Find the sum of all positive intever values of x , y that satisfy
x 4 + y 4 = 2 0 1 5 .
This section requires Javascript.
You are seeing this because something didn't load right. We suggest you, (a) try
refreshing the page, (b) enabling javascript if it is disabled on your browser and,
finally, (c)
loading the
non-javascript version of this page
. We're sorry about the hassle.
Nice, easy and clear. Upvoted.
x 4 ≡ 0 , 1 ( m o d 4 )
y 4 ≡ 0 , 1 ( m o d 4 )
⇒ ( x 4 + y 4 ) ≡ 0 , 1 , 2 ( m o d 4 )
⇒ But 2 0 1 5 ≡ 3 ( m o d 4 )
⇒ So no such x or y exists. Therefore the ans is 0
Key technique:What we are going to do here is divide 'x' and 'y' into various categories based on the remainder they leave when divided by 4.Keep in mind that 2015 leaves a remainder of 3 when divided by4. ⎩ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎨ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎧ x 4 ∗ a 4 ∗ a + 1 4 ∗ a + 2 4 ∗ a + 3 ⎩ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎨ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎧ b 4 ∗ b 4 ∗ b + 1 4 ∗ b + 2 4 ∗ b + 3 Now, x 4 and y 4 can leave remainders, ⎩ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎨ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎧ 0 ( 4 ∗ b , 4 ∗ a ) 1 ( 4 ∗ b + 1 , 4 ∗ a + 1 ) 0 ( 4 ∗ b + 2 , 4 ∗ a + 2 ) 1 ( 4 ∗ b + 3 , 4 ∗ b + 3 ) . Thus, L . H . S can leave remainders, 0 , 1 , 2 when divide by 4 but the R . H . S leaves a remainder of 3 when divided by 4 . Thus,there are no possible pairs.
4 2 0 1 5 = 6 . 6 9 9 9 . ⟹ x , y < 7 . H o w e v e r 2 0 1 5 i s o d d ∴ o n e o f x 4 a n d y 4 m u s t b e o d d o t h e r e v e n . S t a r t i n g w i t h x = 1 , 2 0 1 5 − 1 4 = 2 0 1 4 i s n o t a f o u r t h p o w e r o f a n i n t e g e r . x = 3 , 2 0 1 5 − 3 4 = 1 9 3 4 i s n o t a f o u r t h p o w e r o f a n i n t e g e r . x = 5 , 2 0 1 5 − 5 4 = 3 9 0 i s n o t a f o u r t h p o w e r o f a n i n t e g e r . x < 7 s o t h e r e a r e n o o t h e r e i n t e g e r s t o c h e c k . ∴ n o i n t e g e r x , y s a t i s f y t h e e q u a t i o n .
I wonder how come the "correct" answer is zero if there are no solutions to the given problem. If it was given to write THE NUMBER OF POSITIVE INTEGER solution then yes, zero is the answer, but in this case the sum is empty and an empty sum can be zero, one or whatever one defines.
Taking mod 4 the L.H.S should be 1 or 0 or 2,but the right side is 3 modulo 4.contradiction,such number don't exist.
Hence,the answer is 0 .
the exponent could even be 2,the exact same argument would still work.
Problem Loading...
Note Loading...
Set Loading...
The fourth power of x leaves a residue of 0 or 1 mod 4. However, 2015 is congruent to 3 mod 4. Thus, no values of x and y satisfy the equation.