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Difference between revisions of "2008 IMO Problems/Problem 3"
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Since <math>a</math> and <math>b</math> are apparently co-prime, there must exist integers <math>c</math> and <math>d</math> such that
 
Since <math>a</math> and <math>b</math> are apparently co-prime, there must exist integers <math>c</math> and <math>d</math> such that
−
<cmath>ad+bc=1 \eqno{"1"}</cmath>
+
<cmath>ad+bc=1 \reqno{(1)}</cmath>
−
In fact, if <math>c</math> and <math>d</math> are such numbers, then <math>c\pm a</math> and <math>d\mp b</math> work as well, so we can assume that <math>c \in \left(\frac{-a}{2}, \frac{a}{2}\left)</math>.
+
In fact, if <math>c</math> and <math>d</math> are such numbers, then <math>c\pm a</math> and <math>d\mp b</math> work as well, so we can assume that <math>c \in \left(\frac{-a}{2}, \frac{a}{2}\right)</math>.
  
 
Define <math>n=|ac-bd|</math> and let's see what happens. Notice that <math>(a^2+b^2)(c^2+d^2)=n^2+1</math>.
 
Define <math>n=|ac-bd|</math> and let's see what happens. Notice that <math>(a^2+b^2)(c^2+d^2)=n^2+1</math>.
  
−
If <math>c=\pm\frac{a}{2}</math>, then
+
If <math>c=\pm\frac{a}{2}</math>, then from (1), we get <math>a/2</math> and hence <math>a=2</math>. That means that <math>d=-\frac{b-1}{2}</math>

Revision as of 21:56, 3 September 2008

(still editing...)

The main idea is to take a gaussian prime $a+bi$ and multiply it by a "smaller" $c+di$ to get $n+i$. The rest is just making up the little details.

For each sufficiently large prime $p$ of the form $4k+1$, we shall find a corresponding $n$ satisfying the required condition with the prime number in question being $p$. Since there exist infinitely many such primes and, for each of them, $n \ge \sqrt{p-1}$, we will have found infinitely many distinct $n$ satisfying the problem.

Take a prime $p$ of the form $4k+1$ and consider its "sum-of-two squares" representation $p=a^2+b^2$, which we know to exist for all such primes. If $a=1$ or $b=1$, then $n=b$ or $n=a$ is our guy, and $p=n^2+1 > 2n+\sqrt{2n}$ as long as $p$ (and hence $n$) is large enough. Let's see what happens when both $a>1$ and $b>1$.

Since $a$ and $b$ are apparently co-prime, there must exist integers $c$ and $d$ such that 

\[ad+bc=1 \reqno{(1)}\] (Error compiling LaTeX. Unknown error_msg)

In fact, if $c$ and $d$ are such numbers, then $c\pm a$ and $d\mp b$ work as well, so we can assume that $c \in \left(\frac{-a}{2}, \frac{a}{2}\right)$.

Define $n=|ac-bd|$ and let's see what happens. Notice that $(a^2+b^2)(c^2+d^2)=n^2+1$.

If $c=\pm\frac{a}{2}$, then from (1), we get $a/2$ and hence $a=2$. That means that $d=-\frac{b-1}{2}$

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