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Number theory Difficulty 5.5 AIME, harder Find the answer

Find all triples of primes (p,q,r)(p,q,r) satisfying 3p45q44r2=263p^{4}-5q^{4}-4r^{2}=26.

A number or a short expression. Spacing and $ signs are ignored.

Solution

We are tasked with finding all triples of primes (p,q,r)(p, q, r) that satisfy the equation:

3p45q44r2=26. 3p^4 - 5q^4 - 4r^2 = 26.

We begin by analyzing the equation with respect to the properties of prime numbers.

1. Testing Small Primes:
- Since p4 p^4 , q4 q^4 , and r2 r^2 grow rapidly for primes larger than a few small values, it's practical to test small primes for possible values of pp, qq, and rr.

2. **Case p=5 p = 5 **:
- Assume p=5 p = 5 , substitute into the equation:
3(5)45q44r2=26. 3(5)^4 - 5q^4 - 4r^2 = 26.
3×6255q44r2=26. 3 \times 625 - 5q^4 - 4r^2 = 26.
18755q44r2=26. 1875 - 5q^4 - 4r^2 = 26.
5q4+4r2=1849. 5q^4 + 4r^2 = 1849.

3. **Testing q=3 q = 3 **:
- Assume q=3 q = 3 , substitute into the equation:
5(3)4+4r2=1849. 5(3)^4 + 4r^2 = 1849.
5×81+4r2=1849. 5 \times 81 + 4r^2 = 1849.
405+4r2=1849. 405 + 4r^2 = 1849.
4r2=1444. 4r^2 = 1444.
r2=361. r^2 = 361.
r=19. r = 19.

4. Verification:
- Verify the initially assumed and calculated primes (p,q,r)=(5,3,19)(p, q, r) = (5, 3, 19):
3×545×344×192=26. 3 \times 5^4 - 5 \times 3^4 - 4 \times 19^2 = 26.
Calculate each term:
3×625=1875,5×81=405,4×361=1444. 3 \times 625 = 1875, \quad 5 \times 81 = 405, \quad 4 \times 361 = 1444.
18754051444=26. 1875 - 405 - 1444 = 26.

Thus, the only triple of primes (p,q,r)(p, q, r) that satisfies the equation is:

(5,3,19). \boxed{(5, 3, 19)}.

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