Diophantine Equations

Devansh Kumar Tripathi

November 2024

1 Key Points : Modular Arithmetic

Squares:
x2 ≡ 0, 1 (mod 2, 3, 4)
2
x ≡ 0, ±1 (mod 5)
2
x ≡ 0, 1, 3, 4 (mod 6, 7)
2
x ≡ 0, 1, 4 (mod 8)
2
x ≡ 0, 1, 4, 7 (mod 9)

Cubes:
x3 ≡ 0, ±1 (mod 3, 4, 7, 9)
3
x ≡ 0, ±1, ±2 (mod 5)
3
x ≡ 0, ±1, ±2, 3 (mod 6)
3
x ≡ 0, ±1, ±3 (mod 8)

4th Powers:
x4 ≡ 0, 1 (mod 3, 4, 5, 8, 16)
4
x ≡ 0, 1, 4 (mod 6)
4
x ≡ 0, 1, 2, 4 (mod 7)
4
x ≡ 0, 1, 4, 7 (mod 9)

2 Key Ideas
• Factorisation
• Monotonicity

• Bounding Arguments and Inequalities

• Discriminant Method
• Divisibility and GCD (Greatest Common Divisor)

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• Reduction of Variables
• Infinite Descent
• Vieta’s Jumping
• Use of Modular Arithmetic:

– Number Modulo
– Polynomial Modulo
• Cyclotomic Polynomials

• Parametric Assumptions
• Mathematical Induction (PMI) and Strong Mathematical Induction (SMI)
• Pythagorean Related Diophantine Equations
• Pell’s Equation

• Use of Ring Theory

2
3 Problems
3.1 P-1
Find all ordered pairs (m, n) where m and n are positive integers such that
n3 +1
mn−1 is an integer.

3.2 P-2
A natural number n is said to have the property P, if, for all a, n2 divides an − 1
whenever n divides an − 1.
a.) Show that every prime number n has property P.
b.) Show that there are infinitely many composite numbers n that possess
property P.

3.3 P-3
Let k be a positive integer. Show that there are infinitely many perfect squares
of the form n · 2k − 7 where n is a positive integer.

3.4 P-4
Find all x, y and z in positive integer: z + y 2 + x3 = xyz and x = gcd(y, z).

3.5 P-5
We call a positive integer q a convenient denominator for a real number α if
p 1
|α − | < for some integer p. Prove that if two irrational numbers α and β
q 10q
have the same set of convenient denominators then either α + β or α − β is an
integer.

3.6 P-6
Given natural number n such that, for any natural a, b number 2a 3b + 1 is not
divisible by n.Prove that 2c + 3d is not divisible by n for any natural c and d

3.7 P-7
Determine all pairs (x, y) of integers such that

1 + 2x + 22x+1 = y 2 .

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3.8 P-8
Let a > b > c > d be positive integers and suppose that

ac + bd = (b + d + a − c)(b + d − a + c).

Prove that ab + cd is not prime.

3.9 P-9
Does there exist a positive integer n such that n has exactly 2000 prime divisors
and n divides 2n + 1?

3.10 P-10
Find all pairs of positive integers m, n ≥ 3 for which there exist infinitely many
positive integers a such that
am + a − 1
an + a2 − 1
is itself an integer.

3.11 P-11
Let p be an odd prime and a1 , a2 , ..., ap be integers. Prove that the following
two conditions are equivalent:
1) There exists a polynomial P (x) with degree ≤ p−1 2 such that P (i) ≡ ai
(mod p) for all 1 ≤ i ≤ p
2) For any natural d ≤ p−1
2 ,

p
X
(ai+d − ai )2 ≡ 0 (mod p)
i=1

where indices are taken (mod p). (This is harder than you expect)

3.12 P-12
Solve the equation
x2 + 4 = y n ,
where n is an integer greater than 1.

3.13 P-13
Let p = 4m − 1 be a prime, and let x and y be relatively prime integers such
that
x2 + y 2 = z 2m
for some integer z. Prove that p | xy.

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3.14 P-14
Find all quadruples (u, v, w, s) satisfying the generalized Pythagorean equation:
r2 + u2 + v 2 = s2 .

3.15 P-15
Prove that there are infinitely many triplets (a, b, c) of integers such that
a4 + b3 = c2 .

3.16 P-16
Consider the system
x + y = z + u,
2xy = zu.
Find the greatest value of the real constant m such that m ≤ x/y for any
positive integer solution (x, y, z, u) of the system, with x ≥ y.

3.17 P-17
Prove that if the difference of two consecutive cubes is n2 , then 2n − 1 is a
square.

3.18 P-18
Prove that there exists two strictly increasing sequences (an ) and (bn ) such that
an (an + 1) divides b2n + 1 for every natural n.

3.19 P-19
Find all the pairs of positive integers (x, p) such that p is a prime, x ≤ 2p and
xp−1 is a divisor of (p − 1)x + 1.

3.20 P-20
a3 + b3
Prove that every positive rational number can be represented in the form
c3 + d3
where a,b,c,d are positive integers.

3.21 P-21
(a) Prove that if there is a triple (x, y, z) of positive integers such that
x2 + y 2 + 1 = xyz,
then z = 3.
(b) Find all such triples.

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3.22 P-22
Prove that for all integers n ≥ 2, there are odd integers x and y such that
|x2 − 17y 2 | = 4n.

3.23 P-23
Prove that there are unique positive integers a and n such that
an+1 − (a + 1)n = 2001.

3.24 P-24
Let x and y be integers such that
x2 + y 2 + 1 = 2xy.
Prove that x = y.

3.25 P-25
Find all triples (x, y, z) of nonnegative integers such that
5x · 7y + 4 = 3z .

3.26 P-26
Find all pairs (x, y) of positive integers for which
x2 − y! = 2001.

3.27 P-27
Find all pairs (x, y) of positive integers satisfying the equation
3x − 2y = 7.

3.28 P-28
Find all positive integers p, q, r, s > 1 such that
p! + q! + r! = 2s .

3.29 P-29
Show that there do not exist natural numbers a1 , a2 , . . . , a2018 such that the
numbers
(a1 )2018 + a2 , (a2 )2018 + a3 , . . . , (a2018 )2018 + a1
are all powers of 5.

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3.30 P-30
Find all triples (x, y, z) of integers such that
1 2 3 2
+ 2+ 2 = .
x2 y z 3