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k a April Highlights and 2025 AoPS Online Class Information
jlacosta   0
Apr 2, 2025
Spring is in full swing and summer is right around the corner, what are your plans? At AoPS Online our schedule has new classes starting now through July, so be sure to keep your skills sharp and be prepared for the Fall school year! Check out the schedule of upcoming classes below.

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0 replies
jlacosta
Apr 2, 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
congruence
moldovan   5
N 19 minutes ago by EVKV
Source: Canada 2004
Let $p$ be an odd prime. Prove that:
\[\displaystyle\sum_{k=1}^{p-1}k^{2p-1} \equiv \frac{p(p+1)}{2} \pmod{p^2}\]
5 replies
moldovan
Jun 26, 2009
EVKV
19 minutes ago
Checking a summand property for integers sufficiently large.
DinDean   1
N 22 minutes ago by Double07
For any fixed integer $m\geqslant 2$, prove that there exists a positive integer $f(m)$, such that for any integer $n\geqslant f(m)$, $n$ can be expressed by a sum of positive integers $a_i$'s as
\[n=a_1+a_2+\dots+a_m,\]where $a_1\mid a_2$, $a_2\mid a_3$, $\dots$, $a_{m-1}\mid a_m$.
1 reply
DinDean
an hour ago
Double07
22 minutes ago
Equations
Jackson0423   1
N 32 minutes ago by Maxklark
Solve the system of equations
\[
\begin{cases}
x - y z = 1,\\[2pt]
y - z x = 2,\\[2pt]
z - x y = 4.
\end{cases}
\]
1 reply
Jackson0423
2 hours ago
Maxklark
32 minutes ago
Calculate the distance of chess king!!
egxa   3
N 35 minutes ago by egxa
Source: All Russian 2025 9.4
A chess king was placed on a square of an \(8 \times 8\) board and made $64$ moves so that it visited all squares and returned to the starting square. At every moment, the distance from the center of the square the king was on to the center of the board was calculated. A move is called $\emph{pleasant}$ if this distance becomes smaller after the move. Find the maximum possible number of pleasant moves. (The chess king moves to a square adjacent either by side or by corner.)
3 replies
egxa
Apr 18, 2025
egxa
35 minutes ago
real+ FE
pomodor_ap   4
N 37 minutes ago by jasperE3
Source: Own, PDC001-P7
Let $f : \mathbb{R}^+ \to \mathbb{R}^+$ be a function such that
$$f(x)f(x^2 + y f(y)) = f(x)f(y^2) + x^3$$for all $x, y \in \mathbb{R}^+$. Determine all such functions $f$.
4 replies
pomodor_ap
Yesterday at 11:24 AM
jasperE3
37 minutes ago
FE solution too simple?
Yiyj1   8
N 44 minutes ago by lksb
Source: 101 Algebra Problems from the AMSP
Find all functions $f: \mathbb{R} \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ such that the equality $$f(f(x)+y) = f(x^2-y)+4f(x)y$$holds for all pairs of real numbers $(x,y)$.

My solution

I feel like my solution is too simple. Is there something I did wrong or something I missed?
8 replies
Yiyj1
Apr 9, 2025
lksb
44 minutes ago
Polynomials in Z[x]
BartSimpsons   16
N an hour ago by bin_sherlo
Source: European Mathematical Cup 2017 Problem 4
Find all polynomials $P$ with integer coefficients such that $P (0)\ne  0$ and $$P^n(m)\cdot P^m(n)$$is a square of an integer for all nonnegative integers $n, m$.

Remark: For a nonnegative integer $k$ and an integer $n$, $P^k(n)$ is defined as follows: $P^k(n) = n$ if $k = 0$ and $P^k(n)=P(P(^{k-1}(n))$ if $k >0$.

Proposed by Adrian Beker.
16 replies
BartSimpsons
Dec 27, 2017
bin_sherlo
an hour ago
Why is the old one deleted?
EeEeRUT   13
N an hour ago by EVKV
Source: EGMO 2025 P1
For a positive integer $N$, let $c_1 < c_2 < \cdots < c_m$ be all positive integers smaller than $N$ that are coprime to $N$. Find all $N \geqslant 3$ such that $$\gcd( N, c_i + c_{i+1}) \neq 1$$for all $1 \leqslant i \leqslant m-1$

Here $\gcd(a, b)$ is the largest positive integer that divides both $a$ and $b$. Integers $a$ and $b$ are coprime if $\gcd(a, b) = 1$.

Proposed by Paulius Aleknavičius, Lithuania
13 replies
EeEeRUT
Apr 16, 2025
EVKV
an hour ago
Factor sums of integers
Aopamy   2
N 2 hours ago by cadaeibf
Let $n$ be a positive integer. A positive integer $k$ is called a benefactor of $n$ if the positive divisors of $k$ can be partitioned into two sets $A$ and $B$ such that $n$ is equal to the sum of elements in $A$ minus the sum of the elements in $B$. Note that $A$ or $B$ could be empty, and that the sum of the elements of the empty set is $0$.

For example, $15$ is a benefactor of $18$ because $1+5+15-3=18$.

Show that every positive integer $n$ has at least $2023$ benefactors.
2 replies
Aopamy
Feb 23, 2023
cadaeibf
2 hours ago
Least integer T_m such that m divides gauss sum
Al3jandro0000   33
N 2 hours ago by NerdyNashville
Source: 2020 Iberoamerican P2
Let $T_n$ denotes the least natural such that
$$n\mid 1+2+3+\cdots +T_n=\sum_{i=1}^{T_n} i$$Find all naturals $m$ such that $m\ge T_m$.

Proposed by Nicolás De la Hoz
33 replies
Al3jandro0000
Nov 17, 2020
NerdyNashville
2 hours ago
Estonian Math Competitions 2005/2006
STARS   2
N 2 hours ago by jasperE3
Source: Juniors Problem 4
A $ 9 \times 9$ square is divided into unit squares. Is it possible to fill each unit square with a number $ 1, 2,..., 9$ in such a way that, whenever one places the tile so that it fully covers nine unit squares, the tile will cover nine different numbers?
2 replies
STARS
Jul 30, 2008
jasperE3
2 hours ago
Sum of whose elements is divisible by p
nntrkien   43
N 2 hours ago by lpieleanu
Source: IMO 1995, Problem 6, Day 2, IMO Shortlist 1995, N6
Let $ p$ be an odd prime number. How many $ p$-element subsets $ A$ of $ \{1,2,\dots,2p\}$ are there, the sum of whose elements is divisible by $ p$?
43 replies
nntrkien
Aug 8, 2004
lpieleanu
2 hours ago
Arrangement of integers in a row with gcd
egxa   2
N 2 hours ago by Qing-Cloud
Source: All Russian 2025 10.5 and 11.5
Let \( n \) be a natural number. The numbers \( 1, 2, \ldots, n \) are written in a row in some order. For each pair of adjacent numbers, their greatest common divisor (GCD) is calculated and written on a sheet. What is the maximum possible number of distinct values among the \( n - 1 \) GCDs obtained?
2 replies
egxa
Apr 18, 2025
Qing-Cloud
2 hours ago
Integer representation
RL_parkgong_0106   1
N 2 hours ago by Jackson0423
Source: Own
Show that for any positive integer $n$, there exists some positive integer $k$ that makes the following equation have no integer root $(x_1, x_2, x_3, \dots, x_n)$.

$$x_1^{2^1}+x_2^{2^2}+x_3^{2^3}+\dots+x_n^{2^n}=k$$
1 reply
RL_parkgong_0106
4 hours ago
Jackson0423
2 hours ago
Junior Balkan Mathematical Olympiad 2024- P3
Lukaluce   14
N Apr 11, 2025 by ray66
Source: JBMO 2024
Find all triples of positive integers $(x, y, z)$ that satisfy the equation

$$2020^x + 2^y = 2024^z.$$
Proposed by Ognjen Tešić, Serbia
14 replies
Lukaluce
Jun 27, 2024
ray66
Apr 11, 2025
Junior Balkan Mathematical Olympiad 2024- P3
G H J
Source: JBMO 2024
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Lukaluce
267 posts
#1 • 3 Y
Y by Sedro, farhad.fritl, ItsBesi
Find all triples of positive integers $(x, y, z)$ that satisfy the equation

$$2020^x + 2^y = 2024^z.$$
Proposed by Ognjen Tešić, Serbia
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by Lukaluce, Jun 28, 2024, 12:36 PM
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giannis2006
45 posts
#2 • 1 Y
Y by farhad.fritl
We have the following cases:
$1) y>2x$. Then we get that: $2^{2x}(505^x+2^{y-2x})=2^{3z}253^z$,so $2x=v_2(LHS)=v_2(RHS)=3z$ and hence $505^x+2^{y-2x}=253^z$, which is a contradiction by $mod 3$
$2) y<2x$. Then we get that: $2^y(2^{2x-y}505^x+1)= 2^{3z}505^z$ With the same way as case $1$ we get that $y=3z$ and hence $2^{2x-y}505^x+1=253^z$, which is a contradiction by $ mod 3$.
$3) y=2x$. Then we get that: $2^{2x}(505^x+1)=2^{3z}253^z$
$505^x+1  \equiv 2 mod 4$, and hence $2x+1=v_2(LHS)=v_2(RHS)=3z$, so equivalently we have that $505^x+1=2*253^z=2*253^{\frac {2x+1} {3}}$, which has only $x=1$ as a positive integer solution. So, in this case $(x,y,z)=(1,2,1)$ ,which is the only solution of the given equation.
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by giannis2006, Jun 27, 2024, 11:47 AM
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P2nisic
406 posts
#3
Y by
Consider $U_2$ we get:
$2x=3z$ contradiction since then $LHS>RHS$
$y=3z$ then $2020^x=2024^z-8^z=2016[...]$ contradiction since $7|2016$ but not $2020$
$y=2x$ we have that $2^{2x}(505^x+1)=2^{3z}*253^z$ or $505^x+1=2^{3z-2x}*253^z$
Consider $mod4$ we get that $3z-2x=1$ and then from inelyalites esily get $x=1,y=2,z=1$
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Z4ADies
63 posts
#4
Y by
First,assume that $x \geq 2 $ and $y \geq 3$.
In first case we will inspect $2x=y$.
Then,from taking both sides' power, $2x=y=3z$.
It is known that,$x>z$ but, $505^x+1=253^z$ which is contradiction.
In second case we will inspect $2x>y$.
Like first method,we get $y=3z$ then, $2x>3z$.
So, $2^{2x-y}.505^x+1 \geq 2.505^x+1 >253^z$
contradiction again.
In third case we will look $y>2x$.
From getting power both sides, we found that,$2x=3z$.$505^x+2^{y-2x}=253^z$ obviously contradicition.
So,$x=1,y=2,z=1$.
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Assassino9931
1247 posts
#5
Y by
Proposed by Serbia. Do not get negatively fooled by the classical looking statement -- the various possible approaches here can teach students a lot of important ideas!

Proposer solution, powers of 2 and size arguments

My solution, moduli and Fermat classics
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by Assassino9931, Jun 27, 2024, 2:33 PM
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OgnjenTesic
39 posts
#6 • 7 Y
Y by Assassino9931, oVlad, Sedro, Math_.only., ehuseyinyigit, farhad.fritl, mrtheory
Proposed by me (Ognjen Tešić, Serbia).
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Marinchoo
407 posts
#7
Y by
Taking the equation modulo $5$ yields $y$ is even, so $y=2y_1$. Now if $x\neq y_1$ we have \[2x\geq \nu_{2}(2020^x+2^y)=\min\{2x, 2y_1\}=\nu_{2}(2024^z)=3z.\]However, $2x<3z$ as $2024^z>2020^x>2024^{\frac{2}{3}x}$. Therefore $x=y_1$, and the equation becomes $4^x(505^x+1)=2024^z$. Modulo $11$ implies $x$ is odd, at which point $\nu_2(505^x+1)=\nu_2(506)=1$. Comparing the $\nu_2$'s of both sides gives $2x+1=3z$, so $x=3t+1$, $z=2t+1$ for some nonnegative integer $t$. Clearly, $t=0$ leads to the solution $(x, y, z) = (1, 2, 1)$. When $t>0$ we derive a contradiction from:
\[1>\frac{2020^{3t+1}}{2024^{2t+1}}=\frac{505}{506}\cdot \left(\frac{2020^3}{2024^2}\right)^t\geq \frac{505}{506}\cdot \left(\frac{2020^3}{2024^2}\right)>1.\]
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Davut1102
22 posts
#8
Y by
..........
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by Davut1102, Jul 1, 2024, 1:35 PM
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Sedro
5837 posts
#9
Y by
The only solution is $(x,y,z) = (1,2,1)$, which obviously works. We now prove it is the only one.

Claim: $y=2x$.

Proof: Take both sides of the equation modulo $3$ to get $1+2^y\equiv 2^z \pmod{3}$. Clearly, we must have $2^y \equiv 1 \pmod{3}$, so $y$ is even and $z$ is odd. Let $y = 2y_0$, for a positive integer $y_0$. Then, the given equation becomes $2020^x + 4^{y_0} = 2024^z$. Note that $v_2(2024^z) = 3z$ is always odd. Since $v_2(4)$ and $v_2(2020)$ are both even, it follows if $v_2(2020^x)\ne v_2(4^{y_0})$, then either $v_2(2020^x + 4^{y_0}) = v_2(2020^x) = 2x$ or $v_2(2020^x + 4^{y_0}) = v_2(4^{y_0})=2y_0$, neither of which are odd. Thus, $v_2(2020^x) = v_2(4^{y_0})$. Because $v_2(2020)=v_2(4)$, we must have $x=y_0$, and our claim follows.

Claim: The only possible value of $x$ is $1$.

Proof: Rewrite the given equation as $4^x(505^x + 1^x) = 2024^z$. Note that when $x=1$, $505^1+1^1=506$ is divisible by all the prime factors of $2024$, which are $2$, $11$, and $23$. If $x>1$, by Zsigmondy, there exists some $p\notin \{2,11,23\}$ that divides $505^x + 1^x$, and hence it is impossible that $505^x+1^x \mid 2024^z$. Thus, $x=1$, and we are done. $\blacksquare$
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megarnie
5589 posts
#10
Y by
The only solution is $(1,2,1)$, which clearly works.

Notice that taking the equation mod $7$ gives $4^x + 2^y \equiv 1 \pmod 7$. Since $4^3 \equiv 2^3 \equiv 1\pmod 7$, if $3$ divided either one of $x$ or $y$, then we have that one of $4^x, 2^y$ is $0\pmod 7$, which is absurd. Hence $3\nmid xy$.

Hence $\nu_2(2020^x), \nu_2(2^y)$ are both not multiples of $3$, so they cannot be equal to $ \nu_2(2024^z)$. If $\nu_2(2020^x) \ne \nu_2(2^y)$, then we would have $\nu_2(2024^z) = \nu_2(2020^x + 2^y) \in \{\nu_2(2020^x) , \nu_2(2^y)\}$, which is absurd, so $\nu_2(2020^x) = \nu_2(2^y)$, so $2x = y$. Now we have \[ 2020^x + 4^x = 2024^z \]If $x > 1$, then by Zsigmondy there exists a prime $p$ not dividing $2020^1 + 4^1 = 2024$ that divides $2020^x + 4^x$, absurd. Hence $x = 1$ must hold.
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WallyWalrus
911 posts
#11
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$\textbf{A) }$Working in modulo $10$, we obtain:
The last digit of $2020^x$ is $0$ for all $x\in\mathbb{N}$.

The last digit of $2^y$ is $\begin{cases}2,\text{ for y }\equiv 1\pmod4\\4,\text{ for y }\equiv 2\pmod4\\8,\text{ for y }\equiv 3\pmod4\\6,\text{ for y }\equiv 0\pmod4\end{cases}$

The last digit of $2024^z$ is $\begin{cases}4,\text{ for z }\equiv 1\pmod2\\6,\text{ for z }\equiv 0\pmod2\end{cases}$

Results: $y=2w,\;w\in\mathbb{N}$ and $w-z\equiv0\pmod2$.
The equation becomes:
$2020^x+4^w=2024^z$, where $w,z$ have the same parity $\quad\textbf{(1)}$.

$\textbf{B) }$Working in modulo $3$, we obtain:
$2020^x\equiv1\pmod3;\;4^w\equiv1\pmod3\Longrightarrow 2024^z\equiv2\pmod3\Longrightarrow z$ is odd number $\Longrightarrow w$ is odd number.

$\textbf{Case 1: }\min\{x,w,z\}=w;\;w\le x;\;w\le z$.
Dividing in $\textbf{(1)}$ by $4^w$ results:
$505^x\cdot 4^{x-w}+1=506^z\cdot 4^{z-w}$.
$z-w$ is an even non-negative number and results: the last digit of $506^z\cdot 4^{z-w}$ is $6$.
The last digit of $505^x\cdot 4^{x-w}$ must be $5$, hence $x=w$ and we obtain
$505^x+1=506^z\cdot 4^{z-w}$.
Working in modulo $4$ in the last relation, results:
$505^x\equiv1\pmod4\Longrightarrow 506^z\cdot 4^{z-w}\equiv2\pmod4\Longrightarrow$
$\Longrightarrow z-w=0;\;z=1\Longrightarrow x=w=z=1\Longrightarrow y=2$
and the triplet $(x,y,z)=(1,2,1)$ is solution of the equation $2020^x+2^y=2024^z$.

$\textbf{Case 2: }\min\{x,w,z\}=x;\;x<w;\;x\le z$.
Dividing in $\textbf{(1)}$ by $4^x$ results:
$505^x+4^{w-x}=506^z\cdot 4^{z-x}$.
$505^x$ is odd number; $4^{w-x}$ and $506^z\cdot 4^{z-x}$ are even numbers, hence the last equation has no solutions.

$\textbf{Case 3: }\min\{x,w,z\}=z;\;z<x;\;z<w$.
$2020^x+4^w=2024^z$.
$v_2(2024^z)=3z$, odd number (see $\textbf{B)}$).

$\textbf{case 3.1: }x<w$
$2020^x+4^w=4^x(505^x+4^{w-x})\Longrightarrow v_2(2020^x+4^w)=2x$, even number, hence the equation has no solutions.

$\textbf{case 3.2: }x>w$
$2020^x+4^w=4^w(505^x\cdot4^{x-w}+1)\Longrightarrow v_2(2020^x+4^w)=2w$, even number, hence the equation has no solutions.

$\textbf{case 3.3: }x=w$
$2020^x+4^x=2024^z$.
$z=2u+1;\;x=w>z$, where $u\in\mathbb{N}\cup\{0\}$ (see $\textbf{B)}$).
$2020^x+4^x=4^x(505^x+1)$.
$505^x+1\equiv2\pmod4\Longrightarrow v_2(505^x+1)=1\Longrightarrow$
$\Longrightarrow v_2(2020^x+4^x)=v_2(4^x(505^x+1))=2x+1=3z\Longrightarrow$
$\Longrightarrow 2x+1=6u+3\Longrightarrow x=w=3u+1;\;z=2u+1$.
$x>z\Longrightarrow u>0$.
The equation becomes:
$2020^{3u+1}+4^{3u+1}=2024^{2u+1}\Longrightarrow 505^{3u+1}+1=2\cdot253^{2u+1}\Longrightarrow$
$\Longrightarrow 505\cdot505^{3u}+1=506\cdot253^{2u}$, contradiction since
$505\cdot505^{3u}>506\cdot253^{2u},\;\forall u\in\mathbb{N}$ (proved many times in the previous posts).

$\textbf{Conclusion:}$
The equation in positive integers $2020^x+2^y=2024^z$ has the unique solution $(x,y,z)=(1,2,1)$.
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PaixiaoLover
123 posts
#13
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take mod 3 to get $1+(-1)^y=(-1)^z$. Because of this, we know y must be even and z must be odd.

Let $y=2y_1$ and $z=2z_1+1$. Prime factorizing the original equation, $2^{2x}\cdot505^x+2^{2y_1}=2^{6z_1+3}
\cdot253^{2z_1+1}$

Now considering the largest factor of 2 that divides the LHS, if $2y_1$ is the smallest factor, then $2y_1=6z_1+3$, impossible. Similarly, if 2x is the largest factor of 2, $2x=6z_1+3$ is impossible. This means $2x=2y_1$ and the factor of 2 on the LHS is $2^{2x+1}$ since the v2 of $505^{x}+1$ is at 2. (since its 0 mod 2 and not 0 mod 4). So we have $2x+1=3z_1$

Going back, we have $x=x, y=2x, z=\frac{2x+1}{3}$. since $\frac{2x+1}{3}$ is an integer, set $x=3k+1$ Plugging in and dividing by largest factor of 2 we get $505^{3k+1}+1=2\cdot253^{2k+1}.$ k=0 works, but any larger k dosent work since $505^{3k+1}+1 > 505 \cdot 505^{3k} > 506 \cdot 253^{2k}$ so the only solution is k=0, which represents $(x,y,z)=(1,2,1)$
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by PaixiaoLover, Jan 3, 2025, 7:56 PM
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ItsBesi
142 posts
#14
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Here is my solution:

Answer: $(x,y,z)=(1,2,1)$

Solution:

Claim: $y-$even and $z-$odd
Proof:

By taking $\pmod 3$ we get:

$1+(-1)^y \equiv (-1)^z \pmod 3$ if $y-$ even then: $(-1)^z \equiv 0 \pmod 3$ which is a contradiction so $\boxed{y-\text{even}}$

Hence $(-1)^z \equiv -1 \pmod 3 \implies \boxed{z-\text{odd}}$ $\square$

Since $y-$ even we get that $y=2 \cdot y'$ so our equation transforms into the following:

$$2020^x+4^{y'}=2024^z$$Claim: $x=y'$
Proof: FTSOC assume $x \neq y'$

So $x \neq y' \iff 2x \neq 2y' \iff x \cdot 2 \neq y' \cdot 2 \iff x \cdot \nu_2(2020) \neq y'\cdot \nu_2(4) \iff \nu_2(2020^x) \neq \nu_2(4^{y})$

So we got that: $x \neq y' \iff \nu_2(2020^x) \neq \nu_2(4^{y})$

Hence we get that: $\nu_2(2020^x+4^{y'})= \min\{\nu_2(2020^x) , \nu_2(4^{y'}) \}= \min\{2x,2y' \}=2 \cdot \min\{x,y' \} \implies  \nu_2(2020^x+4^{y'} \}=2 \cdot \min\{x,y' \} $ $...(1)$

Also on the other hand we have that: $\nu_2(2024^z)=z \cdot \nu_2(2024)= z \cdot 3 =3 \cdot z \implies \nu_2(2024^z)=3 \cdot z$ $...(2)$

Hence we get that $3 \cdot z \stackrel{(2)}{=} \nu_2(2024^z)= \nu_2(2020^x+4^{y'} \} \stackrel{(1)}{=} 2 \cdot \min\{x,y' \} \implies 3 \cdot z=2 \cdot \min\{x,y' \}$

So $2 \mid 2 \cdot \min\{x,y' \}=3 \cdot z \implies 2 \mid 3 \cdot z \implies 2 \mid z \iff z \equiv 0 \pmod 2$ which is a contradiction because we found that $z-\text{odd}$

So our assumption is wrong hence $x=y'$ $\square$ $\implies$
$$2020^x+4^x=2024^x$$Claim: $\nu_{11}(x)=0$
Proof: FTSOC assume $\nu_{11}(x) \geq 1$

So by taking $\nu_{11}$ on both sides and using Lifting the Exponent Lemma (LTE) we get:

$1+\nu_{11}(x)=\nu_{11}(2024)+\nu_{11}(x)=\nu_{11}(2020+4)+\nu_{11}(x) \stackrel{LTE}{=}\nu_{11}(2020^x+4^x)=\nu_{11}(2024^z)=z \cdot \nu_{11}(2024)=z \implies$

$ 1+\nu_{11}(x)=z \iff z=1+\nu_{11}(x)$ Since $z- \text{odd}$ we get that $\nu_{11}(x)-\text{even}.$ Let $\nu_{11}(x)=2k  \implies z=2k+1$ also $x=11^{2k} \cdot t \implies x=121^k \cdot t$

So our equation transforms into the following:

$2020^{121^k \cdot t} + 4^{121^k \cdot t} = 2024^{2k+1}$ Now by taking $\nu_2$ we get:

$6k+3= (2k+1) \cdot 3  = (2k+1) \cdot \nu_2(2024)=\nu_2(2024^{2k+1})=\nu_2( 2020^{121^k \cdot t} + 4^{121^k \cdot t})$

$\geq \min\{\nu_2(2020^{121^k \cdot t}) , \nu_2( 4^{121^k \cdot t} ) \} =\min\{121^k \cdot t \cdot \nu_2(2020) , 121^k \cdot t \cdot \nu_2(4) \} = \min\{(121^k \cdot t \cdot 2), (121^k \cdot t \cdot 2) \}=121^k \cdot t \cdot 2$

$ \implies 6k+3 \geq 121^k \cdot t \cdot 2$ but this isn't true for $k \geq 1$

So our assumption is wrong hence $\nu{11}_(x)=0$ so $z=1+\nu{11}_(x)=1 \implies \boxed{z=1}$

So $2020^x+4^x=2024$ clearly $\boxed{x=1}$ so $y=2 \cdot y' =2 \cdot x=2 \implies \boxed{y=2}$

Hence $(x,y,z)=(1,2,1)$ is the only solution $\blacksquare$
This post has been edited 3 times. Last edited by ItsBesi, Feb 15, 2025, 2:41 PM
Reason: typo
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EVKV
51 posts
#15
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Claim: $y=2x$.
Proof: Analyzing $mod$ $5$ $y$ is even
let $y=2g$
now $mod$ $3$ gives $z$ is odd
$2020^{x} + 2^{2g} = 2024^{z}$ is same as $4^{x}505^{x} + 4^{g} = 2024^{z}$
Case 1: x>g
$ 2^{2g}(4^{x-g}505^{x} +1) = 2^{3z}253^{z}$
Implying $2g = 3z$ nonsense
Case 1: x<g
$ 2^{2x}(505^{x} +4^{g-x}) = 2^{3z}253^{z}$
Implying $2x = 3z$ nonsense

thus x=g

Now taking $ mod$ $ 5$ again we get $x$ is odd

$ 2^{2x}(505^{x} +1) = 2^{3z}253^{z}$
$v_2(505^{x} +1) = 1$
So, $2x+1 = 3z$
So, $x=3k+1$ (for a non-negetive integer k)
So,$z=2k+1$
Clearly (U can also induct) $2020^{3k+1} > 2024^{2k+1}$ for $k \neq 0$
thus $2020^{3k+1} +4^{3k+1} = 2020^{x} + 2^{y} > 2024^{z}$ for $k \neq 0$

Thus only solution is $(x,y,z)=(1,2,1)$
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ray66
31 posts
#16
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Taking mod 3 gives $1+(-1)^y \equiv (-1)^z \pmod 3$, so $y$ is even and $z$ is odd. Now consider $\nu_2$ of both sides. The RHS is $\nu_2(2024^z) = 3z$, so it's odd. The LHS is $\nu_2(2020^x+2^y)$, and it's odd if and only if $y=2x$. Now write the LHS as $4^x(505^x+1)$, and taking mod 4 on the inside sum gives $505^x+1\equiv 2 \pmod 4$. Now we have the relationship $z=\frac{2x+1}{3}$. We can easily check that $\boxed{(1,2,1)}$ is a solution, and we see that for $x>1$, the LHS is strictly greater than the RHS, so there are no solutions $x\ge 2$.
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