Almost Pythagoras Triplet?

a 2 + b 3 = c 2 a^2+b^3=c^2

How many positive integral triple(s) ( a , b , c ) (a,b,c) are there such that the equation above is fulfilled?

1 9 Infinitely Many 7 6 4 11

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4 solutions

Kalpok Guha
Feb 23, 2015

We know,

[ n ( n + 1 ) 2 ] 2 + ( n + 1 ) 3 = [ ( n + 1 ) ( n + 2 ) 2 ] 2 [\frac {n(n+1)}{2}]^2+(n+1)^3=[\frac {(n+1)(n+2)}{2}]^2

There are infinite triples of [ n , ( n + 1 ) , ( n + 2 ) ] [n,(n+1),(n+2)]

Thus the answer is I n f i n i t e l y M a n y \boxed{Infinitely Many}

I didn't know this identity, so I approached it in a slightly different way.

a 2 + b 3 = c 2 c 2 a 2 = b 3 ( c + a ) ( c a ) = b 3 a^2+b^3=c^2\implies c^2-a^2=b^3\implies (c+a)(c-a)=b^3


Lemma: Every odd positive integer x x can be expressed as ( z a ) ( z + a ) (z-a)(z+a) for some integer a , z a,z

Proof: Every odd positive integer can be expressed in the form 2 i + 1 2i+1 for some integer i i . Take z = i + 1 z=i+1 and a = i a=i . So, we get,

( z a ) ( z + a ) = x = 2 i + 1 ( i + 1 i ) ( i + 1 + i ) = 2 i + 1 2 i + 1 = 2 i + 1 (z-a)(z+a)=x=2i+1\\ \implies (i+1-i)(i+1+i)=2i+1\\ \implies 2i+1=2i+1

This shows that the lemma we have established is indeed an identity for all odd positive integers x x and hence the lemma is proved.


Using this lemma and the fact that b 3 b^3 is odd for odd b b , we can conclude that for every odd b b , we always have some integral values of a , c a,c . And since the set of odd positive integers is infinite, we have infinitely many integral triples of ( a , b , c ) (a,b,c) .

Prasun Biswas - 6 years, 3 months ago

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Thank you.This is really a nice solution and I did not knew the lemma .But knowing the identity made it easier.

Kalpok Guha - 6 years, 3 months ago

By the way, you might consider editing your solution since the infinitely many triples aren't of the form of ( n , ( n + 1 ) , ( n + 2 ) ) (n,(n+1),(n+2)) .

Take n = 0 n=0 . The triple ( 0 , 1 , 2 ) (0,1,2) doesn't satisfy the equation.


The triples will be of the form ( n ( n + 1 ) 2 , n + 1 , ( n + 1 ) ( n + 2 ) 2 ) \left(\dfrac{n(n+1)}{2},n+1,\dfrac{(n+1)(n+2)}{2} \right)

Prasun Biswas - 6 years, 3 months ago

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but for every triple n , ( n + 1 ) , ( n + 2 ) n,(n+1),(n+2) we will get the other triple integral.And you should put the the value of n n in the the right place.

Kalpok Guha - 6 years, 3 months ago

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It works like this: Suppose ( 0 , 1 , 2 ) (0,1,2) is a possible triple for ( a , b , c ) (a,b,c) . Then, a = 0 , b = 1 , c = 2 a=0,b=1,c=2 must satisfy the given equation. And you specified that the triples are of the form ( n , n + 1 , n + 2 ) (n,n+1,n+2) for integral n n . If so, then we can have n = 0 n=0 for a case. Then, according to you, ( 0 , 1 , 2 ) (0,1,2) is a solution. Now, is it a solution?

Prasun Biswas - 6 years, 3 months ago

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@Prasun Biswas If \(n=0) the the equation comes

\([\frac {0(0+1)}{2}]^2+(0+1)^3=[\frac {(0+1)(0+2)}{2}]^2\)

0 + 1 3 = 1 2 0+1^3=1^2

I think satisfying

Kalpok Guha - 6 years, 3 months ago

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@Kalpok Guha On the other hand, I'm interpreting your solution (as most people do) as saying that ( 0 , 1 , 2 ) (0,1,2) satisfies the equation, i.e.,

0 2 + 1 3 = 2 2 0 + 1 = 4 1 = 4 0^2+1^3=2^2\implies 0+1=4\implies 1=4

Is this true?

Prasun Biswas - 6 years, 3 months ago

I did it the same way !! :) .. (But got stuck at the penultimate step :") )

Hrishik Mukherjee - 6 years, 2 months ago
Jason Zou
Aug 7, 2015

Let b b be an even perfect square.

Then, let d = b d=\sqrt{b} . d d is clearly also even.

We can now rewrite the equation as a 2 + ( d 3 ) 2 = c 2 a^2+(d^3)^2=c^2 .

Since d d is even, d 3 d^3 is divisible by 4 4 .

We can now just get a Pythagorean triple by scaling a 3-4-5 triangle.

Since this works for all even squares b b , the answer is Infinitely Many \boxed{\text{Infinitely Many}}

Cantdo Math
Apr 24, 2020

I honestly noticed none of the options was 0.so,at least one solution exist.If we multiply both sides by any 6th power,we can get another solution from it. Hence,infinitely many solutions exist.

Qi Huan Tan
Feb 26, 2015

Note that ( a , b , c ) = ( n , 0 , n ) (a,b,c)=(n,0,n) is always a solution for all integer n n .

0 is not a positive integer.

Sharky Kesa - 6 years, 2 months ago

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Oops, I've made a mistake. Sorry for that.

Qi Huan Tan - 6 years, 1 month ago

And the only squares of integers that have a difference of 1 1 are 1 1 and 0 0 . Because 0 0 is not allowed (being a non-positive integer), the equation is impossible, therefore having 0 answers.

Feathery Studio - 6 years, 2 months ago

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