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Fifthing the quart (Posted on 2013-04-28) Difficulty: 2 of 5

Let a,b,c,d, be positive integers, with a and d different, and b and c different.

If a^4-b^5=c^5-d^4, then twice the sum of the 5th powers is a sum of two squares.

Prove it, or find a counter-example.

  Submitted by broll    
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Solution: (Hide)
The problem is d2, so no need to overthink it!

Rearrange the expression as a^4+d^4=b^5+c^5.

A 4th power is also a square, so we have x^2+y^2=b^5+c^5, for some {x,y}.

Since x and y are different, let y=(x+d).
Now 2(x^2+(x+d)^2 = 2d^2+4dx+4x^2, which is 4x^2+4dx+2d^2.

We can write this as d^2, plus 4x^2+4dx+d^2, or (2x+d)^2; twice a sum of squares is always a sum of squares.

Since this is true of twice the 4th powers, it must be true of twice the 5th powers also.

Comments: ( You must be logged in to post comments.)
  Subject Author Date
re: Some (all?)xdog2013-05-01 19:24:27
Some ThoughtsSome (all?)Jer2013-05-01 15:00:18
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