Count the ordered pairs again!

Find the number of positive integral ordered pairs ( a , b ) (a,b) such that the product ( 36 a + b ) ( a + 36 b ) (36a+b)(a+36b) is a power of 2.

Positive integral ordered pair means a and b are both integers and ( 11 , 12 ) (11,12) and ( 12 , 11 ) (12,11) are considered distinct.


The answer is 0.

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1 solution

Ravi Dwivedi
Jul 15, 2015

Assume that ( 36 a + b ) ( a + 36 b ) (36a+b)(a+36b) is a power of 2 for some integers a a and b b . Without loss of generality we can assume a a and b b are coprime and a < b a<b

Why we can assume a a and b b are coprime is because if a a and b b have a common factor n n then we can take this n n common and this n n would be a power of 2 2 and then also 36 a + b 36a+b and a + 36 b a+36b would also a power of 2 2

Let 36 a + b = 2 m 36a+b=2^m and a + 36 b = 2 n a+36b=2^n

Adding and subtracting we get 37 ( a + b ) = 2 m ( 2 n m + 1 ) 37(a+b)=2^m(2^{n-m}+1)\\ 35 ( b a ) = 2 m ( 2 n m 1 ) 35(b-a)=2^m(2^{n-m}-1)

It follows that both a + b a+b and a b a-b are divisible by 2 m 2^m

This can happen if and only if a a and b b are divisible by 2 m 1 2^{m-1} .

Our assumption that a a and b b are coprime implies m = 1 m=1

But then 36 a + b = 2 36a+b=2 which is impossible

Hence there are no ordered pairs that satify the given conditions.

Moderator note:

For completeness, you should explain:

1) Why we have WLOG a , b a, b are coprime.
2) Why we have n m 0 n - m \geq 0
3) Check your calculations. I believe it should be 35 ( b a ) = 2 m ( 2 n m 1 35 (b-a) = 2^m ( 2^{n-m } - 1 . (See point 2)

Really great solution sir!

Adarsh Kumar - 5 years, 11 months ago

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