Olympiad Maths Prep

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Problem 917

AIME late
Algebra Difficulty 5.8 Find the answer

## Task A-1.7.

Determine all pairs (m,n)(m, n) of natural numbers for which m(m4n)=n4m(m-4n)=n-4.

Official solution

## Solution.

By rearranging the given expression, we have

m24mn=n4m2+4=n(4m+1) \begin{gathered} m^{2}-4 m n=n-4 \\ m^{2}+4=n(4 m+1) \end{gathered}

or n=m2+44m+1n=\frac{m^{2}+4}{4 m+1}.

By extending the fraction by a factor of 16 and completing the numerator to a difference of squares, we get

n=16m2+6416(4m+1)=16m21+6516(4m+1)=(4m+1)(4m1)+6516(4m+1) n=\frac{16 m^{2}+64}{16 \cdot(4 m+1)}=\frac{16 m^{2}-1+65}{16 \cdot(4 m+1)}=\frac{(4 m+1)(4 m-1)+65}{16 \cdot(4 m+1)}

or

16n=4m1+654m+1 16 n=4 m-1+\frac{65}{4 m+1}

Since 654m+1\frac{65}{4 m+1} must be an integer, the number 4m+14 m+1 must be a divisor of 65. Since 65=51365=5 \cdot 13, the only possibilities for 4m+14 m+1 are 1,5,131, 5, 13, and 65.

From 4m+1=14 m+1=1 we get m=0m=0, which is not possible.

From 4m+1=54 m+1=5 we get m=1m=1 and n=1n=1, and from 4m+1=134 m+1=13 we get m=3m=3 and n=32+443+1=1n=\frac{3^{2}+4}{4 \cdot 3+1}=1.

From 4m+1=654 m+1=65 we get m=16m=16 and n=162+4416+1=4n=\frac{16^{2}+4}{4 \cdot 16+1}=4.

1 point

Therefore, all such pairs of numbers (m,n)(m, n) are (1,1),(3,1)(1,1), (3,1), and (16,4)(16,4).

Note: Points can also be awarded for correct solutions without proving that these are all the solutions. For both pairs of solutions (1,1)(1,1) and (3,1)(3,1), 1 point is awarded (which corresponds to the second-to-last point in the scoring scheme), and for the pair (16,4)(16,4), 1 point is awarded (which corresponds to the last point in the scoring scheme).

## SCHOOL/CITY COMPETITION IN MATHEMATICS

## 2nd grade - high school - A variant

## February 15, 2022.

## IF A STUDENT HAS A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO SOLVING THE PROBLEM, THE COMMITTEE IS OBLIGED TO GRADE AND EVALUATE THAT APPROACH APPROPRIATELY.

Source: NuminaMath-1.5, licensed Apache-2.0. Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic, difficulty and ordering added by this site.