Problem

Source: MEMO 2016 T8

Tags: number theory, number theory proposed, equation, modular arithmetic



For a positive integer $n$, the equation $a^2 + b^2 + c^2 + n = abc$ is given in the positive integers. Prove that: 1. There does not exist a solution $(a, b, c)$ for $n = 2017$. 2. For $n = 2016$, $a$ is divisible by $3$ for all solutions $(a, b, c)$. 3. There are infinitely many solutions $(a, b, c)$ for $n = 2016$.