The number 9 9 can be written as the difference of two positive numbers in 3 different ways: ⎩ ⎪ ⎨ ⎪ ⎧ 5 0 2 − 4 9 2 1 8 2 − 1 5 2 1 0 2 − 1 2 = 9 9 = 9 9 = 9 9 . How many integers N ( 1 ≤ N ≤ 1 0 0 ) are there that can be expressed as the difference of two positive numbers in exactly 3 different ways?
Bonus: Determine the number that can be written as the difference of two positive numbers in exactly 4 different ways.
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Since we are looking for N that can be written as difference of two positive integers in 3 different ways so we note that N must have at least 6 different divisors. Let's call them a , b , c , d , e f where a > b , c > d and e > f . Now
N = ⎩ ⎪ ⎨ ⎪ ⎧ a 2 − b 2 = ( a − b ) ( a + b ) = r 1 × r 2 c 2 − d 2 = ( c − d ) ( c + d ) = r 3 × r 4 e 2 − f 2 = ( e − f ) ( e + f ) = r 5 × r 6 Further note that the divisors has an integer solution if only if they share the same parity ( even or odd ). Since(for instance) : a = 2 1 ( r 1 + r 2 ) : b = 2 1 ( r 2 − r 1 ) .
case 1: if the all the divisors of N shares the odd parity then N should only have 6 different divisors and prime factor 2 shouldn't exist however the prime factors between 2 and 11(inclusive) can exist and we write as : N = ( 3 ) q 1 ( 5 ) q 2 . ( 7 ) q 3 . × ( 1 1 ) q 4 d ( N ) = ( 1 + q 1 ) . ( 1 + q 2 ) . ⋯ . ( 1 + q 4 ) = 6 . Now we need focus the total prime factors ( q 1 ) of 3 in N .
If q 1 = 1 , q 2 = 2 ⟹ N = 3 1 . 5 2 = 7 5 q 1 = 2 , q 2 = 1 ⟹ N = 3 2 . 5 = 4 5 . Also q 1 = 2 { q 4 = 1 ⟹ N = 3 2 . 1 1 1 = 9 9 q 4 = 1 ⟹ N = 3 2 . 7 = 6 3
case2: If all the divisors of N are even numbers sharing the even parity there are more that 6 divisors and exist only prime factors of 2 , 3 , 5 such that N = 2 q 1 × 3 q 2 × 5 q 3 d ( N ) = 2 q 1 × 3 q 3 × 5 q 3 = 1 0 , 1 2 d ( N ) = 8 If q 1 = 4 ⎩ ⎪ ⎨ ⎪ ⎧ q 2 = 1 N = 2 4 . 3 1 = 4 8 q 3 = 1 ⟹ N = 2 4 . 5 ⟹ N = 8 0 For d ( N < 1 0 0 ) = 1 2 will be true if and only if q 1 = 3 and q 3 = 2 hence N = 2 3 . 3 2 = 7 2 as for q 1 > 4 N > 1 0 0 .
Therefore, total required values of N = 7 that are N = 4 5 , 4 8 , 6 3 , 7 2 , 7 5 , 8 0 , 9 9 Bonus also can be processed in the same manner.