Given $\frac {x^2-y^2}{a^2-b^2}$ is an integer,
For which non-zero $x, y, a, b\in\mathbb Z$, the fraction $\frac {x^2-y^2}{a^2-b^2}$ is an integer?
I can start with $x^2-y^2 = (x-y)(x+y)$ but it does not lead anywhere.
$\begingroup$
$\endgroup$
4
asked Jan 29, 2020 at 17:16
-
1$\begingroup$ @ViktorGlombik Thats a good idea, I might try this time, no, it is not a exercise, I saw various time such expressions, and curious to know how such cases are solved for integer solutions $\endgroup$– Consider Non-Trivial CasesJan 29, 2020 at 18:00
-
$\begingroup$ @ViktorGlombik am looking for a closed form formula, brute force or other type of programming is not what I am interested. $\endgroup$– Consider Non-Trivial CasesJan 29, 2020 at 18:04
-
$\begingroup$ Notice that for since you are taking squares it suffices to consider $x,y,a,b \ge 0$. Some solutions are given by $\{ (a k,0,k,0): a, k \in \mathbb Z\}$. $\endgroup$– ViktorSteinJan 29, 2020 at 19:05
-
1$\begingroup$ Also, there are many solutions. For $x,y,a,b \in \{0, \ldots, 100\}$ and $x > y$ and $a > b$ there are $138790$ solutions. $\endgroup$– ViktorSteinJan 29, 2020 at 20:33
Add a comment
|
2 Answers
$\begingroup$
$\endgroup$
1
Above equation shown below is equivalent to:
$x^2-y^2=w(a^2-b^2)$ ----$(1)$
where '$w$' is an integer
Equation (1) has parametric solution given below:
$x=(k+3)(k^2-1)$
$y=4k(k+1)$
$a=(k^2+4k-1)$
$b=2(k-1)$
$w=(k+1)(k-3)$
For, k=4 we get, $(x,y,a,b)=(105,80,31,6)$
and, $w=5$
-
$\begingroup$ Upvoted ur answer but not confirm it is correct, how u obtain? what is the method? $\endgroup$ Jan 30, 2020 at 0:16
$\begingroup$
$\endgroup$
Here is one description of the solution set that may be unsatisfying.
Fix any $x,y$. Then $x^2-y^2$ has some finite list of factors. For each factor in that list, either $a^2-b^2=(\text{that factor})$ has integer solutions for $a$ and $b$ or it does not. There is a solution exactly when that factor is not congruent to $2$ mod $4$. When there is a solution, there may be multiple solutions, but not infinitely many.
So the solution set can be described as:
- Let $x$ be any integer.
- Let $y$ be any integer.
- For each factor $d$ of $x^2-y^2$ where $d\not\equiv 2$ mod $4$, take all solutions to $a^2-b^2=d$.
