Adding 1 to both the given numbers we get:
a+1a3b−1+1 is also a positive integer so we have:
a+1a3b+a = a+1a(a2b+1) is a positive integer
⟹(a+1)∣(a2b+1) ⟹(a+1)∣(((a+1)−1)2b+1) ⟹(a+1)∣(b+1)
Similarly,
b−1b3a+1+1 is also a positive integer so we have:
b−1b3a+b = b−1b(b2a+1) is a positive integer
⟹(b−1)∣(b2a+1) ⟹(b−1)∣(((b−1)+1)2a+1) ⟹(b−1)∣(a+1)
Combining above 2 results we get:
(b−1)∣(b+1)
⟹b=2,3
Case1:b=2 ⟹a+1∣3⟹a=2 which is a valid solution.
Case2:b=3 ⟹a+1∣4⟹a=1,3 which are valid solutions.
Thus, all solutions are: (2,2),(1,3),(3,3)
Kris17