# Do the squares of an arithmetic progression ever sum to a power of three?

Can it be shown that

$$\sum_{q=0}^{u}(n+qd)^{2}\ne 3^t \ \ \ \ \forall n,d,u,t\in\mathbb{N}$$

Where we let $$\mathbb{N}$$ denote positive integers.

I am not confident there is no counterexample.

Edit, My attempted

If $$u=4k-1$$ then $$\sum_{q=0}^{u}(n+qd)^{2}\ne 3^t$$

Formula

$$\sum_{q=0}^{u}(n+qd)^{2} =n^2(u+1)+d(2n+d)\frac{(u+1)u}{2} +d^2\frac{(u+1)u(u-1)}{3} \ \ \ \ \ \ ...eq(1)$$

Proof

Let's suppose

$$\sum_{q=0}^{u}(n+qd)^{2}=3^t$$

By $$eq(1)$$ we can write

$$2×3^{t+1}=6n^2(u+1)+3d(2n+d)(u+1)u+2d^2(u+1)u(u-1)$$

Now consider $$u=4k-1$$

$$\implies 3^{t+1}=12n^2k+6d(2n+d)k(4k-1)+8d^2k(4k-1)(2k-1)$$

We know

$$12n^2k=even$$

$$6d(2n+d)k(4k-1)=even$$

$$8d^2k(4k-1)(2k-1)=even$$

And $$even +even +even =even\ne 3^{t+1}$$

It's show complete proof for $$u=4k-1$$

• You body question is more than just a "sum of squares"; it a sum of progressive squares. Not sure if the result is different but it gives you more info. – fleablood Oct 10 '19 at 18:00
• quite, otherwise we could have things like $1^2+4^2+8^2=3^4$, but this example doesn't have the squares "evenly spaced." For a sum of just two squares, it seems the only possibility is $0^2+(3^n)^2 = 3^{2n}$. – JMoravitz Oct 10 '19 at 18:04
• @OP. I changed the language a little bit. I think its more clear now but feel free to roll it back. – Mason Oct 10 '19 at 18:11
• @Mason $$\sum_{q=0}^{u}(n+qd)^2=n^2(u+1)+d(2n+d)\frac{(u+1)u}{2} +d^2\frac{(u+1)u(u-1)}{3}$$ – Pruthviraj Oct 10 '19 at 18:31
• @Mason may be this link helpful math.stackexchange.com/q/3369713/647719 – Pruthviraj Oct 10 '19 at 18:39

There is no $$(n,d,u,t)$$ such that $$\sum_{q=0}^{u}(n+qd)^{2}=3^t\tag1$$

Proof :

Suppose that there is $$(n,d,u,t)$$ satisfying $$(1)$$ which is equivalent to $$(u+1)\left(6n^2+6ndu+u(2u+1)d^2\right)=2\cdot 3^{t+1}$$

Let us separate it into three cases. Note here that $$u+1\gt 1$$ and $$6n^2+6ndu+u(2u+1)d^2\gt 2$$.

• Case 1 : $$(u+1,6n^2+6ndu+u(2u+1)d^2)=(2,3^{t+1})$$. Then,$$n^2+(n+d)^2=3^t\tag2$$We see that both $$n$$ and $$n+d$$ have to be divisible by $$3$$, so setting $$n=3n_1$$ and $$n+d=3d_1$$ gives$$n_1^2+d_1^2=3^{t-2}\tag3$$Comparing $$(3)$$ with $$(2)$$, we see that if $$t$$ is even, then there are positive integers $$N,D$$ such that $$N^2+D^2=1$$ which is impossible. If $$t$$ is odd, then there are positive integers $$N,D$$ such that $$N^2+D^2=3$$ which is impossible.

• Case 2 : $$(u+1,6n^2+6ndu+u(2u+1)d^2)=(2\cdot 3^a,3^b)$$ where $$a,b$$ are positive integers such that $$a+b=t+1$$. Then,$$6n^2+6nd(2\cdot 3^a-1)+(2\cdot 3^a-1)(4\cdot 3^a-1)d^2=3^b\tag4$$Setting $$d=3d_1$$ gives$$2n^2+2n\cdot 3d_1(2\cdot 3^a-1)+(2\cdot 3^a-1)(4\cdot 3^a-1)\cdot 3d_1^2=3^{b-1}$$Setting $$n=3n_1$$ gives$$6n_1^2+6n_1d_1(2\cdot 3^a-1)+(2\cdot 3^a-1)(4\cdot 3^a-1)d_1^2=3^{b-2}\tag5$$Comparing $$(5)$$ with $$(4)$$, we see that if $$b$$ is odd, then there are positive integers $$a,N,D$$ such that$$6N^2+6ND(2\cdot 3^a-1)+(2\cdot 3^a-1)(4\cdot 3^a-1)D^2=3$$which is impossible since the LHS is larger than $$3$$. If $$b$$ is even, then there are positive integers $$a,N,D$$ such that $$6N^2+6ND(2\cdot 3^a-1)+(2\cdot 3^a-1)(4\cdot 3^a-1)D^2=1$$which is impossible since the LHS is larger than $$1$$.

• Case 3 : $$(u+1,6n^2+6ndu+u(2u+1)d^2)=(3^a,2\cdot 3^b)$$ where $$a,b$$ are positive integers such that $$a+b=t+1$$. Then, $$6n^2+6nd(3^a-1)+(3^a-1)(2\cdot 3^a-1)d^2=2\cdot 3^b\tag6$$Setting $$d=3d_1$$ gives$$2n^2+2n\cdot 3d_1(3^a-1)+(3^a-1)(2\cdot 3^a-1)\cdot 3d_1^2=2\cdot 3^{b-1}$$Setting $$n=3n_1$$ gives$$6n_1^2+6n_1d_1(3^a-1)+(3^a-1)(2\cdot 3^a-1)d_1^2=2\cdot 3^{b-2}\tag7$$Comparing $$(7)$$ with $$(6)$$, we see that if $$b$$ is odd, then there are positive integers $$a,N,D$$ such that$$6N^2+6ND(3^a-1)+(3^a-1)(2\cdot 3^a-1)D^2=6$$which is impossible since the LHS is larger than $$6$$. If $$b$$ is even, then there are positive integers $$a,N,D$$ such that $$6N^2+6ND(3^a-1)+(3^a-1)(2\cdot 3^a-1)D^2=2$$which is impossible since the LHS is larger than $$2$$.

From the three cases above, the conclusion written at the top follows.

• Thank you for your answe. please explain, In case$1$, how to compare $(3)$ with $(2)$ and conclude $N^2+D^2=1,3$? – Pruthviraj Oct 16 '19 at 16:08
• @Pruthviraj: Sure. The key is the fact that both $(2)$ and $(3)$ are of the form $a^2+b^2=3^s$. Take $t=10$ for example. Suppose that we have $n^2+(n+d)^2=3^{10}$. Then, we have to have $n=3n_1$ and $n+d=3d_1$, so $n_1^2+d_1^2=3^8$. Again, we have to have $n_1=3n_2$ and $d_1=3d_2$, so $n_2^2+d_2^2=3^6$. Again, we have to have $n_2=3n_3$ and $d_2=3d_3$, and so on... eventually we have to have $N^2+D^2=1$ which is impossible. If $t$ is odd, then we have $N^2+D^2=3$ which is also impossible. This idea is also used in Case 2 and Case 3. – mathlove Oct 16 '19 at 17:20
• Okay... one more doubt, how, if $n^2+(n+d)^2=3^t$ then $3|n$ and $3|(n+d)$. is necessary? – Pruthviraj Oct 16 '19 at 19:19
• @Pruthviraj: If you check all possible cases, then you'll know that it is necessary that $3\mid n$ and $3\mid (n+d)$. If $3\mid n$ and $3\not\mid (n+d)$, then $n^2+(n+d)^2$ is not divisible by $3$. If $3\not\mid n$ and $3\mid (n+d)$, then $n^2+(n+d)^2$ is not divisible by $3$. If $3\not\mid n$ and $3\not\mid (n+d)$, then $n^2+(n+d)^2$ is not divisible by $3$. If $3\mid n$ and $3\mid (n+d)$, then $n^2+(n+d)^2$ is divisible by $3$. So, it is necessary that $3\mid n$ and $3\mid (n+d)$. – mathlove Oct 17 '19 at 4:07
• What do you think about generalizing on this problem, any suggestions (ideas)? – Pruthviraj Oct 17 '19 at 17:41