Not so tough

Find the sum of all positive integers n n for which the expression n 2 19 n + 99 n^2-19n+99 is a perfect square.


The answer is 38.

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1 solution

Tom Engelsman
Jul 30, 2017

Let n 2 19 n + 99 = k 2 n^2 - 19n + 99 = k^2 , which by the Quadratic Formula yields n = 19 ± 1 9 2 4 ( 1 ) ( 99 k 2 ) 2 = 19 ± 4 k 2 35 2 . n = \frac{19 \pm \sqrt{19^2 - 4 (1)(99-k^2)}}{2} = \frac{19 \pm \sqrt{4k^2 - 35}}{2}. Now in order for n to be an integer value, we require the discriminant 4 k 2 35 4k^2 - 35 to equal a perfect square. Hence,

4 k 2 35 = m 2 4 k 2 m 2 = 35 ( 2 k + m ) ( 2 k m ) = 5 1 7 1 . 4k^2 - 35 = m^2 \Rightarrow 4k^2 - m^2 = 35 \Rightarrow (2k+m)(2k-m) = 5^{1}7^{1}.

The integer divisor pairs of 35 include ( 1 , 35 ) ; ( 5 , 7 ) ; ( 1 , 35 ) ; ( 5 , 7 ) (1,35); (5,7); (-1,-35); (-5,-7) , and we now set up the following systems of equations against these pairs:

1 ) 2 k m = 5 ; 2 k + m = 7 k = 3 , m = 1 . 1) 2k - m = 5; 2k + m = 7 \Rightarrow \boxed{k = 3, m = 1}.

2 ) 2 k m = 1 ; 2 k + m = 35 k = 9 , m = 17 . 2) 2k - m = 1; 2k + m = 35 \Rightarrow \boxed{k = 9, m = 17}.

3 ) 2 k m = 7 ; 2 k + m = 5 k = 3 , m = 1 . 3) 2k - m = -7; 2k + m = -5 \Rightarrow \boxed{k = -3, m = 1}.

4 ) 2 k m = 35 ; 2 k + m = 1 k = 9 , m = 17 . 4) 2k - m = -35; 2k + m = -1 \Rightarrow \boxed{k = -9, m = 17}.

Our required values for k are ± 3 \pm{3} and ± 9 \pm{9} , and substituting these values back into the original expression for n gives:

k = ± 3 n = 19 ± 1 2 n = 9 , 10 . k = \pm{3} \Rightarrow n = \frac{19 \pm 1}{2} \Rightarrow n = \boxed{9, 10}.

k = ± 9 n = 19 ± 17 2 n = 1 , 18 . k = \pm{9} \Rightarrow n = \frac{19 \pm 17}{2} \Rightarrow n = \boxed{1, 18}.

Finally, the required sum of such n is 1 + 9 + 10 + 18 = 38 . 1 + 9 + 10 + 18 = \boxed{38}.

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