Unit fraction = 1 x \frac{1}{x} for some positive integer x x

If the fraction p 1 p \dfrac{p-1}{p} for a prime p 5 p\geq5 can be expressed as two distinct unit fractions 1 a \dfrac{1}{a} and 1 b \dfrac{1}{b} . Find a + b a+b .

Enter -69 if you think it cannot be done.


The answer is -69.

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1 solution

Victor Loh
Jun 9, 2016

Clearly a , b > 1 a,b>1 . Then p 1 p = 1 a + 1 b 1 2 + 1 3 = 5 6 \frac{p-1}{p}=\frac{1}{a}+\frac{1}{b}\leq \frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{3}=\frac{5}{6} . Since p 5 p\geq 5 , we have p = 5 p 1 p = 4 5 p=5 \implies \frac{p-1}{p}=\frac{4}{5} . Note that 1 2 + 1 3 > 4 5 > 1 2 + 1 4 \frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{3} > \frac{4}{5} > \frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{4} . Hence, 4 5 \frac{4}{5} cannot be expressed as the sum of two distinct unit fractions. Hence answer is 69 \boxed{-69} .

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