Difference between revisions of "1982 AHSME Problems/Problem 20"

(Created page with "==1982 AHSME Problems/Problem 20== ==Problem== The number of pairs of positive integers <math>(x,y)</math> which satisfy the equation <math>x^2+y^2=x^3</math> is <math>\tex...")
 
(Solution)
 
Line 9: Line 9:
 
==Solution==
 
==Solution==
  
Rearrange the equation to <math>y^2=x^3-x^2=x^2(x-1)</math>. This equation is satisfied whenever <math>x-1</math> is a perfect square. There are infinite possible values of <math>x</math>, and thus the answer is <math>\boxed{D: Not Finite}</math>
+
Rearrange the equation to <math>y^2=x^3-x^2=x^2(x-1)</math>. This equation is satisfied whenever <math>x-1</math> is a perfect square. There are infinite possible values of <math>x</math>, and thus the answer is <math>\boxed{D: \text{Not Finite}}</math>

Latest revision as of 14:15, 22 August 2015

1982 AHSME Problems/Problem 20

Problem

The number of pairs of positive integers $(x,y)$ which satisfy the equation $x^2+y^2=x^3$ is

$\text {(A)} 0 \qquad  \text {(B)} 1 \qquad  \text {(C)} 2 \qquad  \text {(D)} \text{not finite} \qquad  \text {(E)} \text{none of these}$

Solution

Rearrange the equation to $y^2=x^3-x^2=x^2(x-1)$. This equation is satisfied whenever $x-1$ is a perfect square. There are infinite possible values of $x$, and thus the answer is $\boxed{D: \text{Not Finite}}$