# Math Help - Sums of squares exercise

1. ## Sums of squares exercise

Let $m_0$ be the least possible $m$ for which there are $x$ and $y$ for which

$x^2 + y^2 = mp$, where p is a prime and $p \equiv 1 (mod4)$. Also $p \nmid x$, $p \nmid y$, $0 .

That there are such x,y and m is the subject of the previous exercise.

Thus, $x_0^2+y_0^2 = m_0p$ (1)

Show $m_0 \nmid x_0$ and $m_0 \nmid y_0$ unless $m_0 = 1$.

By taking $m_0$ as a factor of both $x_0$ and $y_0$, I find, from (1) above, that $p$ must be factored by $m_0$. But p is prime. Therefore $m_0=1$.

I feel I must have overlooked something, because I have not used the hypothesis that $m_0$ is minimal. What have I overlooked, please?

The above problem is from GE Andrews's "Number Theory", ex. 2, Chapter 11-2.

2. Originally Posted by Nivla
Let $m_0$ be the least possible $m$ for which there are $x$ and $y$ for which

$x^2 + y^2 = mp$, where p is a prime and $p \equiv 1 (mod4)$. Also $p \nmid x$, $p \nmid y$, $0 .

That there are such x,y and m is the subject of the previous exercise.

Thus, $x_0^2+y_0^2 = m_0p$ (1)

Show $m_0 \nmid x_0$ and $m_0 \nmid y_0$ unless $m_0 = 1$.

By taking $m_0$ as a factor of both $x_0$ and $y_0$, I find, from (1) above, that $p$ must be factored by $m_0$. But p is prime. Therefore $m_0=1$.

I feel I must have overlooked something, because I have not used the hypothesis that $m_0$ is minimal. What have I overlooked, please?

The above problem is from GE Andrews's "Number Theory", ex. 2, Chapter 11-2.
without loss of generality suppose that $m_0 \mid x_0.$ if $m_0 > 1,$ then $\gcd(m_0,y_0)=d > 1$ because $m_0 \mid m_0p - x_0^2=y_0^2.$ now let $x_0=m_0x_1, \ m_0=dm_1, \ y_0=dy_1.$

then $x_0^2+y_0^2=m_0p$ will give us $d(m_1^2x_1^2 + y_1^2)=m_1p.$ thus $d \mid m_1.$ let $m_1=dm_2.$ then $(m_1x_1)^2 + y_1^2=m_2p,$ which contradicts minimality of $m_0$ because $m_0=d^2m_2 > m_2.$

3. I really appreciate your insight and made a small donation for your help. Thanks, again!
Nivla