How to find out the last pair

Determine all pairs ( x , y ) (x, y) of non-negative integers such that x y 2 = y x x^{y^2}=y^x .

Find the sum of all values of x x and y y .


The answer is 50.

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1 solution

Utkarsh Dwivedi
Nov 17, 2015

Well, I figured it this way :-

Clearly, one can deduce that both x x and y y must be powers of same prime number. Let x = y p x=y^{p} where p p could be positive or negative or zero, for we don't know which among x x or y y is greater, of course it is possible to deduce that too beforehand but I supposed it this way.

Now, x = y p x=y^{p} . Putting this in our equation gives us y p y 2 = y y p y^{py^{2}}=y^{y^{p}} . Now, further simplifying leaves us with p = y p 2 p=y^{p-2} .

Now, we need to use logic and try putting different values for p p and y y . Clearly, p p could not be 5 5 or more. One may now eisily put values and find that the only possible values of p p and y y are ( 3 , 3 ) , ( 4 , 2 ) , ( 1 , 1 ) (3,3), (4,2),(1,1) respectively, which leaves us with values of x x and y y as ( 27 , 3 ) , ( 16 , 2 ) , ( 1 , 1 ) (27,3),(16,2),(1,1) . Adding them gives us the answer as 50 \boxed {50}

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