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k a May Highlights and 2025 AoPS Online Class Information
jlacosta   0
May 1, 2025
May is an exciting month! National MATHCOUNTS is the second week of May in Washington D.C. and our Founder, Richard Rusczyk will be presenting a seminar, Preparing Strong Math Students for College and Careers, on May 11th.

Are you interested in working towards MATHCOUNTS and don’t know where to start? We have you covered! If you have taken Prealgebra, then you are ready for MATHCOUNTS/AMC 8 Basics. Already aiming for State or National MATHCOUNTS and harder AMC 8 problems? Then our MATHCOUNTS/AMC 8 Advanced course is for you.

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[*]May 21st, 4:00pm PT/7:00pm ET, Mathcamp 2025 Qualifying Quiz Part 2 Math Jam, Problems 5 and 6, Canada/USA Mathcamp staff will discuss solutions to Problems 5 and 6 of the 2025 Mathcamp Qualifying Quiz![/list]
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0 replies
jlacosta
May 1, 2025
0 replies
k i Adding contests to the Contest Collections
dcouchman   1
N Apr 5, 2023 by v_Enhance
Want to help AoPS remain a valuable Olympiad resource? Help us add contests to AoPS's Contest Collections.

Find instructions and a list of contests to add here: https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c40244h1064480_contests_to_add
1 reply
dcouchman
Sep 9, 2019
v_Enhance
Apr 5, 2023
k i Zero tolerance
ZetaX   49
N May 4, 2019 by NoDealsHere
Source: Use your common sense! (enough is enough)
Some users don't want to learn, some other simply ignore advises.
But please follow the following guideline:


To make it short: ALWAYS USE YOUR COMMON SENSE IF POSTING!
If you don't have common sense, don't post.


More specifically:

For new threads:


a) Good, meaningful title:
The title has to say what the problem is about in best way possible.
If that title occured already, it's definitely bad. And contest names aren't good either.
That's in fact a requirement for being able to search old problems.

Examples:
Bad titles:
- "Hard"/"Medium"/"Easy" (if you find it so cool how hard/easy it is, tell it in the post and use a title that tells us the problem)
- "Number Theory" (hey guy, guess why this forum's named that way¿ and is it the only such problem on earth¿)
- "Fibonacci" (there are millions of Fibonacci problems out there, all posted and named the same...)
- "Chinese TST 2003" (does this say anything about the problem¿)
Good titles:
- "On divisors of a³+2b³+4c³-6abc"
- "Number of solutions to x²+y²=6z²"
- "Fibonacci numbers are never squares"


b) Use search function:
Before posting a "new" problem spend at least two, better five, minutes to look if this problem was posted before. If it was, don't repost it. If you have anything important to say on topic, post it in one of the older threads.
If the thread is locked cause of this, use search function.

Update (by Amir Hossein). The best way to search for two keywords in AoPS is to input
[code]+"first keyword" +"second keyword"[/code]
so that any post containing both strings "first word" and "second form".


c) Good problem statement:
Some recent really bad post was:
[quote]$lim_{n\to 1}^{+\infty}\frac{1}{n}-lnn$[/quote]
It contains no question and no answer.
If you do this, too, you are on the best way to get your thread deleted. Write everything clearly, define where your variables come from (and define the "natural" numbers if used). Additionally read your post at least twice before submitting. After you sent it, read it again and use the Edit-Button if necessary to correct errors.


For answers to already existing threads:


d) Of any interest and with content:
Don't post things that are more trivial than completely obvious. For example, if the question is to solve $x^{3}+y^{3}=z^{3}$, do not answer with "$x=y=z=0$ is a solution" only. Either you post any kind of proof or at least something unexpected (like "$x=1337, y=481, z=42$ is the smallest solution). Someone that does not see that $x=y=z=0$ is a solution of the above without your post is completely wrong here, this is an IMO-level forum.
Similar, posting "I have solved this problem" but not posting anything else is not welcome; it even looks that you just want to show off what a genius you are.

e) Well written and checked answers:
Like c) for new threads, check your solutions at least twice for mistakes. And after sending, read it again and use the Edit-Button if necessary to correct errors.



To repeat it: ALWAYS USE YOUR COMMON SENSE IF POSTING!


Everything definitely out of range of common sense will be locked or deleted (exept for new users having less than about 42 posts, they are newbies and need/get some time to learn).

The above rules will be applied from next monday (5. march of 2007).
Feel free to discuss on this here.
49 replies
ZetaX
Feb 27, 2007
NoDealsHere
May 4, 2019
Shortest number theory you might've seen in your life
AlperenINAN   8
N 11 minutes ago by HeshTarg
Source: Turkey JBMO TST 2025 P4
Let $p$ and $q$ be prime numbers. Prove that if $pq(p+1)(q+1)+1$ is a perfect square, then $pq + 1$ is also a perfect square.
8 replies
+1 w
AlperenINAN
Yesterday at 7:51 PM
HeshTarg
11 minutes ago
Squeezing Between Perfect Squares and Modular Arithmetic(JBMO TST Turkey 2025)
HeshTarg   3
N 13 minutes ago by BrilliantScorpion85
Source: Turkey JBMO TST Problem 4
If $p$ and $q$ are primes and $pq(p+1)(q+1)+1$ is a perfect square, prove that $pq+1$ is a perfect square.
3 replies
HeshTarg
an hour ago
BrilliantScorpion85
13 minutes ago
A bit too easy for P2(Turkey 2025 JBMO TST)
HeshTarg   0
20 minutes ago
Source: Turkey 2025 JBMO TST P2
Let $n$ be a positive integer. Aslı and Zehra are playing a game on an $n \times n$ chessboard. Initially, $10n^2$ stones are placed on the squares of the board. In each move, Aslı chooses a row or a column; Zehra chooses a row or a column. The number of stones in each square of the chosen row or column must change such that the difference between the number of stones in a square with the most stones and a square with the fewest stones in that same row or column is at most 1. For which values of $n$ can Aslı guarantee that after a finite number of moves, all squares on the board will have an equal number of stones, regardless of the initial distribution?
0 replies
HeshTarg
20 minutes ago
0 replies
AGM Problem(Turkey JBMO TST 2025)
HeshTarg   2
N 27 minutes ago by Ianis
Source: Turkey JBMO TST Problem 6
Given that $x, y, z > 1$ are real numbers, find the smallest possible value of the expression:
$\frac{x^3 + 1}{(y-1)(z+1)} + \frac{y^3 + 1}{(z-1)(x+1)} + \frac{z^3 + 1}{(x-1)(y+1)}$
2 replies
1 viewing
HeshTarg
37 minutes ago
Ianis
27 minutes ago
D1030 : An inequalitie
Dattier   0
34 minutes ago
Source: les dattes à Dattier
Let $0<a<b<c<d$ reals, and $n \in \mathbb N^*$.

Is it true that $a^n(b-a)+b^n(c-b)+c^n(d-c) \leq \dfrac {d^{n+1}}{n+1}$ ?
0 replies
Dattier
34 minutes ago
0 replies
Long and wacky inequality
Royal_mhyasd   0
an hour ago
Source: Me
Let $x, y, z$ be positive real numbers such that $x^2 + y^2 + z^2 = 12$. Find the minimum value of the following sum :
$$\sum_{cyc}\frac{(x^3+2y)^3}{3x^2yz - 16z - 8yz + 6x^2z}$$knowing that the denominators are positive real numbers.
0 replies
Royal_mhyasd
an hour ago
0 replies
Vietnamese national Olympiad 2007, problem 4
hien   16
N an hour ago by de-Kirschbaum
Given a regular 2007-gon. Find the minimal number $k$ such that: Among every $k$ vertexes of the polygon, there always exists 4 vertexes forming a convex quadrilateral such that 3 sides of the quadrilateral are also sides of the polygon.
16 replies
hien
Feb 8, 2007
de-Kirschbaum
an hour ago
2n^2+4n-1 and 3n+4 have common powers
bin_sherlo   4
N an hour ago by CM1910
Source: Türkiye 2025 JBMO TST P5
Find all positive integers $n$ such that a positive integer power of $2n^2+4n-1$ equals to a positive integer power of $3n+4$.
4 replies
bin_sherlo
Yesterday at 7:13 PM
CM1910
an hour ago
An interesting geometry
k.vasilev   19
N an hour ago by Ilikeminecraft
Source: All-Russian Olympiad 2019 grade 10 problem 4
Let $ABC$ be an acute-angled triangle with $AC<BC.$ A circle passes through $A$ and $B$ and crosses the segments $AC$ and $BC$ again at $A_1$ and $B_1$ respectively. The circumcircles of $A_1B_1C$ and $ABC$ meet each other at points $P$ and $C.$ The segments $AB_1$ and $A_1B$ intersect at $S.$ Let $Q$ and $R$ be the reflections of $S$ in the lines $CA$ and $CB$ respectively. Prove that the points $P,$ $Q,$ $R,$ and $C$ are concyclic.
19 replies
k.vasilev
Apr 23, 2019
Ilikeminecraft
an hour ago
sum (a+b)/(a^2+ab+b^2) <=2 if 1/a+1/b+1/c =3 for a,b,c>0
parmenides51   15
N an hour ago by AylyGayypow009
Source: 2020 Greek JBMO TST p2
Let $a,b,c$ be positive real numbers such that $\frac{1}{a}+ \frac{1}{b}+ \frac{1}{c}=3$. Prove that
$$\frac{a+b}{a^2+ab+b^2}+ \frac{b+c}{b^2+bc+c^2}+ \frac{c+a}{c^2+ca+a^2}\le 2$$When is the equality valid?
15 replies
parmenides51
Nov 14, 2020
AylyGayypow009
an hour ago
Bosnia and Herzegovina JBMO TST 2016 Problem 3
gobathegreat   3
N 2 hours ago by Sh309had
Source: Bosnia and Herzegovina Junior Balkan Mathematical Olympiad TST 2016
Let $O$ be a center of circle which passes through vertices of quadrilateral $ABCD$, which has perpendicular diagonals. Prove that sum of distances of point $O$ to sides of quadrilateral $ABCD$ is equal to half of perimeter of $ABCD$.
3 replies
gobathegreat
Sep 16, 2018
Sh309had
2 hours ago
Power Of Factorials
Kassuno   180
N 2 hours ago by maromex
Source: IMO 2019 Problem 4
Find all pairs $(k,n)$ of positive integers such that \[ k!=(2^n-1)(2^n-2)(2^n-4)\cdots(2^n-2^{n-1}). \]Proposed by Gabriel Chicas Reyes, El Salvador
180 replies
Kassuno
Jul 17, 2019
maromex
2 hours ago
100 card with 43 having odd integers on them
falantrng   7
N 2 hours ago by Just1
Source: Azerbaijan JBMO TST 2018, D2 P4
In the beginning, there are $100$ cards on the table, and each card has a positive integer written on it. An odd number is written on exactly $43$ cards. Every minute, the following operation is performed: for all possible sets of $3$ cards on the table, the product of the numbers on these three cards is calculated, all the obtained results are summed, and this sum is written on a new card and placed on the table. A day later, it turns out that there is a card on the table, the number written on this card is divisible by $2^{2018}.$ Prove that one hour after the start of the process, there was a card on the table that the number written on that card is divisible by $2^{2018}.$
7 replies
falantrng
Aug 1, 2023
Just1
2 hours ago
GCD and LCM operations
BR1F1SZ   1
N 2 hours ago by WallyWalrus
Source: 2025 Francophone MO Juniors P4
Charlotte writes the integers $1,2,3,\ldots,2025$ on the board. Charlotte has two operations available: the GCD operation and the LCM operation.
[list]
[*]The GCD operation consists of choosing two integers $a$ and $b$ written on the board, erasing them, and writing the integer $\operatorname{gcd}(a, b)$.
[*]The LCM operation consists of choosing two integers $a$ and $b$ written on the board, erasing them, and writing the integer $\operatorname{lcm}(a, b)$.
[/list]
An integer $N$ is called a winning number if there exists a sequence of operations such that, at the end, the only integer left on the board is $N$. Find all winning integers among $\{1,2,3,\ldots,2025\}$ and, for each of them, determine the minimum number of GCD operations Charlotte must use.

Note: The number $\operatorname{gcd}(a, b)$ denotes the greatest common divisor of $a$ and $b$, while the number $\operatorname{lcm}(a, b)$ denotes the least common multiple of $a$ and $b$.
1 reply
BR1F1SZ
Saturday at 11:24 PM
WallyWalrus
2 hours ago
Balkan Mathematical Olympiad 2018 P4
microsoft_office_word   32
N Apr 26, 2025 by Ilikeminecraft
Source: BMO 2018
Find all primes $p$ and $q$ such that $3p^{q-1}+1$ divides $11^p+17^p$

Proposed by Stanislav Dimitrov,Bulgaria
32 replies
microsoft_office_word
May 9, 2018
Ilikeminecraft
Apr 26, 2025
Balkan Mathematical Olympiad 2018 P4
G H J
G H BBookmark kLocked kLocked NReply
Source: BMO 2018
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microsoft_office_word
66 posts
#1 • 9 Y
Y by Mathuzb, samrocksnature, son7, megarnie, tiendung2006, Adventure10, Mango247, GeoKing, pomodor_ap
Find all primes $p$ and $q$ such that $3p^{q-1}+1$ divides $11^p+17^p$

Proposed by Stanislav Dimitrov,Bulgaria
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by microsoft_office_word, May 9, 2018, 2:29 PM
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Lamp909
98 posts
#4 • 8 Y
Y by TwoTimes3TimesSeven, Mathuzb, samrocksnature, microsoft_office_word, son7, megarnie, Adventure10, Mango247
The problem was proposed by Stanislav Dimitrov from Bulgaria
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Hamel
392 posts
#5 • 3 Y
Y by samrocksnature, Adventure10, Mango247
Is it plus or minus?
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Anar24
475 posts
#6 • 3 Y
Y by samrocksnature, Adventure10, Mango247
The problem is quite similar to APMO 2012 and Turkey EGMO TST 2016.Just looking at order and quite difficult caseworks
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Anar24
475 posts
#7 • 3 Y
Y by samrocksnature, Adventure10, Mango247
sorry forgot the statement.
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Hamel
392 posts
#8 • 3 Y
Y by samrocksnature, Adventure10, Mango247
I think it is plus. Method?
This post has been edited 3 times. Last edited by Hamel, May 9, 2018, 2:15 PM
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rightways
868 posts
#9 • 8 Y
Y by Hamel, Illuzion, Mathuzb, MathbugAOPS, Wizard_32, samrocksnature, Iora, Adventure10
Just take $3p^{q-1}+1=4^k 7^m t$. where $(t,14)=1$
and note that $t\equiv 1 \pmod p$.
And it is easy to show that $k\le 2$ and that $m\le 1$
then take both sides $\pmod p$ and finish small cases
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Illuzion
211 posts
#10 • 3 Y
Y by samrocksnature, Adventure10, Mango247
why $m \leq 1$ ?
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Hamel
392 posts
#11 • 4 Y
Y by Illuzion, samrocksnature, Adventure10, Mango247
$LTE$ yields that
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Mathuzb
431 posts
#12 • 3 Y
Y by samrocksnature, Adventure10, Mango247
rightways wrote:
Just take $3p^{q-1}+1=4^k 7^m t$. where $(t,14)=1$
and note that $t\equiv 1 \pmod p$.
And it is easy to show that $k\le 2$ and that $m\le 1$
then take both sides $\pmod p$ and finish small cases

Nice rightways, thanks
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Aiscrim
409 posts
#13 • 8 Y
Y by Illuzion, GGPiku, MihneaD, samrocksnature, Kugelmonster, Adventure10, Mango247, Gaunter_O_Dim_of_math
Indeed, $(p,q)=(3,3)$ is the only solution. If $p=2$ one can easily check that there are no solutions so suppose $p\ge 3$.

Suppose that $q$ is odd; this gives $v_2(3p^{q-1}+1)=2$. Take $r$ an odd prime dividing $3p^{q-1}+1$. Then $r$ divides $11^p+17^p$. As $11$ and $17$ are coprime, we get that $r$ divides $a^p+1$, where $a=11\cdot 17^{-1} (\mathrm{mod}\ r)$. Thus, $r$ divides $a^{2p}-1$ so the order of $a$ mod $r$ has to divide $2p$. If the order is $1$ or $p$), then $r$ divides both $a^p-1$ and $a^p+1$, so $r$ divides $2$, a contradiction. If the order is $2$, as $r$ divides $a^p+1$, we get that $r$ divides $a+1$ so $r$ divides $28$ and hence $r=7$. Otherwise the order is $2p$ so $2p$ divides $r-1$. Thus, if $3p^{q-1}+1=7^t4r_1^{a_1}....r_k^{a_k}$ for some odd distinct primes $r_i$ and some nonnegative integer $t\ge 0$ (which by LTE is less or equal to $2$), by the previous we have $r_i\equiv 1 (\mathrm{mod}\ p)$ so $3p^{q-1}+1\equiv 4,28, 196(\mathrm{mod}\ p)$ and thereby we get $p\in \{3,5,13\}$. A quick check gives $q=3$ the only possibility.

If $q=2$, we have $3p+1$ divides $11^p+17^p$. If $3p+1$ is not a power of two, proceeding as in the previous case we get that any odd prime divisor of $3p+1$ must be congruent with $1$ mod $2p$. As $3p+1$ is even, we get that $3p+1\ge 2(2p-1)$ which gives again $p=3$ so $q=3$, a contradiction. Thus $3p+1=2^k$ for some positive integer $k$. Clearly $k$ has to be even, $k=2\ell$ so $3p=(2^{\ell}-1)(2^{\ell}+1)$. As $(2^{\ell}-1,2^{\ell}+1)=1$ and $2^{\ell}-1<2^{\ell}+1$ we get that either $2^{\ell}-1=1,\ 2^{\ell}+1=3p$ or $2^{\ell}-1=3,\ 2^{\ell}+1=p$. We therefore infer that either $p=3$ (in which case again $q=3$ but we supposed $q=2$) or $p=5$. However, $p=5$ and $q=2$ would give $16$ dividing $11^5+17^5$, a contradiction.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by Aiscrim, May 9, 2018, 7:32 PM
Reason: I should not attempt Olympiad problems after so long. This solution is still incomplete, but I have lost my patience. One still needs to check a little more cases in the case when q=2 because 7 can also pop up in 3p+1.
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atmargi
23 posts
#14 • 4 Y
Y by GGPiku, samrocksnature, Adventure10, Mango247
Let $r$ be an odd prime dividing $3p^{q-1}+1$, so consequently $r$ divides $11^p+17^p$. ( if $p$ is odd we have that $3p^{q-1}+1 \equiv 4 \pmod 8$, and since this number is clearly bigger than $4$, we know that it must have an odd prime divisor, and if $p$ is $2$, our number is odd, and so our hypothesis is obvious)
If $p$ is $2$ we verify by hand.
We have that $11^p \equiv -17^p \pmod r$, so $(\frac {11}{17})^{2p} \equiv 1 \pmod r$. Let the order of $(\frac {11}{17})$ be $x$. Thus, $x$ divides both $r-1$ and $2p$ and, since it can't be odd, it has to be either $2$ or $2p$. If it is $2$, we then have that $r$ divides $168$ and, since $r$ is odd and not $3$, it has to be $7$. If $x$ is $2p$, we have that $r \equiv 1 \pmod {2p}$. Taking these into consideration, we get that $3p^{q-1}+1=4^m7^ny$, where $(y,14)=1$ and $y\equiv 1 \pmod p$. By LTE, we have that $n$ is $2$ if $p=7$(we verify by hand), or $n\le 1$. Also, $m=1$.
Taking $\pmod p$, we get that $1 \equiv 4,28 \pmod p$, so $0 \equiv 3, 27 \pmod p$. Thus, $p=3$ and, after some casework, $q=3$. Thus, the only solution is $(3,3)$.
Edit:
Oops, forgot about $q=2$. If there exists a prime $r$ that divides $3p+1$ and $r$ is not $7$, we proceed as previously. if $3p+1$ is a power of $2$, then it's exponent has to be even.
Thus, $3p=(2^x-1)(2^x+1)$, and so $x$ is $1$ or $2$, which means that $p$ is either $3$ or $5$. We get a contradiction for both cases.
If $7$ divides $3p+1$, then $3p+1=2^k7$. $11^p$ is either $3$ or $1$ $\pmod 8$, and $17^p$ is $1$ $\pmod p$. Thus, $k\le 2$, and we verify the cases by hand.
This post has been edited 3 times. Last edited by atmargi, May 9, 2018, 6:48 PM
Reason: i'm stoopid
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Aryan-23
558 posts
#15 • 2 Y
Y by samrocksnature, Adventure10
Illuzion wrote:
why $m \leq 1$ ?

Hamel wrote:
$LTE$ yields that

Can someone please elaborate this ?? I am new to LTE ....
I mean how do we bound $\nu _{(7)} 3p^{q-1}+ 1$
This post has been edited 4 times. Last edited by Aryan-23, Oct 5, 2019, 7:51 PM
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arshiya381
158 posts
#16 • 2 Y
Y by samrocksnature, Adventure10
Aryan-23 wrote:
Illuzion wrote:
why $m \leq 1$ ?

Hamel wrote:
$LTE$ yields that

Can someone please elaborate this ?? I am new to LTE ....
I mean how do we bound $\nu _{(7)} 3p^{q-1}+ 1$

you dont!
you use LTE to show V7 of the right hand side is 1.
so the left hand side can not be devisible by 49.
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Aryan-23
558 posts
#17 • 3 Y
Y by samrocksnature, Adventure10, Mango247
Oh yeah , stupid me , thanks :)
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v_Enhance
6877 posts
#18 • 8 Y
Y by Mathematicsislovely, v4913, samrocksnature, amano_hina, tiendung2006, Mathlover_1, Sedro, endless_abyss
Solution from OTIS office hours:

The answer is $(3,3)$ only which works. We first dispense of several edge cases:
  • One can check $p=2$ has no solutions.
  • One can check $p=3$ has only the solution $(3,3)$.

Claim: Every prime dividing $11^p+17^p$ is either $2$, $7$, or $1 \pmod p$.
Proof. Consider a prime $r$ which divides $11^p+17^p$. Evidently $r \ne 17$. Apparently, $(-11/17)^p \equiv 1 \pmod r$, so either $-11/17 \equiv 1 \pmod r$ meaning $r \mid 28$, or $-11/17$ has order $p$, as needed. $\blacksquare$
Thus, we find $3p^{q-1}+1$ is the product of $2$, $7$, and $1 \pmod p$ primes. We now consider some new cases:
  • If $p \ne 7$ and $q \ne 2$, then $3p^{q-1}+1 \equiv 4 \pmod 8$, while $\nu_7(11^p+17^p) = 1$. Thus, we must have \[ 3p^{q-1} + 1 = 2^2 \cdot 7^{0\text{ or }1} \cdot 		\left( \text{$1 \bmod p$ primes} \right). \]This gives that either $1 \equiv 4 \pmod p$ or $1 \equiv 28 \pmod p$, but this gives $p = 3$.
  • If $p = 7$, the same analysis holds except that the exponent of $7$ must be exactly equal to $0$ (despite $\nu_7(11^p+17^p)=2$).
  • If $q=2$, the same argument works except that we need the additional observation that $11^p+17^p \not\equiv 0 \pmod 8$; hence \[ 3p + 1 = 2^{1\text{ or }2} \cdot 7^{0\text{ or }1} \cdot 		\left( \text{$1 \bmod p$ primes} \right). \]Hence we have one extra case $(p,q) = (13,2)$ to check, which fails.
This gives a complete proof that $(p,q) = (3,3)$ is the only solution.
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JapanMO2020
126 posts
#19 • 1 Y
Y by samrocksnature
microsoft_office_word wrote:
Find all primes $p$ and $q$ such that $3p^{q-1}+1$ divides $11^p+17^p$

Proposed by Stanislav Dimitrov,Bulgaria

For $p = 2$ there are no solutions. We begin like v_enhance, so if $q \lvert 11^p + 17^p$, then $q = 2, 7$ or $q \equiv 1 \pmod{p}$. Looking at $\pmod{32}$, there are no solutions so $2^4$ is maximum value of $\nu _ 2(3p^{q-1} + 1)$ and similarly $\nu _ 3(3p^{q-1} + 1) \leq 1$. Now, annoying casework gives $(p, q) = \boxed{(3, 3)}$ as the only solutions.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by JapanMO2020, Jan 11, 2021, 7:29 PM
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oneteen11
180 posts
#20 • 1 Y
Y by samrocksnature
arshiya381 wrote:
Aryan-23 wrote:
Illuzion wrote:
why $m \leq 1$ ?

Hamel wrote:
$LTE$ yields that

Can someone please elaborate this ?? I am new to LTE ....
I mean how do we bound $\nu _{(7)} 3p^{q-1}+ 1$

you dont!
you use LTE to show V7 of the right hand side is 1.
so the left hand side can not be devisible by 49.

how do you get $\nu_7(11^p+17^p) = 1$?
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IAmTheHazard
5001 posts
#21
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The answer is $(p,q)=(3,3)$ only, which clearly works. We can verify that for $p=2$ no solutions exist, and for $p=3$ we only have $q=3$. Henceforth assume $p>3$ We now begin with the following important claim:

Claim: If a prime $n$ divides $11^p+17^p$, then $n=2,7$ or $n \equiv 1 \pmod{2p}$.
Proof: Let $n$ be such a prime. Clearly $n \neq 11,17$. Then we have
$$11^p+17^p \equiv 0 \pmod{n} \implies \left(\frac{11}{17}\right)^p \equiv -1 \pmod{n} \implies \left(\frac{11}{17}\right)^{2p} \equiv 1.$$For convenience, let $a=\tfrac{11}{17}$. Then we have $\mathrm{ord}_n(a) \mid 2p$ but $\mathrm{ord}_n(a) \nmid p$, so either $\mathrm{ord}_n(a)=2$ or $\mathrm{ord}_n(a)=2p$. If the former is true, then we have $\tfrac{11}{17} \equiv -1 \pmod{n} \implies 28 \equiv 0 \pmod{n}$, which gives $n \in \{2,7\}$. If the latter is true, then since $\mathrm{ord}_n(a) \mid n-1$, we have $p \mid 2p \mid n-1 \implies n \equiv 1 \pmod{p}$, which is the desired conclusion. $\blacksquare$

Since $3p^{q-1}+1$ is a divisor of $11^p+17^p$, it follows that $3p^{q-1}+1$ is the product of $2,7$ and primes $1 \pmod{2p}$. Further, we have
$$11^p+17^p \equiv 3^p+1 \equiv 4 \pmod{8}$$as $p$ is odd, so $\nu_2(11^p+17^p)=2$. Now suppose that $q \neq 2$. In this case, $q-1$ is even, so $3p^{q-1}+1 \equiv 3+1 \equiv 0 \pmod{4}$, so we require $ \nu_2(3p^{q-1}+1)=2$. Further, by exponent lifting we have $\nu_7(11^p+17^p)=\nu_7(28)+\nu_7(p)$, so it follows that
$$3p^{q-1}+1=4\cdot 7^\epsilon\cdot P,$$where $P$ is the product of primes that are $1 \pmod{2p}$ and $\epsilon \in \{0,1\}$this is because if $p \neq 7$ we have $\nu_7(11^p+17^p)$ and if $p=7$ we have $7 \nmid 3p^{q-1}+1$ anyways. Note that $P \equiv 1 \pmod{2p}$. Now taking $\pmod{p}$, we have $3p^{q-1}+1 \equiv 4\cdot 7^\epsilon \pmod{p}$, which is either $4$ or $28$. But we also have $3p^{q-1}+1 \equiv 1 \pmod{p}$, so either $p \mid 3$ or $p \mid 27$, giving $p=3$. Since we supposed $p>3$ this case gives no additional solutions
If $q=2$, then we need $\nu_2(3p^{q-1}+1) \in \{1,2\}$. Similarly to the previous case, if $p=7$ then $7 \nmid 3p^{q-1}+1$, otherwise we have $\nu_7(3p^{q-1}+1)\leq 7$, so
$$3p^{q-1}+1=2\cdot2^{\epsilon_1}\cdot 7^{\epsilon_2}\cdot P,$$where $P$ is the product of primes $1 \pmod{2p}$ and $\epsilon_1,\epsilon_2 \in \{0,1\}$. LIke the previous case, this means that at least one of $\{2,4,14,28\}$ is $1 \pmod{p}$, but these respectively imply that $p \mid 1, p \mid 3, p \mid 13, p \mid 27$. Since $p>3$, the only possibility is therefore $p=13$. But we can manually check that $(p,q)=(13,2)$ fails, so $(3,3)$ is the only solution. $\blacksquare$
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by IAmTheHazard, Aug 30, 2021, 3:41 PM
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CT17
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#22
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Let $r$ be any prime dividing $3p^{q-1} + 1$. Clearly $r\neq 11,17$. Hence, we can write $a\equiv \frac{17}{11}\pmod{r}$ so that $a^p\equiv -1\pmod{r}$. It follows that $\text{ord}_r(a)\in\{2, 2p\}$, so either $r| 28$ or $r\equiv 1\pmod{2p}$. We have several cases.

Case 1: $q = 2$. We can manually verify that $p = 2$ does not work, so $p$ is odd. Moreover, clearly $2p+1$ does not divide $3p+1$, so the only prime divisors of $3p+1$ are $2$ and $7$. If $49 | 3p+1$, then $p\neq 7$ so $7 || 11^p + 17^p$ by LTE, a contradiction. Hence, $v_7(3p + 1) \le 1$. But since $p$ is odd, $v_2(3p+1)\le v_2\left(11^p + 17^p\right) = v_2(11 + 17) = 2$. Combining these results, we obtain $3p + 1 | 28$. However, the only solution to this is $p = 2$, which we have already checked.

Case 2: $p = 2$. We can manually verify that there are no solutions in this case.

In all remaining cases, $p$ and $q$ are odd and consequently $3p^{q-1} + 1\equiv 4\pmod{8}$.

Case 3: $p = 3$. We can manually verify that the only solution in this case is $q = 3$.

Case 4: $p = 7$. Then $7$ does not divide $3p^{q-1} + 1$, so $\frac{3\cdot 7^{q-1} + 1}{4}\equiv 1\pmod{7}$, a contradiction.

Case 5: $q\neq 2$ and $p\not\in \{2,3,7\}$. By LTE, $v_7\left(11^p + 17^p\right) = v_7(11+17) = 1$. It follows that either $\frac{3p^{q-1} + 1}{4}$ or $\frac{3p^{q-1} + 1}{28}$ is equivalent to $1$ mod $p$, a contradiction as $p\neq 3$.

In summary, the only solution is $(p,q) = \boxed{(3,3)}$.
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asdf334
7585 posts
#23
Y by
wait is the condition that q is prime necessary (other than, say, parity and divisibility reasons)
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cj13609517288
1916 posts
#24
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Note: All of the $\left(\frac{11}{17}\right)$'s in the proof are the actual fraction, not the value of the Legendre/Jacobi symbol.

Lemma 1. Let $r$ be a prime that divides $3p^{q-1}+1$. Then $r\in\{2,7\}$ or $r\equiv 1\pmod{2p}$.
Proof. $r=17$ obviously fails, so \[r\mid\left(\frac{11}{17}\right)^p+1.\]If we let $a=\text{ord}_r\left(\frac{11}{17}\right)$, we have $a\mid 2p$. Also, we have that $a\nmid p$ unless $r=2$(which is one of the cases anyway), so $a\in\{2,2p\}$. If $a=2$, then \[r\mid \left(\frac{11}{17}\right)^2-1\rightarrow r\mid 121-289\rightarrow r\mid 168\rightarrow r\in\{2,3,7\}.\]But $r=3$ would imply $a=1$, so $r\in\{2,7\}$. Otherwise, $a=2p$, so $2p\mid r-1$, completing our proof.

Lemma 2. If $q\ne 2$, then $p\in\{2,3\}$.
Proof. Suppose that $p\ne 2$. Since $q$ is odd, $p^{q-1}$ is a square, so let $b^2=p^{q-1}$ and $b\in\mathbb{Z}^+$. Taking mod $8$, we have
\[\nu_2\left(3b^2+1\right)=2.\]Also,
\[\nu_7\left(3b^2+1\right)\le \nu_7\left(11^p+17^p\right)=1+\nu_7(p)=\begin{cases}1&p\ne7\\2&p=7\end{cases}.\]Thus $1\equiv 3b^2+1\pmod p$ has to be equivalent to at least one of $2^2$, $2^2\cdot 7$, and $2^2\cdot 7^2$ mod $p$. So $p\mid 3$, $p\mid 27$, or $p\mid 195$. Since $7\nmid 195$, that case doesn't work, so $p=3$, which is what we wanted.

Lemma 3. If $q=2$, then $\nu_2(3p+1)\le 3$ and $\nu_7(3p+1)\le 2$.
Proof. We have the following by LTE:
\[\nu_2(3p+1)\le\nu_2\left(11^p+17^p\right)\le\nu_2(11+17)+\nu_2(p)\le 3\]\[\nu_7(3p+1)\le\nu_7\left(11^p+17^p\right)\le\nu_7(11+17)+\nu_7(p)\le 2.\]
It then remains to casework using the cases from lemma 2.
Case 1, $p=2$: Then $11^2+17^2=121+289=410$, so \[3\cdot 2^{q-1}+1\in\{1,2,5,10,41,82,205,410\}.\]Then \[2^{q-1}\in\{0,3,27,68\},\]so there are no solutions in this case.

Case 2, $p=3$: Then
\[11^3+17^3=(11+17)\left(17^2-11\cdot 17+11^2\right)=28\cdot 223.\]Therefore,
\[3^q+1\in\{1,2,4,7,14,28,223,446,892,1561,3122,6244\}.\]We can see that
\[3^q\in\{0,1,3,6,13,27,222,445,891,1560,3121,6243\}\rightarrow 3^q\in\{3,27\}.\]But $q=1$ is not a prime, so only $(p,q)=(3,3)$ works here.

Case 3, $q=2$: Then \[3p+1\mid 11^p+17^p.\]By lemma 1, all prime factors of $3p+1$ are either $2$, $7$, or $1$ mod $2p$. In the third case, $4p+1$ is too big, so $2p+1\mid 3p+1$, absurd. So
\[3p+1=2^m 7^n\]for nonnegative integers $m,n$ where $m\le 3$ and $n\le 2$(by lemma 3). Therefore,
\[3p+1\in\{1,2,4,8,7,14,28,56,49,98,196,392\}.\]This implies that
\[p\in\{0,1,2,9,16,65\},\]all of which are impossible.

Combining all cases, our answer is just $(p,q)=\boxed{(3,3)}$, which obviously works. QED.
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HamstPan38825
8864 posts
#25
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This is such an incredibly boring but also slightly difficult problem.

Let $p_1$ be a prime that divides $3p^{q-1} + 1$. Then as $p_1 \mid 11^p + 17^p$, either $p_1 \equiv 1 \pmod p$ or $p_1 \mid 28$.

The rest of the problem is finding constraints on $\nu_2(3p^{q-1} + 1)$. Notice that if $p, q$ are both odd primes, then $\nu_2(3p^{q-1} + 1) = 2$ precisely. On the other hand, $2$ is not a quadratic residue mod $7$, so this means that $7 \nmid 3p^{q-1} + 1$. But this means now that $4 \equiv 1 \pmod p$ as $$3p^{q-1} + 1 \equiv 1 \pmod p,$$so $p=3$, and correspondingly $q = 3$ too.

Now if $q = 2$, then note that $\nu_2(3p+1) \leq 2$ and $\nu_7(3p+1) \leq 1$, which upon a finite case check yields no solutions.

Thus $(3, 3)$ is the only solution.
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kimyager
8 posts
#27
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HamstPan38825 wrote:
Notice that if $p, q$ are both odd primes, then $\nu_2(3p^{q-1} + 1) = 2$ precisely.

No. Try $p=3$, $q=7$ for example
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Shreyasharma
682 posts
#28
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Very hard. What.

Assume that $p$ and $q$ are odd primes. Note that $\nu_2(3p^{q-1} + 1) = 2$ and hence due to size reasons we must have an odd prime factor $r$. Now consider a prime factor of $11^p + 7^p$, say $t$. Then we have,
\begin{align*}
\left(\frac{-11}{7}\right)^{2p} &\equiv 1 \pmod{t}
\end{align*}Then we have $\text{ord}_t(-11 \cdot 7^{-1}) \mid 2p$. Then either $-11 \equiv 7 \pmod{t}$ and hence $t \mid 28$, or we have $2p \mid t - 1 \iff t \equiv 1 \pmod{2p}$. Then all prime factors of $11^p + 7^p$ are $1$, $2$ or $7$ modulo $2p$. As a result all prime factors of $3p^{q-1} + 1$ are equal to $2$ or $7$ or are congruent to $1$ modulo $2p$. Now note that $\nu_7(3p^{q-1} + 1) \leq 1$ as if $p \neq 7$ it is easy to see that $\nu_7(11^p + 17^p) = 1$ else if $p = 7$, then $\nu_7(3 \cdot 7^{q-1} + 1) = 0$. Assume $7 \mid 3p^{q-1} + 1$. However then,
\begin{align*}
3p^{q-1} + 1 \equiv 0 \pmod{7}\\
p^{q-1} \equiv 2 \pmod{7}
\end{align*}However as $2$ is a NQR modulo $7$ we cannot have $7 \mid 3p^{q-1} + 1$. Thus $3p^{q-1} + 1 = 4 \cdot P$ where $P$ is the product of primes congruent to $1$ modulo $2p$. However then obviously we require $3p^{q-1} + 1 \equiv 4 \pmod{p}$ or $3 \equiv 0 \pmod{p}$ and hence $p = 3$. Now we then have,
\begin{align*}
3^q + 1 \mid 11^3 + 17^3
\end{align*}from which we find $q = 3$. Now if $q = 2$ we find,
\begin{align*}
3p + 1 \mid 11^p + 17^p
\end{align*}Note that from our claim the primes dividing $3p+1$ are $2$, $7$ or are $1$ modulo $2p$. Clearly $2p + 1 \nmid 3p + 1$ and we require $\nu_p(3p + 1) \leq 7$ and $\nu_p(3p + 1) = 2$. Hence $3p + 1 = 2^x7^y$ and a finite case check leads to no solutions.
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by Shreyasharma, Dec 29, 2023, 1:40 AM
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joshualiu315
2534 posts
#29
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The answer is $\boxed{(p,q)=(3,3)}$, which clearly works.


Claim 1: Let $r$ be a prime that divides $3p^{q-1}+1$. Either $r=2$, $r=7$, or $r \equiv 1 \pmod{2p}$.

Proof: $r$ obviously cannot be $17$, and $r=2$ clearly works, so assume $r \neq 2, 17$ for the remainder of this proof. We write

\[r \mid \left(\frac{11}{17}\right)+1,\]
meaning the order of $\left(\frac{11}{17}\right)$ modulo $r$ divides $2p$; denote this order as $o$ Furthermore, $o$ does not divide $p$, so $o$ can be $2$ or $2p$. If $o=2$,

\[\left(\frac{11}{17}\right)^2 \equiv 1 \pmod{r} \implies -168 \equiv 0 \pmod{r} \implies r \in \{3,7\}.\]
Manually checking each case gives a contradiction for $r=3$, so $r=7$ is the only extra case here.

If $o=2p$, we have $2p \mid r-1$, which gives the last solution set. $\square$


Claim 2: If $p, q \neq 2$, then $p=3$.

Proof: Suppose that $p \neq 7$. Let $a$ be the positive integer such that $a^2 = p^{q-1}$. Notice that

\[3a^2+1 \equiv 4 \pmod{8}.\]
Also,

\[\nu_7(3a^2+1) \le \nu_7(11^p+17^p) = 1+ \nu_7(p) =1.\]
Some quick analysis yields

\[3a^2+1 \equiv 2^2, 2^2 \cdot 7 \pmod{p}\]\[\implies 1 \equiv 4 \pmod{p} \ \textbf{ or } \ 1 \equiv 28 \pmod{p}.\]
This implies that $p=3$. If $p=7$, we must analogously have

\[1 \equiv 196 \pmod{p},\]
a contradiction. $\square$


Now, we break this problem into cases:

If $p=2$, we have

\[3 \cdot 2^{q-1}+1 \mid 410\]\[\implies 2^{q-1} \in \{0,3,27,68\},\]
which is impossible.

If $p=3$, we have

\[3^q+1 \mid 6244\]\[\implies 3^q \in \{0,1,3,6,13,27,222,445,891,1560,3121,6243\}.\]
This makes the only solution $q=3$.

If $q=2$, we have

\[3p+1 \mid 11^p+17^p.\]
Claim 1 gives us that the only prime factors of $3p+1$ are $2$, $7$, or $2kp+1$ for some positive integer $k$. Clearly, the latter case is out of the question, so we have that

\[3p+1 = 2^m7^n.\]
Notice that

\[\nu_2(3p+1) \le \nu_2(11^p+17^p) \le 3\]\[\nu_2(3p+1) \le \nu_2(11^p+17^p) \le 2.\]
At this point, there are a finite amount of values for $3p+1$, which yield

\[p\in\{0,1,2,9,16,65\},\]
after some computation. This is a contradiction, so there are no solutions in this case either.

Adding up all the solutions from the three cases gives the desired answer.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by joshualiu315, Feb 12, 2024, 8:27 PM
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ATGY
2502 posts
#30
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We will deal with the cases \(q = 2\), \(p = 2\), and \(p = 7\) later, so assume none of these are true.

\textbf{Claim 1:} If \(r\) is a prime such that \(r \mid 3p^{q - 1} + 1\), then \(r \equiv 1 \mod{p}\) or \(r \mid 28\).

\[ r \mid 3p^{q - 1} + 1 \implies 11^p + 17^p \equiv 0 \mod{r} \implies \left(\frac{-11}{17}\right)^p \equiv 1 \mod{r} \]
Let \(k\) be the order of \(\frac{-11}{17} \mod r\). We have \(k \mid (p, r - 1) = 1, p\). If \(k = 1\), then

\[ r \mid \frac{-11}{17} - 1 \implies r \mid 28 \implies r = 2, 7 \]
If \((p, r - 1) = p\), we have \(p \mid r - 1 \implies r \equiv 1 \mod{p}\).

\textbf{Claim 2:} \(v_2(3p^{q - 1} + 1) = 2\)

Since \(q - 1\) is even and \(p\) is odd,

\[ p^{q - 1} \equiv 1 \mod{8} \implies 3p^{q - 1} + 1 \equiv 4 \mod{8} \]
So let

\[ 3p^{q - 1} + 1 = 2^2 \cdot 7^\alpha \cdot p_1^{\alpha_1} \cdots p_k^{\alpha_k} \]
where \(p_1 \equiv p_2 \equiv \cdots \equiv p_k \equiv 1 \mod{p}\).

\textbf{Claim 3:} \(p = 3\), \(q = 3\)

From LTE, we have

\[ v_7(11^p + 17^p) = v_7(28) + v_7(p) = 1 \]
Therefore \(\alpha = 0, 1\), and

\[ 2^2 \cdot 7^\alpha \cdot p_1^{\alpha_1} \cdots p_k^{\alpha_k} \equiv 28, 4 \equiv 1 \mod{p} \]
So \(p \mid 27, 3 \implies p = 3\).

So, we have

\[ 3^q + 1 \mid 11^3 + 17^3 = 6244 = 7 \cdot 4 \cdot 223 \]
which quickly yields \(q = 3\).

If \(p = 2\), we have

\[ 3 \cdot 2^q + 1 \mid 11^2 + 17^2 = 410 \]
which yields no solutions.

If \(q = 2\), we have

\[ 3p + 1 \mid 11^p + 17^p \]
Here, \(v_2(3p + 1) = 1\), which means \(14 \equiv 1 \mod{p}\), or \(p = 13\), and \(q = 2\), which doesn't work.

If \(p = 7\),

\[ v_7(11^p + 17^p) = 2 \]
so the power of 7 in \(3p^{q - 1} + 1\) can be \(0, 1, 2\), where \(0, 1\) yield the same cases as earlier and \(2\) yields

\[ 196 \equiv 1 \mod{p} \implies p \mid 195 \]
which is impossible as \(7 \nmid 195\).

So, our only solution is \((3, 3)\).
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by ATGY, Jul 24, 2024, 9:22 PM
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kotmhn
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#31
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Let $r$ be a prime factor of $3p^{q-1}+1$. Then we have that either $r = 7$ or $r\equiv 1 \pmod{p}$
Now observe that if $r_1,r_2, \dots r_i$ be all the prime factors of $3p^{q-1}+1$ we have that all $r_i \equiv 1 \pmod{p}$.
But then as $3p^{q-1}+1 = r_1^{\alpha_1}r_2^{\alpha_2}\dots r_i^{\alpha_i} = (pk_1 + 1)^{\alpha_1}(pk_2)^{\alpha_2}\dots (pk_i)^{\alpha_i}$
Here if prime factors is greater than $3$ then we have that the term with $p$ in the product on RHS is even while on LHS it is odd contradiction.
Hence only $2,3,7$ can be the prime factors of $3p^{q-1}+1$, then a case bash gives $(3,3)$ as the only solution.
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L13832
268 posts
#32 • 2 Y
Y by alexanderhamilton124, Nobitasolvesproblems1979
Take a prime $r$ such that it divides $3p^{q-1}+1$ so $\text{ord}_{r}\left(\frac{11}{17}\right)=2$ or $2p$, so $r=2,7$ or $r\equiv 1 \pmod{2p}$.
Note that if $7\mid3p^{q-1}+1$ then we get $p^{q-1}\equiv 2\pmod{7}$ which is not possible.
Now, $\nu_7(11^p+17^p)=\nu_7(28)+\nu_7(p)=1$. We check for $p=2$ which gives us $3\cdot 2^{q-1}+1\mid 410$ which is not possible. For $p=3$ we have $3^q+1\mid 6244$, after case-bash we get $q=3$.
If $p\neq7$ then we have $\nu_7(11^p+17^p)=1$, if $p=7,$ then $\nu_7(3\cdot 7^{p-1}+1)=0$. So $3p^{q-1}+1\equiv 2^2\cdot 7, 2^2\pmod{p}$, this gives us $(p,q)=(3,3)$ to be a solution.
For $q=2$ we have $3p+1\mid 11^p+17^p$, since $3p+1$ cannot be written as $1\pmod{2p}$, so it is of the form $2^i7^j$, also we can write it as $3p+1\mid 11^p+17^p$ and because $\nu_2(3p+1)=1$ we have $p=13\implies q=2$, which does not work.
So our only answer is $\boxed{(p,q)=(3,3)}$.
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Krave37
46 posts
#33 • 1 Y
Y by S_14159
Only solution is (3,3)

Let $r$ be a prime dividing $3p^{q-1}+1$, then we get by taking the inverse $\frac{11^p}{17^p}$ congruent to 1, giving either $r$ being $2,7$ or 2p divides r-1, for the second case, $3p^{q-1}+1$ is congruent to $1$ modulo 2p, which is impossible for p odd prime. Using LTE on $11^p+17^p$ for $7$, we get that, the most $7$ power is 1 and $8$ can never divide $11^p+17^p$, this means that $3p^{q-1}+1 = 7.2^n$ where $n \leq 2$, check the remaining cases.
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Assassino9931
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#34
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Take any prime $r \geq 3$ which divides $3p^{q-1}+1$, so $r \mid 11^p + 17^p$ and thus $\text{ord}_{r}\left(11 \cdot 17^{-1}\right)=2$ or $2p$, giving $r=2,7$ or $r\equiv 1 \pmod{2p}$.

Suppose $p\geq 3$. Then $\nu_2(11^p + 17^p) = 2$ (by mod $8$) and $\nu_7(11^p + 17^p) = \nu_7(28) + \nu_7(p)$ (by Lifting the Exponent) which is $1$ if $p\neq 7$ and $2$ if $p=7$. So $\nu_7(3p^{q-1} + 1) \leq 1$ (for $p=7$ actually it is $0$) and $\nu_2(3p^{q-1} + 1) \leq 2$ Hence \[ 3p^{q-1} + 1 = 2^{\leq 2}7^{\leq 1} \
\cdot \ (\mbox{primes } \equiv 1 \pmod{2p}). \]Taking the latter mod $p$ yields $p = 2, 3, 13$. Since $11^2 + 17^2 = 2 \cdot 5 \cdot 41$, checking $3 \cdot 2^{q-1} + 1 \mid 5 \cdot 41$ gives no solution. For $11^3 + 17^3 = 28 \cdot (17^2 - 17 \cdot 11 + 11^2) = 2^2 \cdot 7 \cdot 223$ checking $\displaystyle \frac{3^{q}+1}{2} \mid 2\cdot 7 \cdot 223$ gives $q=3$, so $(3,3)$ is a solution. If $p=13 = 2\cdot 7 - 1$, then the right-hand side above must be divisible by $7$, but then mod $7$ yields $3\cdot (-1)^{q-1} + 1 \equiv 0$, contradiction for any positive integer $q$.

Remark. We did not use anywhere that $q$ is prime!
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megarnie
5607 posts
#35
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Solved a while ago but forgot to post

The only solution is $\boxed{(p,q) = (3,3)}$, which works.

Claim: Any prime divisor $r\mid 11^p + 17^p$ satisfies $r\in \{2,7\}$ or $r\equiv 1\pmod{2p}$.
Proof: Let $r$ be a prime divisor of $11^p + 17^p$ and $r\ne 2,7$.

We have \[11^p + 17^p \equiv 0\pmod r\]
This implies that \[\left(\frac{11}{17}\right)^{p}\equiv -1\pmod r,\]so \[\left(\frac{11}{17}\right)^{2p}\equiv 1\pmod r\]
Thus $\mathrm{ord}_r \left(\frac{11}{17}\right)$ divides $2p$ but not $p$, so it must be either $2$ or $2p$.

If $\mathrm{ord}_r \left(\frac{11}{17}\right) = 2$, then we have \[r\mid 17^ 2- 11^2 = 168\]Since $r$ is odd, $\frac{11}{17} \not\equiv 1\pmod r$, so $r\ne 3$. This implies $r=7$, which we assumed to not be true.

If $\mathrm{ord}_r\left(\frac{11}{17}\right) = 2p$, then $2p\mid r-1$, $r\equiv 1\pmod{2p}$, as desired. $\square$

Claim: $p\ne 2,7$
Proof: If $p=2$, then \[3\cdot 2^{q-1} + 1 \mid 410\]It's easy to check this is not possible.

If $p=7$, then \[3\cdot 7^{q-1} + 1 \mid 11^7 + 17^7\]Since $22\nmid 11^7 + 17^7$, $q=2$ doesn't work. Now assume $q$ is odd. We have $\nu_2(3\cdot 7^{q-1} + 1) = 2$. So any prime factor of \[\frac{3\cdot 7^{q-1} + 1}{4}\]is $1\pmod{14}$, which implies $3\cdot 7^{q-1} + 1\equiv 4\pmod{14}$, absurd. $\square$

If $p=3$, then \[3^q + 1 \mid 11^3 + 17^3  =6244\]One can manually check that this is not the case since $3^q < 6244\implies q\le 7$.

From now on, assume $p\not\in \{2,3,7\}$.

Case 1: $q=2$
Then we have \[3p+1 \mid 11^p + 17^p\]Note that no prime that if $1\pmod{2p}$ divides $3p+1$, so the only prime factors of $3p+1$ are $2$ and $7$. However \[1\le \nu_2(3p+1) \le \nu_p(11^p + 17^p) = 2\]and \[\nu_7(3p+1)\le \nu_7(11^p + 17^p) = 1\]by LTE. So \[3p+1\in \{2,4,14,28\},\]all of which don't work.

Case 2: $q>2$
Then $p^{q-1}\equiv 1\pmod 4$, so $4\mid 3\cdot p^{q-1} + 1$. Thus by Claim 15.1, \[3\cdot p^{q-1} + 1\equiv \{4,28\}\pmod{2p}\]However, \[3\cdot p^{q-1} + 1\equiv p+1\pmod{2p},\]so $p=3$, contradiction.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by megarnie, Jan 4, 2025, 1:45 PM
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Ilikeminecraft
632 posts
#36
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I claim the answer is $(p, q) = \boxed{(3, 3)}.$ It is easy to check $p = 2,3,$ so we will assume that $p\geq5.$

First, I claim that if a prime $r$ satisfies $r\mid11^p + 17^p,$ then either $r = 2, 7,$ or $r\equiv1\pmod p.$

By taking modulo $r,$ we have that $\left(\frac{11}{17}\right)^{2p}\equiv1\pmod r\implies\operatorname{ord}_{r}\left(\frac{11}{17}\right)\mid(2p, r - 1)\mid2p.$ If the order is $2,$ we have that $11 + 17 \equiv 0\pmod r \implies r=2, 7.$ If the order is $2p,$ this works, and $r \equiv1\pmod p.$

Note that we can write $3p^{q - 1} + 1 = 4^k7^mt,$ where $t$ is a product of primes that are $1\pmod p.$ We can easily see that $k\leq1$ by taking modulo 8.

If $p\neq7, q\neq2,$ we have that $1 \equiv 4\cdot 7^m \pmod p$. We also know that $m \leq 1$ by taking $\nu_7(11^p + 17^p) = 1 + \nu_7(p) = 1.$ Thus, $p = 3.$

If $p = 7,$ then $3\cdot7^{q - 1} + 1 = 4t.$ By taking modulo $7$, there is a contradiction.

If $q = 2,$ then $3p+1=2^{1\text{ or }2}7^{0\text{ or }1}t.$ By taking modulo $p,$ we have that $p = 13$ is possible. However, this is impossible.
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