Play with integers

y ( x ) = 2 x 1 ( 1 + x ) x \large y(x) = \frac{2^{x-1} - (1+ x)}{x}

How many integer pairs ( x , y ( x ) ) (x, y(x)) satisfy the equation above?

1 2 9508 1 2^{9508} - 1 Infinite 2421

This section requires Javascript.
You are seeing this because something didn't load right. We suggest you, (a) try refreshing the page, (b) enabling javascript if it is disabled on your browser and, finally, (c) loading the non-javascript version of this page . We're sorry about the hassle.

1 solution

Bitan Sarkar
Jun 26, 2017

If only x is prime, then only y will be an integer. And as we know, there are infinite primes, so the answer is infinite. From Fermat's Little theorem, a p 1 a^{p-1} mod p 1 p ≡ 1 mod p p , putting a = 2 a = 2 , 2 p 1 = 1 + k . p 2^{p-1} = 1 + k.p , and as, a = 2 a = 2 , so p can't be equal to 2 .

So, k 1 = 2 p 1 ( 1 + p ) p \Rightarrow k-1 = \frac{2^{p-1}-(1+ p)}{p} , and as, k k is an integer, k 1 k - 1 , will obviously be an integer, only if p is prime.

Now, we are defining a function y ( x ) = 2 x 1 ( 1 + x ) x y(x) = \frac{2^{x-1}-(1+ x)}{x} , thus, y will be an positive integer, only if x is a prime. And there are infinite primes, so number of values of x is infinite.

This is not a complete solution. You must show why x x must be prime for y y to be an integer. Then, and only then, can you conclude that because there are infinite primes, there must be infinite natural numbers that make y y an integer.

Zach Abueg - 3 years, 11 months ago

Log in to reply

Hope you understood this explanation.

Bitan Sarkar - 3 years, 11 months ago

0 pending reports

×

Problem Loading...

Note Loading...

Set Loading...