Find the number of positive integral ordered pairs such that the product is a power of 2.
Positive integral ordered pair means a and b are both integers and and are considered distinct.
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Assume that ( 3 6 a + b ) ( a + 3 6 b ) is a power of 2 for some integers a and b . Without loss of generality we can assume a and b are coprime and a < b
Why we can assume a and b are coprime is because if a and b have a common factor n then we can take this n common and this n would be a power of 2 and then also 3 6 a + b and a + 3 6 b would also a power of 2
Let 3 6 a + b = 2 m and a + 3 6 b = 2 n
Adding and subtracting we get 3 7 ( a + b ) = 2 m ( 2 n − m + 1 ) 3 5 ( b − a ) = 2 m ( 2 n − m − 1 )
It follows that both a + b and a − b are divisible by 2 m
This can happen if and only if a and b are divisible by 2 m − 1 .
Our assumption that a and b are coprime implies m = 1
But then 3 6 a + b = 2 which is impossible
Hence there are no ordered pairs that satify the given conditions.