Squares, squares everywhere!

Number Theory Level pending

What is the sum of the first 4 non-negative integers that cannot be written as either the sum or difference of two perfect squares ?


The answer is 72.

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2 solutions

x ² ± y ² = n x² ± y² = n

y ² 0 , 1 , 4 ( m o d 8 ) y²\equiv 0, 1, 4\pmod{8} x ² 0 , 1 , 4 ( m o d 8 ) x²\equiv 0, 1, 4\pmod{8}

In module 8

0 + 1 = 1 0 + 1 = 1 , 1 + 1 = 2 1 + 1 = 2 , 4 1 = 3 4 - 1 = 3 , 0 + 4 = 4 0 + 4 = 4 , 1 + 4 = 5 1 + 4 = 5 , 0 1 = 7 0 - 1 = 7 , 4 + 4 = 8 4 + 4 = 8

x ² ± y ² 8 k + 6 x² ± y² ≠ 8k + 6

8 ( 1 ) + 6 = 2 8(-1) + 6 = -2 , 8 ( 0 ) + 6 = 6 8(0) + 6 = 6 , 8 ( 1 ) + 6 = 14 8(1) + 6 = 14 , 8 ( 2 ) + 6 = 22 8(2) + 6 = 22 , 8 ( 3 ) + 6 = 30 8(3) + 6 = 30

Finally 6 + 14 + 22 + 30 = 72 6 + 14 + 22 + 30 = 72

Nice write up, Leonelo! :)

Geoff Pilling - 5 years ago
Geoff Pilling
May 16, 2016

The first four such non negative integers are 6 6 , 14 14 , 22 22 , and 30 30 , and their sum is 72 \boxed{72}

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