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Pythagorean Triples

1) The document discusses the relationships between divisors (3, 5, 7) and solutions to Pythagorean triples (90 degree triangles), 120 degree triangles, and 60 degree triangles. 2) It shows that if (a,b,c) is a 120 degree triple, then 3 and 5 each divide ab(a+b) and 7 divides ab(a+b)c. 3) A 120 degree triple (a,b,c) corresponds to two 60 degree triples (a+b,b,c) and (a,a+b,c) that can be constructed geometrically.

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© © All Rights Reserved
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66 views

Pythagorean Triples

1) The document discusses the relationships between divisors (3, 5, 7) and solutions to Pythagorean triples (90 degree triangles), 120 degree triangles, and 60 degree triangles. 2) It shows that if (a,b,c) is a 120 degree triple, then 3 and 5 each divide ab(a+b) and 7 divides ab(a+b)c. 3) A 120 degree triple (a,b,c) corresponds to two 60 degree triples (a+b,b,c) and (a,a+b,c) that can be constructed geometrically.

Uploaded by

lalasois
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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120 DEGREE AND 60 DEGREE TRIPLES AND THE DIVISORS

3, 5, AND 7
FRED BARNES

7
5

0
12
3

1. introduction
Its well known that if (a, b, c) is a a Pythagorean triple, that is, if (a, b, c) is a
solution in positive integers to the 90 degree triangle equation a2 + b2 = c2 , then
3 and 4 each divides a or b, and 5 divides a, b or c where, of course, (3, 4, 5) is the
smallest such solution.
A 120 degree triple, (a, b, c), is a solution in positive integers to the 120 degree
triangle equation
a2 + b2 2ab cos 120 = a2 + b2 + ab = c2 .
So, naturally, one wonders if a similar relationship exists between the positive integer solutions of 120 degree triangles and the smallest such solution, (3, 5, 7). To
find such a relationship its necessary to look more closely at the 3,4,5-ness of
Pythagorean triangles. We will look at all integer solutions, both positive and
negative.
a2 + b2 = (a)2 + b2 = (a)2 + (b)2 = a2 + (b)2 = c2 .
These 4 solutions are plotted in figure (1).
Hence, if (a,b,c) is a Pythagorean triple, saying 3 divides one of ab, (a)b, (a)(b),
or a(b) is saying 3 divides a or b. And since 3,4,5-ness holds for Primitive triples,
the case is the same for the divisor 4.
1

FRED BARNES

y
(a, b)

(a, b)

a2

b2

90

(a, b)

(a, b)

y
Figure 1. solutions to a 90 degree triangle equation
Note that:
2

a + b2 + ab = (a b)2 + b2 + (a b)b = (a + b)2 + (b)2 + (a + b)(b) = (a)2 + (b)2 + (a)(b)


.
= a2 + (a b)2 + a(a b) = (a)2 + (a + b)2 + (a)(a + b)
As shown in figure (2). So, similarly, if (a, b, c) is a 120 degree triple then saying a
prime p divides one of ab, (ab)b, (a+b)(b), (a)(b), a(ab), or (a)(a+b)
is saying p divides one of a, b, or a + b.

(
a

ab

0
12

a+b

b,

b)

a,
(

b
)

b2

(a
+

a b

a2

b)

120

,
(a

b,

b)

(a, a +
b)

(a, a b)

y
Figure 2. solutions to a 120 degree triangle equation

120 DEGREE AND 60 DEGREE TRIPLES AND THE DIVISORS 3, 5, AND 7

2. 120 degree triples and the divisors 3, 5, and 7.


All primitive solutions to a 120 degree triple (a, b, c), are given by the parametric
equations:
a = m2 n2 ,

(1)

b = 2mn + n2 ,

and

c = m2 + n2 + mn.

where m and n are relatively prime, positive integers, m > n, and 3 - m n. See
http://www.geocities.com/fredlb37/triples10.pdf for a proof.
If (a, b, c) and (b, a, c) are considered the same solution, then the first 6 primitive
solutions in order of smallest value for c are,
52 + 3 2 + 5 3 = 7 2
82 + 72 + 8 7 = 132
162 + 52 + 16 5 = 192
242 + 112 + 24 11 = 312
332 + 72 + 33 7 = 372
352 + 132 + 35 13 = 432

(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)

Notice that, in each case, 3 and 5, each, divides one of a, b, or a+b, and 7 divides
one of a, b, a + b, or c.
Claim 1. If (a, b, c) is any 120 degree triple then 3 and 5 divides ab(a + b), and 7
divides ab(a + b)c.
Proof. Its sufficient to show its true for primitive triples. This claim can be proven
directly by looking at residues modulo 3, 5, and 7; however it gets quite messy for
the divisor 7. So, instead, I will use the parametric equations from (1) and the
following result from Fermats little theorem. That is, if s and t are integers, and
p is a prime, then

p divides st sp1 tp1 .


From (1),

ab(a + b) = m2 n2 2mn + n2 m2 + 2mn

= mn m2 n2 2 m2 + n2 5mn

= 2mn m4 n4 5 m4 n2 m2 n4 ,
and

ab(a + b)c = m2 n2 2mn + n2 m2 + 2mn m2 + n2 + mn

= 2mn m6 n6 7 m6 n2 m5 n3 + m3 n5 m2 n6 .
Therefore, from Fermats little theorem, 3 and 5 divide ab(a + b), and 7 divides
ab(a + b)c.

FRED BARNES

2.1. 120 degree triples and their associated 60 degree triples. A 60 degree
triple, (p, q, r), is a solution in positive integers to the 60 degree triangle equation
p2 + q 2 2pq cos 60 = p2 + q 2 pq = r2 .
Note that
a2 + b2 + ab = (a + b)2 + b2 (a + b)b = a2 + (a + b)2 a(a + b).
Hence, if (a, b, c) is a 120 degree triple then (a + b, b, c) and (a, a + b, c) are 60 degree
triples. Here is a neat way to construct these three triangles.

C
b
b

0
12

a
a

b
B a

60

E
b

60

On line l layout line segments AB and BE having lengths a and b respectively,


where a and b are the adjacent side lengths of a 120 degree triangle. On and below
AB construct equilateral triangle ADB with sides of length a. On and above
BE construct equilateral triangle BEC with sides of length b. Hence ABD and
CBE are each 60 degrees. So point B lies on line segment DC and ABC is
120 degrees. Draw line segment AC. Thus, the construction shows the 120 degree
triangle ABC and its two associated 60 degree triangles AEC and ADC.
3. 60 degree triples and the divisors 3, 5, and 7.
Let u2 + v 2 uv = w2 . If u, v, and w are positive integers, then (u, v, w) is a
60 degree triple. If, additionally, u, v, and w are pairwise relatively prime, then
(u, v, w) is a primitive 60 degree triple. The first seven such triples in order of the
smallest value for w are,
(1)
12 + 1 2 1 1 = 1 2
(2)
82 + 5 2 8 5 = 7 2
(3)
82 + 3 2 8 3 = 7 2
(4)
152 + 72 15 7 = 132
(5)
152 + 82 15 8 = 132

120 DEGREE AND 60 DEGREE TRIPLES AND THE DIVISORS 3, 5, AND 7

(6)
212 + 52 21 5 = 192
(7)
212 + 162 21 16 = 192
Notice that, in each case, 3 and 5, each, divides one of u, v, or u v, and 7
divides one of u, v, u v, or w.
Claim 2. If (u, v, w) is any 60 degree triple then 3 and 5 divides uv(u v), and 7
divides uv(u v)w.
Proof. Its sufficient to show the claim is true for primitive triples. Clearly its true
for the triple (1, 1, 1). So let u2 + v 2 uv = w2 where (u, v, w) is a primitive triple,
uvw 6= 1. Without loss of generality, let u be greater than v, then
(u v)2 + v 2 + (u v)v = u2 + v 2 uv = w2 .
Hence (u v, v, w) is a 120 degree triple. So, from claim (1),

35 | (uv)v (uv)+v = uv(uv), and 7 | (uv)v (uv)+v w = uv(uv)w.

The drawing below shows two 60 degree triangles AEC and ADC along with
their associated 120 degree triangle ABC.

v
v

60

E-mail address: [email protected]

60

20
uv 1

E
v

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