# 1959 IMO Problems/Problem 1

## Problem

Prove that the fraction $\frac{21n+4}{14n+3}$ is irreducible for every natural number $n$.

## Solutions

### Solution

Denoting the greatest common divisor of $a, b$ as $(a,b)$, we use the Euclidean algorithm as follows:

$( 21n+4, 14n+3 ) = ( 7n+1, 14n+3 ) = ( 7n+1, 1 ) = 1$

As in the first solution, it follows that $\frac{21n+4}{14n+3}$ is irreducible. Q.E.D.

### Solution 2

Assume that $\dfrac{14n+3}{21n+4}$ is a reducible fraction where $p$ is a divisor of both the numerator and the denominator:

$14n+3\equiv 0\pmod{p} \implies 42n+9\equiv 0\pmod{p}$

$21n+4\equiv 0\pmod{p} \implies 42n+8\equiv 0\pmod{p}$

Subtracting the second equation from the first equation we get $1\equiv 0\pmod{p}$ which is clearly absurd.

Hence $\frac{21n+4}{14n+3}$ is irreducible. Q.E.D.

### Solution 3

We notice that:

$\frac{21n+4}{14n+3} = \frac{(14n+3)+(7n+1)}{14n+3} = 1+\frac{7n+1}{14n+3}$

So it follows that $7n+1$ and $14n+3$ must be coprime for every natural number $n$ for the fraction to be irreducible. Now the problem simplifies to proving $\frac{7n+1}{14n+3}$ irreducible. We re-write this fraction as:

$\frac{7n+1}{(7n+1)+(7n+1) + 1} = \frac{7n+1}{2(7n+1)+1}$

Since the denominator $2(7n+1) + 1$ differs from a multiple of the numerator $7n+1$ by 1, the numerator and the denominator must be relatively prime natural numbers. Hence it follows that $\frac{21n+4}{14n+3}$ is irreducible.

Q.E.D

### Solution 4

By Bezout's Lemma, $3 \cdot (14n+3) - 2 \cdot (21n + 4) = 1$, so the GCD of the numerator and denominator is $1$ and the fraction is irreducible.

Alternate solutions are always welcome. If you have a different, elegant solution to this problem, please add it to this page.