Maths Olympiad Prep

Track / Stage 4 / 21 of 340 #921 of 2604

Problem 921

AMC 12 late, AIME early
Number theory Difficulty 4.0 Prove it Croatian Junior Mathematical Olympiad · Croatia

Let mm and nn be positive integers of different parity. Prove that
3m2+5mn3n2+mn \frac{3m^2 + 5mn}{3n^2 + mn}
is not a positive integer.
(Ilko Brnetić)

This one wants a proof. Work it on paper, then read the official solution and mark yourself. Be honest about it: the record is only any use to you if it is.

Next problem →

Official solution

Let dd be the greatest common divisor of mm and nn, i.e. m=dm′m = d m' and n=dn′n = d n', where m′m' and n′n' are relatively prime positive integers of different parity.
Now we need to prove that
3d2m′2+5d2m′n′3d2n′2+dm′n′=m′(3m′+5n′)n′(m′+3n′) \frac{3d^2 m'^2 + 5d^2 m' n'}{3d^2 n'^2 + d m' n'} = \frac{m'(3m' + 5n')}{n'(m' + 3n')}
is not a positive integer.
Note that 3m′+5n′3m' + 5n' and m′+3n′m' + 3n' are both odd.
If m′m' is odd and n′n' is even, the even n′(m′+3n′)n'(m' + 3n') clearly cannot divide the odd m′(3m′+5n′)m'(3m' + 5n').
Otherwise, let the odd kk be the greatest common divisor of 3m′+5n′3m' + 5n' and m′+3n′m' + 3n'. Then we have
k∣3⋅(3m′+5n′)−5⋅(m′+3n′), i.e. k∣4m′,k∣1⋅(3m′+5n′)−3⋅(m′+3n′), i.e. k∣−4n′, \begin{aligned} k &\mid 3 \cdot (3m' + 5n') - 5 \cdot (m' + 3n'), & \text{ i.e. } k &\mid 4m', \\ k &\mid 1 \cdot (3m' + 5n') - 3 \cdot (m' + 3n'), & \text{ i.e. } k &\mid -4n', \end{aligned}
from which it follows that kk divides both m′m' and n′n', so k=1k = 1 and both factors in
m′n′⋅3m′+5n′m′+3n′ \frac{m'}{n'} \cdot \frac{3m' + 5n'}{m' + 3n'}
are irreducible fractions.
Since m′+3n′>m′m' + 3n' > m', the proof is finished.

Source: MathNet, licensed CC-BY-4.0. Statement reproduced verbatim; metadata (topic, difficulty, ordering) added by this project.