Problem

Source: IMO ShortList 1988, Problem 25, United Kingdom 1, Problem 76 of ILL

Tags: algebra, binomial theorem, number theory, Perfect Square, IMO Shortlist



A positive integer is called a double number if its decimal representation consists of a block of digits, not commencing with 0, followed immediately by an identical block. So, for instance, 360360 is a double number, but 36036 is not. Show that there are infinitely many double numbers which are perfect squares.