Fibonacci meets Triangular numbers

Mr. Pisano has 3 children. In 2014, they were of ages 1 \color{#D61F06} 1 , 3 \color{#D61F06}3 and 6 \color{#D61F06}6 . These numbers are three consecutive triangular numbers \color{#D61F06}\textit{triangular numbers} . In 2016, they were of ages 3 \color{#3D99F6}3 , 5 \color{#3D99F6}5 and 8 \color{#3D99F6}8 respectively. These numbers are three consecutive Fibonacci numbers \color{#3D99F6}\textit{Fibonacci numbers} .

This gives him an idea:

{ t p } \{t_p\} represents triangular numbers: 1, 3, 6, 10, …

{ f p } \{f_p\} represents Fibonacci numbers: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, …

Let m , n , k m,n,k be positive integers . How many different ( m , n , k ) (m,n,k) are there such that t m + k = f n t m + 1 + k = f n + 1 t m + 2 + k = f n + 2 \begin{array} {ll} {\color{#D61F06}t_m}+k & = & {\color{#3D99F6}f_n} \\ {\color{#D61F06}t_{m+1}}+k & = & {\color{#3D99F6}f_{n+1}} \\{\color{#D61F06}t_{m+2}}+k & = & {\color{#3D99F6}f_{n+2}} \\ \end{array}

3 4 2 1

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1 solution

Chan Lye Lee
Feb 4, 2020

Consider the differences of the first two equations: m + 1 = t m + 1 t m = f n + 1 f n = f n 1 m+1 = {\color{#D61F06}t_{m+1}-t_{m}} = {\color{#3D99F6}f_{n+1}-f_{n}}={\color{#3D99F6}f_{n-1}}

Consider the differences of the last two equations: m + 2 = t m + 2 t m + 1 = f n + 2 f n + 1 = f n m+2 = {\color{#D61F06}t_{m+2}-t_{m+1}} = {\color{#3D99F6}f_{n+2}-f_{n+1}}={\color{#3D99F6}f_{n}}

Consider the differences of the above two equations: 1 = f n f n 1 = f n 2 1 = {\color{#3D99F6}f_{n}-f_{n-1}}={\color{#3D99F6}f_{n-2}}

Now f 1 = f 2 = 1 = f n 2 {\color{#3D99F6}f_{1}=f_2=1=f_{n-2}} implies that n = 3 n=3 or n = 4 n=4 .

If n = 3 n=3 , the corresponding three consecutive Fibonacci numbers are 2 , 3 , 5 2, 3, 5 , which the differences for consecutive 2 terms are 1 and 2. And the first few triangular numbers are 1 , 3 , 6 , 10 , . . . 1,3,6,10,... which the differences for consecutive 2 terms are 2, 3, 4,.... It does not match.

Hence n = 4 n=4 . It is easy to verify that ( m , n , k ) = ( 1 , 4 , 2 ) (m,n,k) = (1,4,2) is the only solution. t 1 + 2 = 1 + 2 = 3 = f 4 t 2 + 2 = 3 + 2 = 5 = f 5 t 3 + 2 = 6 + 2 = 8 = f 6 \begin{array} {llll} {\color{#D61F06}t_1}+2 &=&{\color{#D61F06}1}+2 &=& {\color{#3D99F6}3} & = & {\color{#3D99F6}f_4} \\ {\color{#D61F06}t_2}+2 &=&{\color{#D61F06}3}+2 &=& {\color{#3D99F6}5} & = & {\color{#3D99F6}f_5} \\{\color{#D61F06}t_3}+2 &=&{\color{#D61F06}6}+2 &=& {\color{#3D99F6}8} & = & {\color{#3D99F6}f_6}\\ \end{array}

Watch this video for the explanation and discussion.

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