A number theory problem by Utkarsh Kumar

How many ordered pairs of positive integers ( x , y ) (x,y) satisfy the equation 15 x 2 7 y 2 = 9 ? 15x^2 - 7y^2 = 9?


The answer is 0.

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1 solution

Utkarsh Kumar
Sep 23, 2017

15 x 2 15x^2 - 9 9 = 7 y 2 7y^2

Here 3 3 divides LHS so it must also divide RHS.

Let y y = 3 k 3k [ 3 3 does not divide 7 7 ]

15 x 2 15x^2 - 9 9 = 63 k 2 63k^2

5 x 2 5x^2 = 3 3 + 21 k 2 21k^2

Here again 3 3 divides RHS so it must divide the LHS.

Let x x = 3 m 3m

The equation reduces to

45 m 2 45m^2 = 21 k 2 21k^2 + 3 3

15 m 2 15m^2 = 7 k 2 7k^2 + 1 1

Here 3 3 divides LHS but not RHS

Therefore, no natural solution is possible to this equation.

Good solution, but for 15 m 2 = 7 k 2 + 1 15m^2=7k^2+1 you could explain with modular arithmetics, why 3 doesn't divide RHS.

Tarmo Taipale - 3 years, 8 months ago

Ya.. 7*k^2 + 1 is not divisible by 3... is this a conhecture or are we supposed to find the proof ourselves? Basically k^2 +1 is not divisible by 3 -> not an easy proof. Is it??

Ananya Aaniya - 3 years, 8 months ago

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Anyway... got it... pretty easy proof. :)

Ananya Aaniya - 3 years, 8 months ago

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it's an easy proof, yet not a trivial fact, so it should be included in the solution.

Tarmo Taipale - 3 years, 8 months ago

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