Integer coordinates

Algebra Level 5

On the graph y = ( x 2017 ) 2017 x 2 y=(x-2017)^{2017-x^2} , how many points are there with integer coordinates?


The answer is 91.

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1 solution

Finding the number of points with integer coordinates of the graph is similar to finding the number of integral solutions of y = ( x 2017 ) 2017 x 2 y=(x-2017)^{2017-x^2} .

We note that y = ( x 2017 ) 2017 x 2 y=(x-2017)^{2017-x^2} has integral solutions when 2017 x 2 0 2017 - x^2 \ge 0 . Since 2017 = 44 \lfloor \sqrt{2017} \rfloor = 44 , there are integral solutions for 44 x 44 -44 \le x \le 44 or 89 solutions.

Also when x = 2016 x=2016 , then y = ( 2016 2017 ) 2017 201 6 2 = 1 y=(2016-2017)^{2017-2016^2} = -1 and x = 2018 x=2018 , then y = ( 2018 2017 ) 2017 201 8 2 = 1 y=(2018-2017)^{2017-2018^2} = 1 .

Therefore, the total number of integral solutions is 89 + 2 = 91 89+2=\boxed{91} .

Nice solution! But why don't we take x=2017? Won't that yield y=0??

Arunava Das - 3 years, 5 months ago

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Yes, it is one of the 89 solutions within 44 x 44 -44 \le x \le 44 .

Chew-Seong Cheong - 3 years, 5 months ago

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