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Gonna party like it's 1999 (Posted on 2004-09-12) Difficulty: 1 of 5
Find a solution to:
x1^4 + x2^4 + x3^4 + ... + xn^4 = 1999

where each xy is a distinct integer.

(Or prove that it is impossible).

  Submitted by SilverKnight    
Rating: 3.2500 (4 votes)
Solution: (Hide)
First note that:
(2n)^4 = 16n^2 = 0 (mod 16)
and
(2n + 1)^4 = 16n^4 + 32n^3 + 24n^2 + 8n + 1 = 1 (mod 16)

Therefore x4 = 0 or 1 (mod 16). This means that:
a^4 + b^4 + . . . + n^4 (mod 16)
is some number from 0 to 14, but 1999 = 15 (mod 16).

Comments: ( You must be logged in to post comments.)
  Subject Author Date
SolutionPuzzle SolutionK Sengupta2022-06-20 22:01:23
SolutionLogically Forced SolutionMichael2004-11-26 21:01:03
re(2): SolutionRichard2004-09-12 18:49:04
Some ThoughtsObservationCharlie2004-09-12 14:32:23
Solutionre: SolutionDavid Shin2004-09-12 13:51:53
re: Answernp_rt2004-09-12 13:14:22
SolutionAnswerOskar2004-09-12 10:48:50
SolutionSolutionDavid Shin2004-09-12 09:31:14
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