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Problem 2184

National Olympiad second round; IMO P1/P4
Number theory Difficulty 7.5 Prove it IMO Hk TST · Hong Kong

Find the largest integer nn satisfying the following conditions:
(i) n2n^2 can be expressed as the difference of two consecutive cubes;
(ii) 2n+792n + 79 is a perfect square.

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.

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Official solution

The answer is 181181.
Let n2=(m+1)3−m3=3m2+3m+1n^2 = (m+1)^3 - m^3 = 3m^2 + 3m + 1. This implies
(2n−1)(2n+1)=4n2−1=12m2+12m+3=3(2m+1)2. (2n - 1)(2n + 1) = 4n^2 - 1 = 12m^2 + 12m + 3 = 3(2m + 1)^2.
As (2n−1,2n+1)=(2n−1,2)=1(2n - 1, 2n + 1) = (2n - 1, 2) = 1, one of 2n−12n - 1 and 2n+12n + 1 is a square and the other is 33 times a square.

* If 2n+12n + 1 is a square, then 3∣2n−13 \mid 2n - 1, and hence n≡2(mod3)n \equiv 2 \pmod 3. But then 2n+1≡2(mod3)2n + 1 \equiv 2 \pmod 3, so 2n+12n + 1 cannot be a square. This is a contradiction.

* If 2n−12n - 1 is a square, let 2n−1=a22n - 1 = a^2 and 2n+79=b22n + 79 = b^2. This implies
80=b2−a2=(b−a)(b+a). 80 = b^2 - a^2 = (b - a)(b + a).
To maximize nn, we need to maximize b+ab + a. Since b−ab - a and b+ab + a have the same parity, the maximal case is (b−a,b+a)=(2,40)(b - a, b + a) = (2, 40). In that case, we have (a,b,n)=(19,21,181)(a, b, n) = (19, 21, 181). This means the largest nn is 181181.

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