It is given that a,b,c∈Z
Let (a−b)=−x and (b−c)=−y then (c−a)=x+y and x,y∈Z
(a−b)(b−c)(c−a)=xy(x+y)
We can then distinguish between two cases:
Case 1: If n=0
2016n=20160=1≡1(mod2016)
xy(x+y)=−2
−2=(−1)(−1)(+2)=(−1)(+1)(+2)=(+1)(+1)(−2)
(x,y)∈{(−1,−1),(−2,1),(−1,2)}
(a,b,c)=(k,k+1,k+2) and all cyclic permutations, with k∈Z
Case 2: If n>0
2016n≡0(mod2016)
xy(x+y)+4=2⋅2016n
2016=25⋅32⋅7 is the unique prime factorization.
Using module arithmetic, it can be proved that there is no solution.
Method 1: Using modulo 9
xy(x+y)+4≡0(mod9)
xy(x+y)≡0(mod9)
In general, it is impossible to find integer values for x,y to satisfy the last statement.
One way to show this is by checking all 27 possible cases modulo 9. An other one is the following:
xy(x+y)+4≡0(mod3)
xy(x+y)≡0(mod3)
x≡1(mod3) and y≡1(mod3)
x,y∈{1(mod3),4(mod3),7(mod3)}
xy(x+y)≡2(mod9) which is absurd since xy(x+y)≡5(mod9) .
Method 2: Using modulo 7
xy(x+y)+4≡0(mod7)
xy(x+y)≡3(mod7)
In general, it is impossible to find integer values for x,y to satisfy the last statement.
One way to show this is by checking all 15 possible cases modulo 7.