Of divisors and squares

Find the sum of all positive integers m 120 m\leq 120 which has exactly four positive divisors and that those four divisors sum to be a perfect square.


The answer is 350.

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1 solution

* Edited solution. Thanks to Kushagra Sahni for his input. *

For a positive integer m m to have exactly four positive divisors we must either have that (i) m = p 3 m = p^{3} for some prime p p or (ii) m = p q m = pq for distinct primes p , q . p,q.

In case (i), since m 120 m \le 120 the only possibilities to consider are for p = 2 p = 2 and p = 3 , p = 3, since 5 3 = 125 > 120. 5^{3} = 125 \gt 120. For m = 2 3 = 8 m = 2^{3} = 8 the divisor sum is 1 + 2 + 4 + 8 = 15 , 1 + 2 + 4 + 8 = 15, and for m = 3 3 = 27 m = 3^{3} = 27 the divisor sum is 1 + 3 + 9 + 27 = 40. 1 + 3 + 9 + 27 = 40. Since neither of these divisor sums is a perfect square, this case yields no solution values for m . m.

In case (ii), for the sum of the divisors to be a perfect square, we require that

1 + p + q + p q = n 2 ( p + 1 ) ( q + 1 ) = n 2 1 + p + q + pq = n^{2} \Longrightarrow (p + 1)(q + 1) = n^{2} for some (positive) integer n . n.

Now as p , q p,q must be distinct we can assume without loss of generality that p < q . p \lt q. Then since 1 1 2 = 121 > 120 11^{2} = 121 \gt 120 we must have that p 7 , p \le 7, for otherwise m = p q m = pq will exceed 120. 120. Thus we only need look at 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 2,3,5,7 as possible values for p . p.

With p = 2 p = 2 we see that q 59 q \le 59 and that 3 ( q + 1 ) = n 2 q + 1 = 3 a 2 60 3(q + 1) = n^{2} \Longrightarrow q + 1 = 3a^{2} \le 60 for some integer a > 1. a \gt 1. As 3 5 2 = 75 > 60 3*5^{2} = 75 \gt 60 the maximum value for a a is then 4. 4. So checking the three possible remaining values for a , a, we find that ( a , q ) = ( 2 , 11 ) , ( 3 , 26 ) , ( 4 , 47 ) , (a,q) = (2,11), (3,26), (4,47), where in only the first and last of these pairings is q q prime. Thus ( p , q ) = ( 2 , 11 ) , ( 2 , 47 ) 2 11 = 22 , 2 47 = 94 (p,q) = (2,11), (2,47) \Longrightarrow 2*11 = 22, 2*47 = 94 are solution values for m . m.

With p = 3 p = 3 we see that q 37 q \le 37 and that 4 ( q + 1 ) = n 2 q + 1 = a 2 4(q + 1) = n^{2} \Longrightarrow q + 1 = a^{2} for some integer a . a. But q = a 2 1 = ( a 1 ) ( a + 1 ) q = a^{2} - 1 = (a - 1)(a + 1) implies that a = 2 a = 2 in order for q q to be prime, which in turn implies that q = 3 , q = 3, which is not distinct from p . p. Hence there are no solutions for m m with p = 3. p = 3.

With p = 5 p = 5 we see that q 23 q \le 23 and that 6 ( q + 1 ) = n 2 q + 1 = 6 a 2 6(q + 1) = n^{2} \Longrightarrow q + 1 = 6a^{2} for some integer a > 1. a \gt 1. As 6 3 2 = 54 > 23 6*3^{2} = 54 \gt 23 the only remaining possible value for a a is 2 , 2, which yields that q + 1 = 6 2 2 q = 23 , q + 1 = 6*2^{2} \Longrightarrow q = 23, which is indeed prime. Thus m = p q = 5 23 = 115 m = pq = 5*23 = 115 is another solution value.

Finally, with p = 7 p = 7 we have that q 17 q \le 17 and that 8 ( q + 1 ) = n 2 q + 1 = 2 a 2 8(q + 1) = n^{2} \Longrightarrow q + 1 = 2a^{2} for some integer a > 1. a \gt 1. The possible pairings for ( a , q ) (a,q) are then ( 2 , 7 ) (2,7) and ( 3 , 17 ) , (3,17), with only the latter providing a distinct prime value for q . q. Thus m = p q = 7 17 = 119 m = pq = 7*17 = 119 is our last solution.

The sum of the desired values for m m is then 22 + 94 + 115 + 119 = 350 . 22 + 94 + 115 + 119 = \boxed{350}.

There is another case for a number to have 4 positive divisors, when N=p^3 where p is a prime. Although this case contains no solution because N can be 8 or 27 whose factors when added don't equal a perfect square, but still you must show it.

Kushagra Sahni - 5 years, 6 months ago

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Right! Sorry I missed that. Thanks for pointing out my omission. I've edited my solution accordingly. :)

Brian Charlesworth - 5 years, 6 months ago

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No Problem Sir. Now it's the best possible solution. I love your solutions.

Kushagra Sahni - 5 years, 6 months ago

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@Kushagra Sahni Thank you! I appreciate the compliment. :)

Brian Charlesworth - 5 years, 6 months ago

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