Take a square from a square

Which is the smallest positive integer admitting three distinct representations as the difference of two squares?


The answer is 45.

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1 solution

Kushal Bose
Mar 12, 2017

N = m 2 n 2 N=m^2-n^2 .Consider m = n + k m=n+k

N = ( n + k ) n 2 = 2 n k + k 2 = k ( 2 n + k ) N=(n+k)^-n^2=2nk+k^2=k(2n+k) .

We have to find smallest N N so, it can be expressed as difference between two perfect squares in three different ways.So, there will be 3 3 distinct values of k k such that there will be an integral n n then the given condition will be met.

For minimum N N should be comprised of three factors(not necessarily distinct).If k k is chosen odd then other part should be odd because n n shoul be integer..

If k k is chosen even then other part should be even forthe above reason.So,either N N will contain only even numbers or odd numbers. N N can be 2 × 4 × 6 2 \times 4 \times 6 or 3 × 3 × 5 3 \times 3 \times 5 .Form the first part k k will be 2 , 4 , 6 2,4,6 .From second option k k will be 1 , 3 , 5 1,3,5 .

So, minimum is N = 45 N=45 because 45 = 9 2 6 2 = 7 2 2 2 = 2 3 2 2 2 2 45=9^2-6^2=7^2-2^2=23^2-22^2

Is there a possibility to refrain the question? I just knew what you wanted the question to ask by reading the answer.

Peter van der Linden - 4 years, 3 months ago

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Yes when problem owner will see this then he will edit accordingly

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Kushal Bose - 4 years, 3 months ago

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