x+y)(x2xy+y2). x^3 + y^3 = (x + y)(x^2 - xy + y^2).
For the given condition, we consider two relatively prime positive divisors aa and bb of x3+y3x^3 + y^3. To satisfy the condition, a+b1a + b - 1 must also be a divisor of x3+y3x^3 + y^3.

Step 2: Analyze Specific Cases

Consider special cases for xx and yy:

1. **Case 1: x=yx = y**
x3+y3=2x3. x^3 + y^3 = 2x^3.
The condition simplifies because the divisors of 2x32x^3 are of the form 2d32d^3, where dd is a divisor of xx. Two relatively prime divisors can be taken as 11 and 2x32x^3 itself, making 1+2x31=2x31 + 2x^3 - 1 = 2x^3 clearly a divisor. Therefore, pairs (2k,2k)(2^k, 2^k) for non-negative integers kk satisfy the condition.

2. **Case 2: x=2z,y=3zx = 2z, y = 3z**
x3+y3=(2z)3+(3z)3=8z3+27z3=35z3. x^3 + y^3 = (2z)^3 + (3z)^3 = 8z^3 + 27z^3 = 35z^3.
Here, considering relative primality, the divisors can be selected as 55 and 77. It satisfies 5+71=115 + 7 - 1 = 11 as a divisor of 35z335z^3. Thus, pairs (23k,3k)(2 \cdot 3^k, 3^k) for non-negative integers kk are solutions.

3. **Case 3: x=3z,y=2zx = 3z, y = 2z**
x3+y3=(3z)3+(2z)3=27z3+8z3=35z3. x^3 + y^3 = (3z)^3 + (2z)^3 = 27z^3 + 8z^3 = 35z^3.
Similarly, taking relatively prime divisors 55 and 77 satisfies the condition. Hence, pairs (3k,23k)(3^k, 2 \cdot 3^k) also satisfy the condition.

Conclusion:

The complete set of solutions for pairs (x,y)(x, y) in positive integers that satisfy the given condition are:
(2k,2k),(23k,3k),and(3k,23k) \boxed{(2^k, 2^k)}, \quad \boxed{(2 \cdot 3^k, 3^k)}, \quad \text{and} \quad \boxed{(3^k, 2 \cdot 3^k)}
for non-negative integers kk.

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Source: Omni-MATH, licensed Apache-2.0. Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic and difficulty added by this site.