Number Theory Assignment

Number Theory Assignment II
Miliyon T.
Addis Ababa University
Department of Mathematics
March 1, 2015
Let p be a prime of the form p 1(mod4) and let (x, y, z) = 1 be a primitive solution to
the Diophantine equation
x2 + py 2 = z 2
(1)
1. Show that z is necessarily odd.

Solution: Suppose z is even.
If y is even py 2 is even, then x2 is even so is x. But this implies (x, y, z) 2 which
contradict the fact that (x, y, z) = 1.
If x is even x2 is even, then py 2 is even since p is odd [ p 6= 2 as p is of the form
p 1( mod 4)]. y 2 is even so is y. Thus (x, y, z) 2 which contradict the fact
that (x, y, z) = 1.
Let both x and y be odd. Thus x2 1( mod 4) and y 2 1( mod 4) thus
x2 + py 2 2( mod 4) which is impossible since the square of every even integer
is congruent to 0 modulo 4. In any case we arrived at a contradiction. Hence our
assumption that z is even is false.
z is odd.
2. Assume that y is even and characterize the solution under different cases p|(z + x) or
p|(z x).
Solution: Suppose y is even. From #1 we know that z is odd. So z 2 is odd. Since y is
even y 2 is even clearly py 2 is even. So x2 should be odd but in order to have that
x must be odd. Thus the Diophantine equation x2 + py 2 = z 2 can be rewritten as
py 2 = (z x)(z + x)
(2)
Since both z and x are odd we have (z x) and (z + x) both even.

and (z + x) = 2b b = (z+x)
for a, b Z. Then (2)
So (z x) = 2a a = (zx)
2
2
becomes
py 2 = (2a)(2b)
= 4ab
2
y
p
= ab
as y is even.
2
[Case 1:] If p|(z + x)
2
y2 = ap b If we assume p|(z + x) then p|2a but p - 2 as p 1( mod 4).
Thus p|a.

(zx)
(z+x)
a
a
and d|
This implies
Let d = p , b d| p and d|b d|
2
2
+ (z+x)
) d|z ,and d|( (zx)
(z+x)
) d|x
d|( (zx)
2
2
2
2
Thus d = 1 as (x, z) = 1. Hence ( ap , b) = 1.
Now we have ( y2 )2 = ( ap )b with ( ap , b) = 1.
The product of two co-prime integers ( ap ) and b is a square number. Thus ( ap )
and b are square numbers. So there are integers m and n such that ( ap ) = m2 and
b = n2 , (m, n) = 1 as ( ap , b) = 1.
So ( y2 )2 = ( ap )b y = 2mn and (z+x)
= pm2 and
2
Thus z + x = 2pm2 and z x = 2n2
Finally we get the solution
z = n2 + pm2 , y = 2mn, x = pm2 n2
(zx)
2
= n2
with (m, n) = 1 and m&n are opposite in parity.
To show m&n are opposite in parity: suppose both m&n are even. This implies
m2 and n2 are even but this shows us ( ap , b) 2 which contradicts the fact that
( ap , b) = 1.
Suppose both m&n are odd. Thus z = n2 + pm2 and x = pm2 n2 are even. So
(x, z) 2 but this contradicts the fact that z and x are relatively prime.
[Case 2:] If p|(z x)
In a similar manner we will get a solution
z = m2 + pn2 , y = 2nm, x = m2 pn2
3. Assume that y is odd and characterize the solution under different cases p|(z + x) or
p|(z x).
Solution: Suppose y is odd. So, py 2 is odd.
Now x2 + py 2 = z 2 py 2 = (z x)(z + x). Thus both (z x) and (z + x) are
odd as py 2 is. Since (x, z) = 1 If we let d = (z x, z + x), then either d = 1 or
d = 2. But d 6= 2 because both (z x) and (z + x) are odd. Hence d = 1.
[Case 1:] If p|(z + x)
y 2 = ((z + x)/p)(z x)
2
with (
(z + x)
, z x) = 1.
p
Similarly as we have done above there exist integers m and n such that (z+x)
= m2
p
and z x = n2 with (m, n) = 1. Since y is odd both m and n are odd.
This gives us a solution
z = (n2 + pm2 )/2, y = mn, x = (pm2 n2 )/2
with (m, n) = 1 and m, n odd integers.
[Case 2:] If p|(z x)

In a similar manner we will get a solution
z = (m2 + pn2 )/2, y = mn, x = (m2 pn2 )/2
4. Use the above result to give a concrete solution to the Diophantine equation x2 + 5y 2 =
z 2 when x is even and x is odd.
Solution: (1) Suppose x is even.
x2 + 5y 2 = z 2 5y 2 = (z x)(z + x)
We know that z is odd and 5 is a prime of the form 5 1( mod 4). Thus both
(z x) and (z + x) are odd. So, 5y 2 is odd which implies y is odd. Now the
question resembles #3. So,
[Case 1:] If 5|(z + x), then the solution
z = (n2 + 5m2 )/2, y = mn, x = (5m2 n2 )/2
[Case 2:] If 5|(z x), then the solution

z = (m2 + 5n2 )/2, y = mn, x = (m2 5n2 )/2
(2) Suppose x is odd.

x2 + 5y 2 = z 2 5y 2 = (z x)(z + x)
We know that z is odd and 5 is a prime of the form 5 1( mod 4). Thus both
(z x) and (z + x) are even. So, 5y 2 is even which implies y is even. Now the
question resembles #2. So,
[Case 1:] If 5|(z + x), then the solution becomes
z = n2 + 5m2 , y = 2mn, x = 5m2 n2
[Case 2:] If 5|(z x), then the solution becomes

z = m2 + 5n2 , y = 2nm, x = m2 5n2

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Number Theory Assignment II

1. Show that z is necessarily odd.

Since both z and x are odd we have (z x) and (z + x) both even.

with (m, n) = 1 and m&n are opposite in parity.

with (m, n) = 1 and m&n are opposite in parity.

with (m, n) = 1 and m, n odd integers.

[Case 2:] If p|(z x)

with (m, n) = 1 and m, n odd integers.

with (m, n) = 1 and m, n odd integers.

[Case 2:] If 5|(z x), then the solution

with (m, n) = 1 and m, n odd integers.

(2) Suppose x is odd.

with (m, n) = 1 and m&n are opposite in parity.

[Case 2:] If 5|(z x), then the solution becomes

with (m, n) = 1 and m&n are opposite in parity.

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