For positive integers $a, b, c$ (not necessarily distinct), suppose that $a+bc, b+ac, c+ab$ are all perfect squares. Show that $$a^2(b+c)+b^2(a+c)+c^2(a+b)+2abc$$can be written as sum of two squares.
Problem
Source: BMO SL 2023 N1
Tags: number theory, BMO Shortlist
03.05.2024 15:23
03.05.2024 15:25
This was in the BGR RMM TST. We know that a needed and sufficient condition for a number to be the sum of $2$ squares is for every $p\equiv3 (mod 4)$, $v_{p}$ be even. As $a^2(b+c)+b^2(a+c)+c^2(a+b)+2abc=(a+b)(b+c)(c+a)$ if we prove that $v_{p}(a+b)$ is even (and the cyclic) then we are done. Let $x^2=a+bc,$ $y^2=b+ac$ and $p\equiv3 (mod 4)$. So if $v_{p}(a+b)$ is odd then $p|(c+1), p|a+b$ as $x^2+y^2=(a+b)(c+1)$ $\Rightarrow$ $c\equiv-1(mod p),a\equiv-b(mod p)$ $\Rightarrow$ $(xy)^2\equiv x^2y^2\equiv(a+bc)(b+ac)\equiv (2a)(-2a)\equiv-(2a)^2 (mod p)$ This meand that $p|(xy)^2+(2a)^2 \Rightarrow p|a \Rightarrow p|b \Rightarrow z^2\equiv c+ab \equiv -1(mod p) \Rightarrow$ $p|c^2+1 \Rightarrow$ Contradiction, hence $v_{p}(a+b)$ is even, meaning we're done.
03.05.2024 23:56
04.05.2024 16:21
A little bit overkill but anyway... Our expression is just $$\prod_{cyc} (a+b)$$Claim: There doesn't exist $p\equiv 3 \pmod 4$ such that $v_p(a+b)$ is odd. Suppose by contradiction that it exists. Then $a+b=p^{2k+1}\cdot t$.Denote $a+bc=x^2;b+ac=y^2;c+ab=z^2$.Adding we have $x^2+y^2=(c+1)(a+b)=p^{2k+1}\cdot t\cdot (c+1)$.Iterating we get $p^{k+1}\mid x$ and $p^{k+1}\mid y$ meaning $p\mid c+1$.Now we see that $p\mid a+bc$ and $p\mid b+ac$ implies that $p\mid (a-b)(c-1)$.Since $p\mid c+1$ we have $(p,c-1)=1$ and so $p\mid a-b$ and $p\mid a+b$ implies $p\mid a$.But then $z^2=c+ab \equiv -1 \pmod p $ so $p\mid z^2+1$ obvious contradiction $\blacksquare$. Now the probelm is finished: by the claim we have $a+b$ is a sum of $2$ squares,similary the others so their product is a sum of two squares, done ! $\blacksquare$
05.05.2024 07:41
Suppose otherwise. Notice that\[ a^2(b+c)+b^2(a+c)+c^2(a+b)+2abc = (a+b)(b+c)(c+a)\]Then there exists a prime $p\equiv 3\pmod 4$ such that\[\nu_p((a+b)(b+c)(c+a)) = \nu_p(a+b) + \nu_p(b+c) + \nu_p(c+a)\]is odd. WLOG $\nu_p(a+b)$ is odd. Then $ a\equiv -b \pmod p$. Now, we see that $a + bc + b + ac = (a+b)(c+1)$ is the sum of two squares, so $\nu_p((a+b)(c+1))$ must be even, meaning $p\mid c + 1$, so $c\equiv -1\pmod p$. Hence $a + bc \equiv a - b\pmod p$ and $b + ac \equiv b - a\pmod p$ are QRs modulo $p$, so $a \equiv b \pmod p$. Since $p\mid a + b$, we have that $p$ divides $a$ and $b$. But then $ab + c \equiv -1 \pmod p$ is not a quadratic residue modulo $p$, so $ab + c$ can't be a perfect square.
10.07.2024 00:04
Nice probleme. I want to post my solution but the same idea
11.01.2025 14:34