Find all pairs (n,p) of positive integers such that p is prime and 1+2+⋯+n=3⋅(12+22+⋅+p2).
Problem
Source: 2021 MEMO T-7
Tags: number theory, Diophantine equation, memo, MEMO 2021, easy number theorem
05.09.2021 21:40
no solution
05.09.2021 21:57
Actually, (n,p)=(5,2) works. 1+2+3+4+5=15 3⋅(12+22)=3×5=15
05.09.2021 22:09
We would like to solve the following, n(n+1)=p(p+1)(2p+1). If p∣n, then n=pk, thus k(pk+1)=(p+1)(2p+1). In this case, pk+1∣(p+1)(2p+1),this divisibility actually simplifies to pk+1∣2p+3−k, which means that k=2,1, no solutions in either case. If p∣n+1, then n=pk−1, thus k(pk−1)=(p+1)(2p+1). In this case, pk−1∣(p+1)(2p+1).Hence, we get that pk−1∣k+2p+3, which means that 2p+4≥(p−1)k. Thus either k=1,2 and for k≥3, we have p≤7. Examining all those possibilities; k=1⟹p−1=(p+1)(2p+1) obvious impossible due to size reasons. k=2⟹2(2p−1)=(p+1)(2p+1), which is impossible, because 2p+1>2p−1,p+1>2. p=2⟹n2+n=30⟹n=5, this works. p=3⟹n2+n=84⟹ no n∈N. p=5⟹n2+n=330⟹ no n∈N. p=7⟹n2+n=840⟹ no n∈N. We conclude that our only solution is (n,p)=(5,2).
05.09.2021 22:12
Note that if p=2, then n=5 and (5,2) works. If p=3, there is no solution. So assume p≥5. Rewrite the equation as n(n+1)=p(p+1)(2p+1). If p∣n, let n=pk, then k(pk+1)=(p+1)(2p+1). Note that (p+1)(2p+1)=k(pk+1)>k2p⟹k2<(p+1)(2p+1)p=(p+1)(2+1p)≤5(p+1)/2⟹k<√5(p+1)/2<p when p≥5. Also taking equation modulo p we see that k \equiv 1 \pmod{p}, combining this with k < p gives that k=1, but there is no solution in that case. If p \mid n+1, let n=pk-1, then k(pk-1) = (p+1)(2p+1) Note that (p+1)(2p+1) = k(pk-1) > k^2(p-2) \implies k < \sqrt{\frac{(p+1)(2p+1)}{p-2}} < p when p \geq 5. Also taking the equation modulo p we see that k \equiv -1 \pmod{p}, so k = p-1. So, (p-1)(p^2 - p - 1) = (p+1)(2p+1). But it can be checked that there is no solution to this. Thus we are done.
06.09.2021 03:21
06.09.2021 18:17
uwu Really nice problem
16.01.2022 19:50
n(n+1) = p(p+1)(2p+1)
20.06.2022 10:34
Here is a link to a video solution: https://youtu.be/z1D-jRkrJbc