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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
3 variable FE with divisibility condition
pithon_with_an_i   2
N a few seconds ago by ATM_
Source: Revenge JOM 2025 Problem 1, Revenge JOMSL 2025 N2, Own
Find all functions $f:\mathbb{N} \rightarrow \mathbb{N}$ such that $$f(a)+f(b)+f(c) \mid a^2 + af(b) + cf(a)$$for all $a,b,c \in \mathbb{N}$.
2 replies
pithon_with_an_i
2 hours ago
ATM_
a few seconds ago
Dissection into equal‐area pieces using diagonals
MathMystic33   0
a few seconds ago
Source: Macedonian Mathematical Olympiad 2025 Problem 5
Let \(n>1\) be a natural number, and let \(K\) be the square of side length \(n\) subdivided into \(n^2\) unit squares. Determine for which values of \(n\) it is possible to dissect \(K\) into \(n\) connected regions of equal area using only the diagonals of those unit squares, subject to the condition that from each unit square at most one of its diagonals is used (some unit squares may have neither diagonal).
0 replies
MathMystic33
a few seconds ago
0 replies
Brazilian Locus
kraDracsO   15
N 2 minutes ago by Ilikeminecraft
Source: IberoAmerican, Day 2, P4
Let $B$ and $C$ be two fixed points in the plane. For each point $A$ of the plane, outside of the line $BC$, let $G$ be the barycenter of the triangle $ABC$. Determine the locus of points $A$ such that $\angle BAC + \angle BGC = 180^{\circ}$.

Note: The locus is the set of all points of the plane that satisfies the property.
15 replies
kraDracsO
Sep 9, 2023
Ilikeminecraft
2 minutes ago
Divisibility with the polynomial ax^{75}+b
MathMystic33   0
3 minutes ago
Source: Macedonian Mathematical Olympiad 2025 Problem 4
Let $P(x)=a x^{75}+b$ be a polynomial where \(a\) and \(b\) are coprime integers in the set \(\{1,2,\dots,151\}\), and suppose it satisfies the following condition: there exists at most one prime \(p\) such that for every positive integer \(k\), \(p\mid P(k)\). Prove that for every prime \(q \neq p\) there exists a positive integer \(k\) for which $q^2 \mid P(k).$
0 replies
MathMystic33
3 minutes ago
0 replies
Maximum reach of splitting tokens
MathMystic33   0
9 minutes ago
Source: Macedonian Mathematical Olympiad 2025 Problem 3
On a horizontally placed number line, a pile of \( t_i > 0 \) tokens is placed on each number \( i \in \{1, 2, \ldots, s\} \). As long as at least one pile contains at least two tokens, we repeat the following procedure: we choose such a pile (say, it consists of \( k \geq 2 \) tokens), and move the top token from the selected pile \( k - 1 \) unit positions to the right along the number line. What is the largest natural number \( N \) on which a token can be placed? (Express \( N \) as a function of \( (t_i;\ i = 1, \ldots, s) \).)
0 replies
+1 w
MathMystic33
9 minutes ago
0 replies
Inequality with rational function
MathMystic33   0
11 minutes ago
Source: Macedonian Mathematical Olympiad 2025 Problem 2
Let \( n > 2 \) be an integer, \( k > 1 \) a real number, and \( x_1, x_2, \ldots, x_n \) be positive real numbers such that \( x_1 \cdot x_2 \cdots x_n = 1 \). Prove that:

\[
\frac{1 + x_1^k}{1 + x_2} + \frac{1 + x_2^k}{1 + x_3} + \cdots + \frac{1 + x_n^k}{1 + x_1} \geq n.
\]
When does equality hold?
0 replies
MathMystic33
11 minutes ago
0 replies
Circumcircle of MUV tangent to two circles at once
MathMystic33   0
13 minutes ago
Source: Macedonian Mathematical Olympiad 2025 Problem 1
Given is an acute triangle \( \triangle ABC \) with \( AB < AC \). Let \( M \) be the midpoint of side \( BC \), and let \( X \) and \( Y \) be points on segments \( BM \) and \( CM \), respectively, such that \( BX = CY \). Let \( \omega_1 \) be the circumcircle of \( \triangle ABX \), and \( \omega_2 \) the circumcircle of \( \triangle ACY \). The common tangent \( t \) to \( \omega_1 \) and \( \omega_2 \), which lies closer to point \( A \), touches \( \omega_1 \) and \( \omega_2 \) at points \( P \) and \( Q \), respectively. Let the line \( MP \) intersect \( \omega_1 \) again at \( U \), and the line \( MQ \) intersect \( \omega_2 \) again at \( V \). Prove that the circumcircle of triangle \( \triangle MUV \) is tangent to both \( \omega_1 \) and \( \omega_2 \).
0 replies
MathMystic33
13 minutes ago
0 replies
USAMO 2003 Problem 5
MithsApprentice   93
N 17 minutes ago by endless_abyss
Let $ a$, $ b$, $ c$ be positive real numbers. Prove that
\[ \dfrac{(2a + b + c)^2}{2a^2 + (b + c)^2} + \dfrac{(2b + c + a)^2}{2b^2 + (c + a)^2} + \dfrac{(2c + a + b)^2}{2c^2 + (a + b)^2} \le 8.
\]
93 replies
MithsApprentice
Sep 27, 2005
endless_abyss
17 minutes ago
I got stuck in this combinatorics
artjustinhere237   1
N 35 minutes ago by maromex
Let $S = \{1, 2, 3, \ldots, k\}$, where $k \geq 4$ is a positive integer.
Prove that there exists a subset of $S$ with exactly $k - 2$ elements such that the sum of its elements is a prime number.
1 reply
artjustinhere237
an hour ago
maromex
35 minutes ago
Solve the equation x^3y^2(2y - x) = x^2y^4-36
Eukleidis   9
N 36 minutes ago by MITDragon
Source: Greek Mathematical Olympiad 2011 - P1
Solve in integers the equation
\[{x^3}{y^2}\left( {2y - x} \right) = {x^2}{y^4} - 36\]
9 replies
Eukleidis
May 13, 2011
MITDragon
36 minutes ago
c^a + a = 2^b
Havu   2
N 40 minutes ago by dromemsilly
Find $a, b, c\in\mathbb{Z}^+$ such that $a,b,c$ coprime, $a + b = 2c$ and $c^a + a = 2^b$.
2 replies
Havu
May 10, 2025
dromemsilly
40 minutes ago
They copied their problem!
pokmui9909   11
N an hour ago by cursed_tangent1434
Source: FKMO 2025 P1
Sequence $a_1, a_2, a_3, \cdots$ satisfies the following condition.

(Condition) For all positive integer $n$, $\sum_{k=1}^{n}\frac{1}{2}\left(1 - (-1)^{\left[\frac{n}{k}\right]}\right)a_k=1$ holds.

For a positive integer $m = 1001 \cdot 2^{2025}$, compute $a_m$.
11 replies
pokmui9909
Mar 29, 2025
cursed_tangent1434
an hour ago
Trigonometric Product
Henryfamz   0
an hour ago
Compute $$\prod_{n=1}^{45}\sin(2n-1)$$
0 replies
Henryfamz
an hour ago
0 replies
Gives typical russian combinatorics vibes
Sadigly   1
N an hour ago by Sadigly
Source: Azerbaijan Senior MO 2025 P3
You are given a positive integer $n$. $n^2$ amount of people stand on coordinates $(x;y)$ where $x,y\in\{0;1;2;...;n-1\}$. Every person got a water cup and two people are considered to be neighbour if the distance between them is $1$. At the first minute, the person standing on coordinates $(0;0)$ got $1$ litres of water, and the other $n^2-1$ people's water cup is empty. Every minute, two neighbouring people are chosen that does not have the same amount of water in their water cups, and they equalize the amount of water in their water cups.

Prove that, no matter what, the person standing on the coordinates $(x;y)$ will not have more than $\frac1{x+y+1}$ litres of water.
1 reply
1 viewing
Sadigly
May 8, 2025
Sadigly
an hour ago
BMO 2021 problem 3
VicKmath7   20
N Apr 27, 2025 by Grasshopper-
Source: Balkan MO 2021 P3
Let $a, b$ and $c$ be positive integers satisfying the equation $(a, b) + [a, b]=2021^c$. If $|a-b|$ is a prime number, prove that the number $(a+b)^2+4$ is composite.

Proposed by Serbia
20 replies
VicKmath7
Sep 8, 2021
Grasshopper-
Apr 27, 2025
BMO 2021 problem 3
G H J
G H BBookmark kLocked kLocked NReply
Source: Balkan MO 2021 P3
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VicKmath7
1390 posts
#1 • 2 Y
Y by jhu08, PineApplePen
Let $a, b$ and $c$ be positive integers satisfying the equation $(a, b) + [a, b]=2021^c$. If $|a-b|$ is a prime number, prove that the number $(a+b)^2+4$ is composite.

Proposed by Serbia
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by VicKmath7, Jan 1, 2023, 2:17 PM
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laikhanhhoang_3011
637 posts
#2 • 1 Y
Y by jhu08
look like it is not difficult but small cases confused us
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InvertedDiabloNemesisXD
6 posts
#3 • 3 Y
Y by jhu08, Danie1, Arabian_Math
Case Bash solution
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BarisKoyuncu
577 posts
#4 • 2 Y
Y by jhu08, Iora
WLOG $a-b=p$ where $p$ is a prime number.
i) $p|b$
Let $b=pd$. Then, $(a,b)=(pd+p,pd)=p(d+1,d)=p$ and $[a,b]=[pd+p,pd]=p[d+1,d]=pd(d+1)$. Hence, $p+pd(d+1)=2021^c\Rightarrow p|2021^c\Rightarrow p|2021\Rightarrow p=43,47$.
i.a) $p=43$
$2021^c=p(d^2+d+1)=43(d^2+d+1)\Rightarrow d^2+d+(1-43^{c-1}\cdot 47^c)=0$. Hence, the number $\triangle_d 1-4(1-43^{c-1}\cdot 47^c)=4\cdot 43^{c-1}\cdot 47^c-3$ must a perfect square. But, $4\cdot 43^{c-1}\cdot 47^c-3\equiv -3\pmod{47}$ and $47\equiv 2\pmod{3}$. So, this number cannot be a perfect square. Contradiction.
i.b) $p=47$
$2021^c=p(d^2+d+1)=47(d^2+d+1)\Rightarrow d^2+d+(1-43^c\cdot 47^{c-1})=0$. Hence, the number $\triangle_d 1-4(1-43^c\cdot 47{c-1}c)=4\cdot 43^c\cdot 47^{c-1}-3$ must a perfect square. If $c\ge 2$, again $4\cdot 43^c\cdot 47^{c-1}-3\equiv -3\pmod{47}$. Contradiction. Thus, $c=1$. Then, $\triangle_d=4\cdot 43^c\cdot 47^{c-1}-3=4\cdot 43-3=169=13^2$. Hence, $d=\dfrac{-1\pm\sqrt{\triangle_d}}{2}=\dfrac{-1\pm 13}{2}=\{-7,6\}$. Since $d>0$, we find that $d=6$. Then, $b=pd=47\cdot 6=282$ and $a=b+p=282+47=329\Rightarrow (a+b)^2+4=611^2+4\equiv 0\pmod{5}$. Clearly, $611^2+4>5$, so it is composite.
ii) $p\not |b$
Then, $(a,b)=(b+p,b)=(b,p)=1$ and $[a,b]=[b+p,b]=(b+p)b$. Hence, $1+(b+p)b=2021^c\Rightarrow b^2+pb+(1-2021^c)=0$. Hence, the number $\triangle_d=p^2-4(1-2021^c)=p^2+4\cdot 2021^c-4$ must be a perfect square. Let $p^2+4\cdot 2021^c-4=t^2$ where $t\in \mathbb{Z^+}$. Then, $b=\dfrac{-p\pm \sqrt{t^2}}{2}$ and since $b>0$, we find that $b=\dfrac{t-p}{2}$. Then, $(a+b)^2+4=\left(\dfrac{t-p}{2}+\dfrac{t+p}{2}\right)^2+4=t^2+4$. Suppose that $t^2+4=q$ where $q$ is a prime number. Hence, $p^2+4\cdot 2021^c=t^2+4=q$.
ii.a) $c$ is even.
Let $c=2c_1$. Then, $p^2+(2\cdot 2021^{c_1})^2=q=t^2+2^2$. But, each prime number can be written in $1$ or $0$ different way as the sum of $2$ perfect squares. Thus, $\{p,2\cdot 2021^{c_1}\}=\{t,2\}$. Clearly, $2\cdot 2021^{c_1}>2$ so $p=2$. Then $q=p^2+4\cdot 2021^c\equiv 0\mod{2}\Rightarrow q=2$ but $p^2+4\cdot 2021^c>$. Contradiction.
ii.b) $c$ is odd.
If $p\neq 3$, then $t^2+4=p^2+4\cdot 2021^c\equiv (-1)^c\equiv -1\pmod{3}\Rightarrow t^2\equiv 2\pmod{3}$. Contradiction. So $p=3$. Then, $t^2+4=9+4\cdot 2021^c\equiv 9\pmod{47}\Rightarrow t^2\equiv 5\pmod{47}$. Contradiction.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by BarisKoyuncu, Sep 8, 2021, 5:34 PM
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grupyorum
1419 posts
#6 • 1 Y
Y by jhu08
BarisKoyuncu wrote:
WLOG $a-b=p$ where $p$ is a prime number.
i) $p|b$
Let $b=pd$. Then, $(a,b)=(pd+p,pd)=p(d+1,d)=p$ and $[a,b]=[pd+p,pd]=p[d+1,d]=pd(d+1)$. Hence, $p+pd(d+1)=2021^c\Rightarrow p|2021^c\Rightarrow p|2021\Rightarrow p=43,47$.
i.a) $p=43$
$2021^c=p(d^2+d+1)=43(d^2+d+1)\Rightarrow d^2+d+(1-43^{c-1}\cdot 47^c)=0$. Hence, the number $\triangle_d 1-4(1-43^{c-1}\cdot 47^c)=4\cdot 43^{c-1}\cdot 47^c-3$ must a perfect square. But, $4\cdot 43^{c-1}\cdot 47^c-3\equiv -3\pmod{47}$ and $47\equiv 2\pmod{3}$. So, this number cannot be a perfect square. Contradiction.
i.b) $p=47$
$2021^c=p(d^2+d+1)=47(d^2+d+1)\Rightarrow d^2+d+(1-43^c\cdot 47^{c-1})=0$. Hence, the number $\triangle_d 1-4(1-43^c\cdot 47{c-1}c)=4\cdot 43^c\cdot 47^{c-1}-3$ must a perfect square. If $c\ge 2$, again $4\cdot 43^c\cdot 47^{c-1}-3\equiv -3\pmod{47}$. Contradiction. Thus, $c=1$. Then, $\triangle_d=4\cdot 43^c\cdot 47^{c-1}-3=4\cdot 43-3=169=13^2$. Hence, $d=\dfrac{-1\pm\sqrt{\triangle_d}}{2}=\dfrac{-1\pm 13}{2}=\{-7,6\}$. Since $d>0$, we find that $d=6$. Then, $b=pd=47\cdot 6=282$ and $a=b+p=282+47=329\Rightarrow (a+b)^2+4=611^2+4\equiv 0\pmod{5}$. Clearly, $611^2+4>5$, so it is composite.
ii) $p\not |b$
Then, $(a,b)=(b+p,b)=(b,p)=1$ and $[a,b]=[b+p,b]=(b+p)b$. Hence, $1+(b+p)b=2021^c\Rightarrow b^2+pb+(1-2021^c)=0$. Hence, the number $\triangle_d=p^2-4(1-2021^c)=p^2+4\cdot 2021^c-4$ must be a perfect square. Let $p^2+4\cdot 2021^c-4=t^2$ where $t\in \mathbb{Z^+}$. Then, $b=\dfrac{-p\pm \sqrt{t^2}}{2}$ and since $b>0$, we find that $b=\dfrac{t-p}{2}$. Then, $(a+b)^2+4=\left(\dfrac{t-p}{2}+\dfrac{t+p}{2}\right)^2+4=t^2+4$. Suppose that $t^2+4=q$ where $q$ is a prime number. Hence, $p^2+4\cdot 2021^c=t^2+4=q$.
ii.a) $c$ is even.
Let $c=2c_1$. Then, $p^2+(2\cdot 2021^{c_1})^2=q=t^2+2^2$. But, each prime number can be written in $1$ or $0$ different way as the sum of $2$ perfect squares. Thus, $\{p,2\cdot 2021^{c_1}\}=\{t,2\}$. Clearly, $2\cdot 2021^{c_1}>2$ so $p=2$. Then $q=p^2+4\cdot 2021^c\equiv 0\mod{2}\Rightarrow q=2$ but $p^2+4\cdot 2021^c>$. Contradiction.
ii.b) $c$ is odd.
If $p\neq 3$, then $t^2+4=p^2+4\cdot 2021^c\equiv (-1)^c\equiv -1\pmod{3}\Rightarrow t^2\equiv 2\pmod{3}$. Contradiction. So $p=3$. Then, $t^2+4=9+4\cdot 2021^c\equiv 9\pmod{47}\Rightarrow t^2\equiv 5\pmod{47}$. Contradiction.

You can excise a fair amount of work here. Let $d={\rm gcd}(a,b)$ with $a=da_1$ and $b=db_1$, $(a_1,b_1)=1$. Assume w.l.o.g. $a_1>b_1$ (clearly $a\ne b$). We then have $d(a_1-b_1)=p$ for a prime $p$, thus $d\in\{1,p\}$. Now, if $d=p$ then we obtain that
\[
d\left(b_1^2+b_1+1\right)=43^c\cdot 47^c.
\]If $47\mid b_1^2+b_1+1$, then $47\mid (2b_1+1)^2+3$, but $(-3/47)=-1$ as $47\equiv -1\pmod{6}$. Hence, in this case, $47^c\mid d = p$, thus $c=1$ and $d=47$ is the only possibility. With this we find $b_1^2+b_1+1=43$, for which $(a_1,b_1)=(7,6)$ is obtained; and for this solution, $(a+b)^2+4>5$ is divisible by $5$, hence is the conclusion.

This brings us to the case $(a,b)=1$, $a-b=p$, which is handled exactly as demonstrated by Baris. (Let me also add that one way to prove the also contradiction, $t^2\equiv 5\pmod{47}$, in the very last step is to use the quadratic reciprocity: $(5/47)(47/5)=1$ whereas $(57/5)=(2/5)=-1$.)
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by grupyorum, Sep 8, 2021, 5:48 PM
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steppewolf
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#7 • 1 Y
Y by jhu08
Proposed by Serbia
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VicKmath7
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#8 • 1 Y
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Woah this was very hard and nice NT, involving QRs. This is similar to the above soln.
Case 1. $gcd(a,b)$ is not $1$. Then $a=p(x+1)$ and $b=px$. Thus $p(x^2+x+1)=2021^c$. Hence $p=43$ or $p=47$.
Case 1.1 $p=47$. The number we want to be composite is $A=4.47^{c+1}.43^c-3.47^2+4$. Note that if $c$ is even, then $A$ is divisible by $3$, done. If $c$ is odd, then $A$ is $(-1)2^{c+1}.(-2)^c+2=2(2^{2c}+1) (mod 5)$ which is divisible by $5$ for odd $c$.
Case 1.2 $p=43$. We prove that this is actually impossible. Note that $(2x+1)^2=4.47^c.43^{c-1}+3$, so $-3$ is a QR modulo $47$, but that's impossible due to quadratic reciprocity.
Case 2. $gcd(a,b)=1$. Thus $1+ab=2021^c$ and $a-b=p$ and we want $A=p^2+4.2021^c$ to be composite.
Case 2.1 $p>3$. Then $c$ can't be odd, otherwise $A$ is divisible by $3$. So suppose $c$ is even. We have that $b^2+bp+1-2021^c=0$ and it's discriminant is $p^2+4.2021^c-4=d^2$. Thus the prime $A$ is representable as sum of two squares in two ways. But that's impossible (view this as a lemma: if $p=a^2+b^2=c^2+d^2$, then $p^2=(ac-bd)^2+(ad+bc)^2=(ad-bc)^2+(ac+bd)^2$ but note that $a^2c^2=b^2d^2 (mod p)$, and now we easily see contradiction).
Case 2.2 $p=3$ ($2$ is impossible, obviously). We have similarly that $b^2+3b+1-2021^c=0$ so it's discriminant is $4.2021^c+5=d^2$, but now finish again with quadratic reciprocity modulo $47$.
So we're done.
This post has been edited 3 times. Last edited by VicKmath7, Sep 9, 2021, 6:57 AM
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P2nisic
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VicKmath7 wrote:
Let $a, b$ and $c$ be positive integers satisfying the equation $(a, b) + [a, b]=2021^c$. If $|a-b|$ is a prime number, prove that the number $(a+b)^2+4$ is composite.

Let $d=(a,b)$ and $a=dx$,$b=dy$ and suppose that $d$ different from $1$ then:
As $d|x-y|=prime$ we have $x=y+1$ and $d=prime$.
Now at the first equation we have:
$d(y^2+y+1)=2021^c$
If $c>=2$ then $47|y^2+y+1$ by the well known lemma:Let $q=prime=2(mod3)$ then if $q|c^2+cd+d^2$ we have $q|c$ and $q|d$.So $47|1$ contradiction.
If $c=1$ we have $d=47$ and $y=6$ which gives$47^2(6+7)^2+4=0(mod5)$

So $d=1$ and we have:$ab+1=2021^c$ (1)and $|a-b|=p$.(2)
We consider two cases:

If $c=1(mod2)$ then (1) $mod3$ gives $a=b(mod3)$ using condition (2) we have $a=b+3$ so equation (1) became:
$b^2+3b+1=2021^c$ or $(2b+3)^2-5=4*2021^c$
But $(5/43)=(43/5)=(3/5)=-1$ so no solution.

If $c=0(mod2)$ set $c=2d$ then we have:
$ab+1=2021^{2d}$ or $4ab+4=2021^{2d}*4$
or$(a+b)^2-(a-b)^2+4=2021^{2d}*4$
or$(a+b)^2+4=2021^{2d}*4+p^2$.

Suppose that $(a+b)^2+4=prime$ then it is well known that every prime in the form $4k+1$ can be written as a sum of two square in a unique way.
This mean that $p=2$ but it is obvious that $p=odd$ so contradiction.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by P2nisic, Sep 8, 2021, 8:53 PM
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sbealing
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Let $p=|a-b|$.

Case 1: $p \vert a,b$ We have:
$$2021^c=(a,b)+[a,b]=p+\frac{ab}{p} \Rightarrow ab=p \left(2021^{c}-p\right) $$$$\Longrightarrow (a+b)^2=(a-b)^2+4ab=p^2+4p\left(2021^{c}-p\right)=p \left(4 \times 2021^{c}-3p\right)$$As $p \vert a+b$ we have $p \vert 4 \times 2021^{c}$ and hence $p \in \{2,43,47\}$. In the case $p=2$, the quantity in question is even and $>2$ so composite. For $p=47$ observe:
$$(a+b)^2+4 \equiv 2 \left(4-1\right)+4 \equiv 0 \pmod{5}$$and as $(a+b)^2+4>5$ it follows it is composite. Finally, for $p=43$ observe that $2021^{c} \in \{7,11\} \pmod{19}$ thus:
$$(a+b)^2=43 \left(4 \times 2021^{c}-3 \times 43\right) \in \{8,12\} \pmod{19}$$and by a direct check neither of these are quadratic residues modulo $19$ thus this case cannot occur.

Case 2: $p \nmid a,b$ We have:
$$2021^c=(a,b)+[a,b]=1+ab \Rightarrow (a+b)^2+4=(a-b)^2+4\left(1+ab\right)=p^2+4 \times 2021^{c}$$Firstly observe if $p=2$ then the quantity is even and $>2$ so composite. Now consider $p>2$.

Case 2.1: $c$ is evenIn this case, as $p>2$ and $2 \times 2021^{c/2}>2$, it follows $(a+b)^2+2^2$ is composite else we would have a prime written as a sum of two squares in two distinct ways.

Case 2.2: $p=3$ In this case observe:
$$(a+b)^2=4 \times 2021^{c}+3^2-4 \equiv 5 \pmod{43}$$but by LQR as $\mathrm{LHS}$ is a perfect square we have:
$$1=\left(\frac{5}{43}\right)=\left(\frac{43}{5}\right)=\left(\frac{3}{5}\right)=-1$$which is a contradiction.

Case 2.3: $p>3$, $c$ odd Here we have:
$$(a+b)^2+4 \equiv 4 \times (-1)^{c}+1 \equiv 0 \pmod{3}$$so $\mathrm{LHS}$ is divisible by $3$ and $>3$ therefore composite.
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square_root_of_3
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#11 • 1 Y
Y by MathsLion
I just wonder how the person who came up with this problem thought of this. I wonder at what point did they say 'let's put a-b to be a prime'. Did they first come up with the solution for the case where $(a,b)=1$ and $a-b$ is prime and then just added the particular case to make it longer? Or did they try solving the general $(a,b)+[a,b]=2021^c$ and then managed to just do the first two small cases?
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oVlad
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#12 • 3 Y
Y by Pitagar, steppewolf, Mango247
Why so bashy? :noo: Anyways, my only goal while solving this was to shorten the solution as much as possible. I think I succeeded:

Let $b=a+p.$ We then have two cases:

Case One: Assume that $p$ divides $a.$ In other words, let $a=pk$ and $b=p(k+1).$ Our condition is then equivalent to \[\Phi_3(k)=k^2+k+1=\frac{2021^c}{p}\]It's well known that for any prime number $q$ and positive integer $n,$ only prime numbers congruent to $0$ or 1 modulo $q$ can divide $\Phi_q(n).$

Thus, since $47\equiv 2\bmod 3$ then $47\nmid \Phi_3(k)$ so $47\nmid 2021^c/p.$ Therefore, $c=1$ and $p=47.$ After computing, this yields $k=6.$ Just bash $(a+b)^2+4.$

Case Two: Assume that $p$ does not divide $a.$ Then, our condition rewrites as \[1+a(a+p)=2021^c\iff (2a+p)^2+4=4\cdot 2021^c+p^2.\]
Assume that $p>3.$ Clearly, $3$ cannot divide $(2a+p)^2+4$ so $4\cdot 2021^c+p^2\equiv (-1)^c+1\not\equiv 0\bmod 3$ which implies that $c$ is even.

Hence, $(a+b)^2+4=(2a+p)^2+4$ can be written as the sum of $2$ squares in two ways, so it must be composite.

If $p=3$ then $(2a+p)^2\equiv 5\bmod{43}$ which is a contradiction.
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IndoMathXdZ
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#13 • 2 Y
Y by steppewolf, mijail
Balkan MO 2021/3 wrote:
Let $a, b$ and $c$ be positive integers satisfying the equation $(a, b) + [a, b]=2021^c$. If $|a-b|$ is a prime number, prove that the number $(a+b)^2+4$ is composite.
WLOG $a > b$. Since $(a,b) \mid |a - b|$, which is a prime number, then there are two possible cases.
Case 01. $(a,b) = p$ for some prime number $p$.
Since $|a - b| = (a,b) = p$. This implies $(a,b) = (px + p, px)$ for some $x \in \mathbb{N}$. Therefore, we get
\[ p(x^2 + x + 1) = 2021^c \]First, we claim that $c = 1$. Otherwise, $x^2 + x + 1 \equiv 0 \pmod{47}$. However, $-3$ is not a QR modulo $47$. Furthermore, this implies that $p = 47$, which gives us $x^2 + x + 1 = 43$, and this gives $x = 6$ as a solution. Just check that
\[ (a + b)^2 + 4 = p^2(2x + 1)^2 + 4 = 47^2 \cdot 13^2 + 4 \equiv 0 \pmod{5} \]and $a + b > 1$, which implies $(a + b)^2 + 4$ is composite.
Case 02. $(a,b) = 1$.
We then have
\[ (a + b)^2 + 4 = (a - b)^2 + 4(ab + 1) = (a - b)^2 + 4 \cdot 2021^c = p^2 + 4 \cdot 2021^c \]We first claim that $|a - b| \not= 3$. Otherwise, then $b^2 + 3b + 1 = 2021^c \equiv 0 \pmod{47}$, and one can check that $5$ is not a QR modulo $47$. We claim that $c$ must be even. Indeed, if $c$ is odd, then $p^2 + 4 \cdot 2021^c \equiv 0 \pmod{3}$.
Now, note that $(a + b)^2 + 2^2$ can be represented as $p^2 + (2 \cdot 2021^{c/2})^2$ as well, and we could quickly check that $p \not= 2$, or otherwise it's composite because it's divisible by $4$. We'll finish off by the following claim and conclude that $(a + b)^2 + 4$ must in fact be composite.

Claim. Every prime $1$ modulo $4$ has a unique representation as a sum of squares.
Proof. Suppose otherwise, that $p = a^2 + b^2 = c^2 + d^2$ for some $a,b,c,d \in \mathbb{Z}$. Then,
\[ (a + bi)(a - bi) = (c + di)(c - di) \]Note that $\mathbb{Z}[i]$ is a UFD, which implies that $a + bi$ and $c + di$ can't both be primes. WLOG $a + bi$ is not a prime. Then, there exists a nontrivial factorization $a + bi = (x + yi)(z + wi)$. Therefore,
\[ p = N(a + bi) = N(x + yi)N(z + wi) = (x^2 + y^2)(z^2 + w^2) \]contradicting the fact that $p$ is a prime.
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lazizbek42
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#14
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By Thue lemma c odd
mod 3 c Evan
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by lazizbek42, Dec 4, 2021, 5:14 AM
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CT17
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#15
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WLOG let $a < b$.

Case 1: $(a,b) = 43$. Let $a = 43a'$ and $b = 43(a'+1)$. Then we have

$$43 + 43a'(a'+1) = 2021^c\implies a'^2 + a' + 1 = \frac{2021^c}{43}$$
a contradiction by mod $47$.

Case 2: $(a,b) = 47$. Let $a = 47a'$ and $b = 47(a' + 1)$. Then we have

$$47 + 47a'(a'+1) = 2021^c\implies a'^2 + a' + 1 = \frac{2021^c}{47}$$
a contradiction by mod $47$ unless $c = 1$. When $c = 1$, we have $a' = 6$ so that

$$(a+b)^2 + 4 = (13\cdot 47)^2 + 4\equiv 0\pmod{5}$$
is composite, as desired.

Case 3: $(a,b) = 1$. Let $p = b - a$ so that $a^2 + ap + 1 = 2021^c$. Note that $p\neq 2$, as otherwise $a$ and $b$ would both be even. We have $2$ subcases.

Subcase 3.1: $c$ is odd. Then $2021^c - 1\equiv 1\pmod{3}$, so $a\equiv b\pmod{3}$. Hence $p = 3$, and $a^2 + 3a + 1\equiv 0\pmod{43}$. In particular, the discriminant $5$ of this quadratic must be a QR mod $43$, which we can verify is false with quadratic reciprocity.

Subcase 3.2: $c$ is even. Then we have

$$(a+b)^2 + 4 = (2a + p)^2 + 4 = 4a^2 + 4ap + p^2 + 4 = 4\cdot 2021^c + p^2 = \left(2\cdot 2021^{\frac{c}{2}}\right)^2 + p^2$$
By a well-known theorem, since $(a+b)^2 + 4$ is expressible as the sum of $2$ squares in $2$ different ways it is composite, as desired.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by CT17, Apr 1, 2022, 2:39 AM
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sttsmet
139 posts
#16 • 1 Y
Y by Mango247
Can anybody tell me the NAME of this well known theorem with the sum of two squares??
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alinazarboland
168 posts
#17
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I though it's gonna require a lot of case works but it didn't. Assume the statement doesn't hold:
If $gcd(a,b) \geq 2$ , then it would be $p \in \{43,47\}$. let $a=px , b=p(x+1)$ so $p(x^2+x+1)=2021^c$. But it's well-known that the polynomial $x^2+x+1$has no prime divisor in the form $3k+2$ , but $47$ is such number. So $p=47$ and $c=1$ and we should've:$x^2+x+1=43$ which means $x=6$ and $a=282$,$b=329$ so we can just compute the desired expression and it wouldn't be a prime number.

Now let $gcd(a,b)=1$ and $ab=2021^c -1$ , which means : $(a+b)^2 + 4 = p^2 + 4.2021^c$ where $p=|a-b|$. if $c$ was odd , we're done since it's divisible by $3$. if it was odd , it's well-known that every prime number in the form $4k+1$ can be UNIQUELY written as $x^2+y^2$ for positive integers $x,y$. So $\{2.2021^{c/2},p\}=\{a+b,2\}$ but by the definition of $p$ , we have $p+1 \le a+b$ so $p=2 , a+b=2.2021^{c/2}$ . this is impossible since one of $a-b , a+b$ for $a=b (mod 2)$ should be divisible by $4$ which is a contradiction and we're done.
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alinazarboland
168 posts
#18 • 1 Y
Y by sttsmet
sttsmet wrote:
Can anybody tell me the NAME of this well known theorem with the sum of two squares??

I don't know the name but in post #8 , VicKmath7 explained it. let $p=a^2+b^2=c^2+d^2$ so
$$p^2=(ac-bd)^2+(ad+bc)^2=(ad-bc)^2+(ac+bd)^2 *$$and $a^2c^2=b^2d^2 (mod p)$ follows from the fact that if $p=a^2+b^2$ , $\frac{a}{b}$ (clearly $a,b$ are not zero modulo $p$) is the solution of $x^2 = -1 (modp)$ in Z_p so $\frac{a^2}{b^2}=\frac{d^2}{c^2}$. Which contradicts $*$
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ATGY
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#19
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brah interesting problem

WLOG, say $a > b$. Let $\gcd(a, b) = d$, $a = dx, b = dy, (x, y) = 1, \text{lcm}(a, b) = dxy$. Notice that $d \mid dxy \implies d \mid 2021^c$. Say:
$$p = (a - b) = dx - dy = d(x - y) \implies d = 1 \; \text{or} \; (x - y) = 1$$Case 1: $d = 1$. This means that $(x, y) = (a, b)$, so we have $1 + ab = 2021^c$. If $c$ is even:
$$(a + b)^2 + 4 = (a - b)^2 + 4ab + 4 = p^2 + 4(ab + 1) = p^2 + 4\cdot2021^c$$If $(a + b)^2 + 4$ was prime, it only can be uniquely represented as a sum of squares, which means $(a + b)^2 + 4 = p^2 + 4\cdot2021^c \implies p = 2$, however, that means it's even, contradiction.
If $c$ was odd, we have $2021^c \equiv 2\mod3 \implies ab \equiv 1 \mod3 \implies a \equiv b\mod3$. However, this means $a - b = 3$ since it's prime, so $a = b + 3 \implies (a + b)^2 = (2b + 3)^2 = 4b(b + 3) + 9 = 4\cdot2021^c + 5 = 4\cdot43^c\cdot47^c + 5$. This means $5$ is a quadratic residue mod $47$.
$$\left(\frac{5}{47}\right) = \left(\frac{47}{5}\right) = \left(\frac{2}{5}\right) = -1$$Contradiction.

Case 2: If $d \neq 1$, we have $x - y = 1 \implies x = y + 1$. Furthermore, $d$ is prime and $d \mid 2021^c \implies d = 43, 47$.
Subcase 2.1: $d = 43$. We have:
$$d + dxy = 43(xy + 1) = 2021^c \implies xy + 1 = 43^{c - 1}\cdot47^c$$We also have $(x + y)^2 = (2y + 1)^2 = 4y^2 + 4y + 1 = 4y(y + 1) + 1 = 4\cdot43^{c - 1}\cdot47^c - 3$, which means $-3$ is a quadratic residue mod 47. We have:
$$\left(\frac{-3}{47}\right) = \left(\frac{-1}{47}\right)\cdot\left(\frac{3}{47}\right) = \left(\frac{47}{3}\right) = \left(\frac{2}{3}\right) = -1$$Contradiction.
Subcase 2.2: $d = 47$. We have:
$$d + dxy = 47(xy + 1) = 2021^c \implies xy + 1 = 43^c\cdot47^{c - 1}$$Now, $(x + y)^2 = (2y + 1)^2 = 4y(y + 1) + 1 = 4\cdot43^c\cdot47^{c - 1} - 3$. For $c > 1$, we are done by the same step as earlier, however if $c = 1$, we have $(2y + 1)^2 = 169 \implies y = 6, x = 7, a = 47\cdot7, b = 47\cdot6, 5 \mid (a + b)^2 + 4$. Hence, we are done.
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MathLuis
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First WLOG $a>b$ ($a=b$ obviously cannot happen), then since $a-b$ is a prime and $d=(a,b) \mid a-b$ we have $d=a-b$ or $d=1$. Suppose FTSOC that $(a+b)^2+4=p$ was a prime.
Case 1: $d=1$
In this case $ab+1=2021^c$ it means that $ab=2021^c-1$, now if both $a,b$ were even then clearly $(a+b)^2+4$ cannot be a prime as it is divisbile by $4$. Now back to $a-b=q$ where $q$ is a prime we also have that $b^2+qb+1-2021^c=0$ which means by quadratic formula that:
$$b=\frac{-q+\sqrt{q^2+4 \cdot 2021^c-4}}{2} \implies q^2+4 \cdot (2021^c-1)=t^2$$Now clearly $a+b$ is odd so $q \ge 3$, and also notice that $b=\frac{t-q}{2}$ implies that $a=\frac{t+q}{2}$ so we in fact get $a+b=t$, so if we have that $p=t^2+4=q^2+4 \cdot 2021^c$ and $c$ is even then as $p \equiv 1 \pmod 4$ must have exactly one representation of the form $p=x^2+y^2$ (this can be proven using Thue Lemma), then we have that either $4=q^2$ or $4=4 \cdot 2021^c$, of course neither can happen therefore we get a contradiction!. And if $c$ is odd then if $q \ge 5$ we get that as $2021 \equiv -1 \pmod 3$ that $t^2 \equiv 2 \pmod 3$ which is a contradiction so $q=3$, but then $t^2=4 \cdot 2021^c+5 \equiv 5 \pmod 47$ and this is a contradiction as by QR's we have that $\left( \frac{5}{47} \right) = \left( \frac{47}{5} \right)= \left( \frac{2}{5} \right)=-1$ so no such $t$ should exist, contradiction!.
Case 2: $d=q$ prime.
In this case we have $a=qx+q$ and $b=qx$ and $[a,b]=q(x^2+x)$ so $2021^c=qx^2+qx+q=q(x^2+x+1)$ and so $q \mid 2021^c$ therefore $q=43,47$, as an extra notice that if some prime $r \mid x^2+x+1$ then we must have by orders that either $r=3$ and $x \equiv 1 \pmod 3$ or $r \equiv 1 \pmod 3$, but notice that $47 \equiv 2 \pmod 3$ so we must have $q=47$ and $c=1$ or else $47 \mid x^2+x+1$ and that can't happen, which means that we must have $43=x^2+x+1$ and it's clear that the only positive solution is $x=6$ therefore $a=47 \cdot 7=329$ and $b=47 \cdot 6=282$ and thus $p=611^2+4$ must be prime, but this can't happen as then $611^2+4 \equiv 1+4 \equiv 0 \pmod 5$ so $5 \mid p$ which would mean $p=5$, an obvious size contradiction!.
Therefore in either case we can't have that $(a+b)^2+4$ is prime, thus we are done :cool:.
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NuMBeRaToRiC
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#21
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Is this wrong?
Can someone check it!
Let $a>b$, $a-b=p$ prime and $(a,b)=d$. For the contrary let $(a+b)^2+4=q$ prime. Then $d\mid (a,b)\mid {a-b}=p$, so $d=1$ or $p$.
Case 1: If $d=1$, then $ab+1=[a,b]+(a,b)=2021^c$. If $c$ even then $(a+b)^2+2^2=q=(a-b)^2+4(ab+1)=(a-b)^2+(2\cdot2021^\frac{c}{2})^2$, which is the contradiction, because a prime number has unique represantion as sum of two squares (I think its Fermat theorem). So if $c$ odd then $ab\equiv 1 \pmod 3$, i.e $a\equiv b\pmod 3$, so $a-b=p=3$. So our condition becomes $b^2+3b+1\equiv 0\pmod {43}$ (in fact $b^2+3b+1=2021^c$). In other word $(2b+3)^2\equiv 8\pmod {43}$, i.e $(\frac{8}{43})=1$, but $1=(\frac{8}{43})=(\frac{2^3}{43})=(\frac{2}{43})=(-1)^{\frac{43^2-1}{8}}=-1$, which is contradiction.
Case 2: If $d=p$, then $a=b+p$, $b=pb_1$ and $p(1+b_1(b_1+1))=(a,b)+[a,b]=2021^c$, so $b_1(b_1+1)+1=43^{c-1}47^c$ or $43^c47^{c-1}$. If $47\mid b_1(b_1+1)+1$, then $b_1(b_1+1)+1\equiv 0\pmod {47}$, i.e $(2b_1+1)^2\equiv -3\pmod {47}$. So $(\frac{-3}{47})=1$, but
$1=(\frac{-3}{47})=(\frac{-1}{47})(\frac{3}{47})=(-1)(\frac{47}{3})(-1)^{\frac{(3-1)(47-1)}{4}}=-1$,
which is contradiction. So $47\nmid b_1(b_1+1)+1$, i.e $b_1(b_1+1)+1=43$ ($c=1$), then $b_1=6$, $p=47$, $b=6\cdot47$, $a=7\cdot47$. And $(a+b)^2+4$ is not prime (because it divisible by 5).
So we are done!
This post has been edited 4 times. Last edited by NuMBeRaToRiC, May 2, 2025, 4:04 PM
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Grasshopper-
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sttsmet wrote:
Can anybody tell me the NAME of this well known theorem with the sum of two squares??

I think it's called "Fermat's Two Squares Theorem"
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