IMO 1988 Problem 6
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Mike JonesIMO 1988 Problem 6
Uploaded by
Mike JonesIMO 1988 Problem 6
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Reminder: If each of a, b, and c is a real number, and a 0, then the sum of the roots of the
equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 is -b/a, and the product of the roots is c/a. In particular, the sum of the
roots of the equation x2 – kbx + b2 – k = 0 is kb, and the product of the roots is b2 – k.
Theorem 1. If each of a and b is a positive integer and k (a2 + b2)/(1 + ab), then a is a root of
the equation x2 – kbx + b2 – k = 0.
Proof: If (a2 + b2)/(1 + ab) = k, then a2 + b2 = k(1 + ab). Then a2 + b2 = k + kab.
Then a2 + b2 = k + kba. Then a2 – kba + b2 – k = 0. Then a is a root of the equation
x2 – kbx + b2 – k = 0. █
Theorem 2. If b is an integer and k is a real number such that 0 is a root of the equation
x2 – kbx + b2 – k = 0, then k is a square.
Proof: If 0 is a root of the equation x2 – kbx + b2 – k = 0, then b2 – k = 0. Then b2 = k.
Then k = b2. Then, since b is an integer, k is a square. █
Theorem 3. If each of a and b is a positive integer and k is a positive integer, and {a, w} is the
solution set of the equation x2 – kbx + b2 – k = 0, then w is a nonnegative integer.
Proof: Since w = kb – a, since w + a = kb, w is an integer.
Since k is positive and (b – 1) is nonnegative, we have:
(a + 1)(w + 1) = aw + a + w + 1 = b2 – k + kb + 1 = b2 + k(b – 1) + 1 > 0. Therefore (w + 1) > 0.
Therefore w > -1. Thus, w must be a nonnegative integer. █
Theorem 4. If each of a and b is a positive integer and k is an integer such that
(a2 + b2)/(1 + ab) = k, then k is a square.
Proof: Let each of A and B be a positive integer such that (A2 + B2)/(1 + AB) = k, and such that
(A + B) is minimal. Let {A, w} be the roots of the equation x2 – kBx + B2 – k = 0. Then by
Theorem 3, w is a nonnegative integer. By symmetry, we can assume, without loss of generality,
that B A. Note that therefore, since 0 < B, B2 A2, and therefore B2/A A, a fact which we
will use later below.
We now show that w cannot be positive. If w were positive, it would, because it is also an
integer, fulfill the same role as a in the original equation. If we can also show, as we will below,
that w < A, then we would have a contradiction, because w + B would be less than A + B,
contradicting the minimality of A + B.
So, since wA = B2 – k, we have w = (B2 – k)/A < B2/A A. Therefore w < A, which, as noted
above, is a contradiction.
Thus, w = 0.
Thus, by Theorem 2, k is a square. █
Corollary. If each of a and b is a positive integer, then (a2 + b2)/(1 + ab) is not a prime.
Proof: Left to the reader.█
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