Inspired by Arjen : Difference of square in 3 distinct ways

The number 99 99 can be written as the difference of two positive numbers in 3 different ways: { 5 0 2 4 9 2 = 99 1 8 2 1 5 2 = 99 1 0 2 1 2 = 99. \begin{cases} \begin{aligned} 50^2-49^2 &=99 \\18^2 -15^2 &= 99 \\ 10^2 -1^2 &= 99. \end{aligned} \end{cases} How many integers N ( 1 N 100 ) N\,(1\leq N\leq 100) 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.

Inspiration


The answer is 7.

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1 solution

Naren Bhandari
Apr 8, 2018

Since we are looking for N N that can be written as difference of two positive integers in 3 different ways so we note that N N must have at least 6 different divisors. Let's call them a , b , c , d , e f a,b,c,d,e f where a > b , c > d a>b , c> d and e > f 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 N = \begin{cases} a^2 -b^2 = (a-b)(a+b) =r_1 \times r_2 \\c^2 -d^2=(c-d)(c+d)= r_3 \times r_4 \\ e^2 -f^2=(e-f)(e+f) = r_5\times r_6 \end{cases} Further note that the divisors has an integer solution if only if they share the same parity ( even or odd ). Since(for instance) : a = 1 2 ( r 1 + r 2 ) : b = 1 2 ( r 2 r 1 ) a = \frac{1}{2}\,(r_1+r_2) : b = \frac{1}{2} \,(r_2 -r_1) .


case 1: if the all the divisors of N N shares the odd parity then N N should only have 6 6 different divisors and prime factor 2 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 . × ( 11 ) q 4 d ( N ) = ( 1 + q 1 ) . ( 1 + q 2 ) . . ( 1 + q 4 ) = 6 N = (3)^{q_1} (5)^{q_2}. (7)^{q_3}.\times (11)^{q_4} \\ d(N)\\ = (1+q_1).(1+q_2).\cdots.(1+q_4) =6 . Now we need focus the total prime factors ( q 1 ) (q_1) of 3 3 in N N .

If q 1 = 1 , q 2 = 2 N = 3 1 . 5 2 = 75 q_1 =1, q_2 =2 \implies N = 3^1.5^2 ={\color{#3D99F6}75} q 1 = 2 , q 2 = 1 N = 3 2 . 5 = 45 q_1 =2 , q_2 = 1\implies N = 3^2 .5 ={\color{#3D99F6} 45} . Also q 1 = 2 { q 4 = 1 N = 3 2 . 1 1 1 = 99 q 4 = 1 N = 3 2 . 7 = 63 q_1 = 2 \quad \begin{cases} q_4 =1 \implies N = 3^2.11^1={\color{#3D99F6}99} \\ q _ 4=1 \implies N = 3^2.7 = {\color{#3D99F6}63} \end{cases}


case2: If all the divisors of N N are even numbers sharing the even parity there are more that 6 6 divisors and exist only prime factors of 2 , 3 , 5 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 = 10 , 12 d ( N ) 8 N = 2^{q_1}\times 3^{q_2}\times 5^{q_3}\\ d(N) = 2^{q_1}\times 3^{q_{3}}\times 5_{q_{3}} = 10, 12 \qquad d(N) \neq 8 If q 1 = 4 { q 2 = 1 N = 2 4 . 3 1 = 48 q 3 = 1 N = 2 4 . 5 N = 80 q_1 = 4 \begin{cases} q_ 2 = 1 \\N = 2^4.3^1 ={\color{#3D99F6} 48} \\ q_3 = 1 \implies N = 2^4.5 \implies N ={\color{#3D99F6} 80}\end{cases} For d ( N < 100 ) = 12 d(N <100 ) = 12 will be true if and only if q 1 = 3 q_1 = 3 and q 3 = 2 q_3 =2 hence N = 2 3 . 3 2 = 72 N = 2^3.3^2 ={\color{#3D99F6}72} as for q 1 > 4 q_1 > 4 N > 100 N > 100 .

Therefore, total required values of N = 7 N = 7 that are N = 45 , 48 , 63 , 72 , 75 , 80 , 99 N = 45,48,63,72,75,80,99 Bonus also can be processed in the same manner.

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