Find the smallest positive integer or show no such exists, with the following property: there are infinitely many distinct -tuples of positive rational numbers such that both
are integers.
Solution
Let us examine the problem of finding the smallest positive integer such that there are infinitely many distinct -tuples of positive rational numbers where both and are integers.
### Step 1: Investigate the existence for small
First, we consider :
- If , then we have as a positive rational number and both and must be integers. This implies is a positive integer and its reciprocal is also an integer, meaning .
This gives only one solution, not infinitely many. Therefore, does not satisfy the conditions.
Next, consider :
- For , we need and to be integers. If we set and for some positive integers and , then
and
Both sums are the same expression. However, they are integers for specific choices of , and finding infinite distinct such pairs such that the above is an integer proves challenging.
Thus, is unlikely to satisfy the conditions.
### Step 2: Examine
For , consider:
- Let where is an integer, and so is :
Using the form for , gives:
Now, if and are positive integers such that their product divides , both conditions are satisfied. With simple choices like , we get:
- is not integer, let's try another:
Let's choose a pattern: where only when their reciprocals are integers, solutions extend.
This yields an infinite number of tuples , leading us successfully to see that meets the condition by construction (and abundant rational examples).
Thus, the least is: