Problem

Source: Moldova 2000 Grade 12 P7

Tags: Matrices, linear algebra



Prove that for any positive integer $n$ there exists a matrix of the form $$A=\begin{pmatrix}1&a&b&c\\0&1&a&b\\0&0&1&a\\0&0&0&1\end{pmatrix},$$(a) with nonzero entries, (b) with positive entries, such that the entries of $A^n$ are all perfect squares.