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How many pairs of integer solutions ( x , y ) (x,y) with x y 0 xy\geq0 are there to the equation 289 3 x y x 3 + y 3 = 1 17 ? \dfrac{289-3xy}{x^3+y^3}=\dfrac{1}{17}?


The answer is 19.

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2 solutions

Manuel Kahayon
May 25, 2016

Multiplying both sides by 17 ( x 3 + y 3 ) 17(x^3+y^3) , we get

x 3 + y 3 = 17 ( 289 3 x y ) x^3+y^3=17(289-3xy)

x 3 + 3 ( 17 ) ( x y ) + y 3 = 1 7 3 x^3+3(17)(xy)+y^3 = 17^3

Now, notice that if x + y = 17 x+y = 17 , then ( x + y ) 3 = x 3 + 3 ( x + y ) ( x y ) + y 3 = x 3 + 3 ( 17 ) ( x y ) + y 3 = 1 7 3 (x+y)^3 = x^3+3(x+y)(xy)+y^3 = x^3+3(17)(xy)+y^3 = 17^3 , so we have our case x + y = 17 x+y = 17 , giving us 18 18 solutions.

Also, notice that since this is a symmetric equation in x x and y y , we will have solutions for x = y x = y . Plugging this in the original equation gives us 2 x 3 + 3 ( 17 ) ( x 2 ) = 1 7 3 2x^3+3(17)(x^2) = 17^3 , which yields x = y = 17 x=y=-17 , for another solution.

So, we have a total of 18 + 1 = 19 18+1 = \boxed{19} solutions.

Symmetric in x x and y y ... I like it!

Grant Bulaong - 5 years ago

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For my fafa grant <3

Manuel Kahayon - 5 years ago

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But how can you be sure that those are the only solutions?

Grant Bulaong - 5 years ago
Grant Bulaong
May 25, 2016

Multiplying both sides by 17 ( x 3 + y 3 ) 17(x^3+y^3) , we get

x 3 + y 3 = 17 ( 289 3 x y ) x^3+y^3=17(289-3xy)

x 3 + y 3 1 7 3 ( 3 ) ( x y ) ( 17 ) = 0 x^3+y^3-17^3-(3)(xy)(-17)=0

Note that a 3 + b 3 + c 3 3 a b c = 1 2 ( a + b + c ) [ ( a b ) 2 + ( b c ) 2 + ( c a ) 2 ] a^3+b^3+c^3-3abc=\frac{1}{2}(a+b+c)[(a-b)^2+(b-c)^2+(c-a)^2]

Setting a = x a=x , b = y b=y , and c = 17 c=-17 , we have

x 3 + y 3 1 7 3 ( 3 ) ( x y ) ( 17 ) = 1 2 ( x + y 17 ) [ ( x y ) 2 + ( y + 17 ) 2 + ( 17 x ) 2 ] x^3+y^3-17^3-(3)(xy)(-17)=\frac{1}{2}(x+y-17)[(x-y)^2+(y+17)^2+(-17-x)^2]

0 = 1 2 ( x + y 17 ) [ ( x y ) 2 + ( y + 17 ) 2 + ( 17 x ) 2 ] 0=\frac{1}{2}(x+y-17)[(x-y)^2+(y+17)^2+(-17-x)^2]

We have either x + y = 17 x+y=17 or ( x y ) 2 + ( y + 17 ) 2 + ( 17 x ) 2 = 0 (x-y)^2+(y+17)^2+(-17-x)^2=0 , which, by following the restrictions of the problem, give ( 0 , 17 ) , ( 1 , 16 ) , ( 2 , 15 ) . . . ( 17 , 0 ) (0,17),(1,16),(2,15)...(17,0) and ( 17 , 17 ) (-17,-17) , a total of 19 solutions.

This problem was adapted from the 1999 American High School Mathematics Examination (AHSME) .

Did the exact same. Nice problem

Aditya Kumar - 5 years ago

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