• September 16th 2007, 10:50 AM
blah_blah
Prove that there are infinitely many positive integers n such n(n+1) can b expressed as a sum of two positive squares in at least two different ways.(a^2 + b^2 and b^2 + a^2 are considered as the same representation.....
• September 16th 2007, 11:16 AM
ThePerfectHacker
Quote:

Originally Posted by blah_blah
Prove that there are infinitely many positive integers n such n(n+1) can b expressed as a sum of two positive squares in at least two different ways.(a^2 + b^2 and b^2 + a^2 are considered as the same representation.....

There are infinitely many squares $x$ so that $3x-1=y^2$ because if $x=z^2$ we have $3z^2 - 1=y^2$ which is Pellian with infinitely many solutions.

Let $n$ be a number with the condition that $n$ is a square and $3n-1$ is a square. Which we know there are infinitely many.

Then,
$n(n+1) = a^2 + b^2$
Where $a=n \mbox{ and }b=\sqrt{n}$.
And another,
$a=(n-1) \mbox{ and }b=\sqrt{3n-1}$.
• September 18th 2007, 08:41 AM
blah_blah
dint really understand.....can u simplify n explain it??
• September 20th 2007, 08:38 PM
ThePerfectHacker
Quote:

Originally Posted by blah_blah
dint really understand.....can u simplify n explain it??

If you find such an $n$ so that it is a square and $3n-1$ is a square. Then $\sqrt{n}$ and $\sqrt{3n-1}$ are integers.

This means,
$n(n+1) = n^2 + n = (n)^2 + (\sqrt{n})^2$
And,
$n(n+1) = n^2 + n = (n^2 -2n + 1) + (3n-1) = (n-1)^2 + (\sqrt{3n-1})^2$.

So the question is. "Are there infinite many such $n$ having this property?". The answer is yes. This is a consequence of the Pellian equation is you really want to show it.
• September 22nd 2007, 08:18 AM
blah_blah
thanks...i understood d whole thing except 4 d pell equation...i tried goin thru wolfram math world's explanation 4 it but i din understand it....can u help??