A Few Neat Diophantine Equations and Their Solutions Presentation

A Few Neat Diophantine Equations and Their
Solutions
Angel Agüero
The University of Texas at El Paso
Department of Mathematical Sciences
Bell Hall 306
January 23, 2018
Angel Agüero The University of Texas at El Paso Department of Mathematical

A Few NeatSciences
Diophantine
BellEquations
Hall 306 and Their Solutions
Abstract
Abstract
Diophantine equations have been a topic of interest among

mathematicians for a long time now. Here we study a few
interesting Diophantine equations and their solutions. In
particular one of the equation whose solutions we look for
and investigate are those of:
a2 + b 2 + c 2 + d 2 = abcd

A Few NeatSciences
Diophantine
BellEquations
Initial Problem
Can you find distinct integers such that,
a2 + b2 + c 2 + d 2 = abcd?
Here we will investigate one possible approach.

A Few NeatSciences
Diophantine
BellEquations
Preliminary Approach
Taking the original equation, and completing the square we get,
a2 + b2 + c 2 + d 2 = abcd
a2 − 2abcd + (bcd)2 + b2 + c 2 + d 2 = abcd − 2abcd + (bcd)2
(a − bcd)2 + b2 + c 2 + d 2 = −abcd + (bcd)2
= (bcd − a)bcd
2 2 2 2
⇒ (bcd − a) + b + c + d = (bcd − a)bcd
and
a0 = bcd − a
or equivalently,
an = bcd − an−1

A Few NeatSciences
Diophantine
BellEquations
Other Possibilities
We chose to complete the square using ’a’, but what about b, c,

or d, after all addition and multiplication are commutative. Well
it similarly follows for those. Rewriting the original equation we
get,
x12 + x22 + x32 + x42 = x1 x2 x3 x4
thus,
4
0
Y
xi = xj − xi
j =1
j 6= i

A Few NeatSciences
Diophantine
BellEquations
One Set of Solutions
We see that,
a1 = bcd − a0
a2 = bcd − bcd + a0
= a0
a3 = bcd − a0
which has a period of two. Thus, we can’t just endlessly

continue iterating the same respective term, but from ’part II’ we
can see we can change it up. One way could be,
(a, b, c, d) → (a0 , b, c, d) → (a0 , b0 , c, d) → (a0 , b0 , c 0 , d) (1)

0 0 0 0 00 0 0 0
→ (a , b , c , d ) → (a , b , c , d ) (2)
and so on, but this blows up rather quickly.

A Few NeatSciences
Diophantine
BellEquations
Another Solution Set
Another way could be to evaluate,
xn xn−1 xn−2 − xn−3
and assigning it to,

xn+1
consequently generating the sequence,
{x1 , x2 , x3 , x4 , ..., xn+1 = xn xn−1 xn−2 − xn−3 , ...}
of which any four consecutive terms in the sequence satisfies

the original equation.

A Few NeatSciences
Diophantine
BellEquations
Example
For example, using the trivial solution {2, 2, 2, 2} yields,
2
2
2
2
6
22
262
34582
199330642
1806032092550706
12449434806576800059248920402
4481765860945171681908664776799089162954814190172722
..
.
and we can go on indefinitely.

A Few NeatSciences
Diophantine
BellEquations
A Neat Continuation
Diophantine equations as simple as they appear bring about

interesting results, showing that all the fun in math isnt isolated
to the most advanced, and abstract looking formulations.
Consider the following frame from the abstruse goose comic
strip:

A Few NeatSciences
Diophantine
BellEquations
Abstruse Goose Identity
Leading to our next problem.

A Few NeatSciences
Diophantine
BellEquations
The Abstruse Goose Identity
In the comic the following identity is introduced,
102 + 112 + 122 = 132 + 142 ,

but are there any other consecutive integers that satisfy the
Diophantine equation,
x 2 + y 2 + z 2 = u2 + v 2?
Well, there is the most famous Pythagorean triple,
32 + 42 = 52 ,
but it is not the same. It turns out there is also,
212 + 222 + 232 + 242 = 252 + 262 + 272 ,
but that is also different.

A Few NeatSciences
Diophantine
BellEquations
Conjecturing
It turns out that in their class, these sequential solutions are

unique to the ’number of terms on each side’ restraint. However
we are ready to conjecture. We are looking for equations of the
form,
x02 + x12 + · · · + xk2 = xk+1

2 2
+ xk+2 2
+ · · · + x2k
We see that the left side has one more term than the right and
that the terms form a sequence of consecutive integers, each of
which is squared, i.e.,

A Few NeatSciences
Diophantine
BellEquations
Formulation
(n)2 + (n + 1)2 + · · · + (n + k)2 = (n + (k + 1))2 + (n + (k + 2))2 + · · · + (n + 2k)2

k
X 2k
X
(n + i)2 = (n + i)2
i=0 i=k+1
1 1
(k + 1) 2k 2 + 6kn + k + 6n2 = k 14k 2 + 9k(2n + 1) + 6n2 + 6n + 1
6 6
(n + k)(n − k(2k + 1) = 0
⇒n = k(2k + 1)
giving us an expression for the first term of the identity in terms

of how many terms we want added to it,or equivalently, how
many terms we want on the right side, after discarding the
trivial solution.

A Few NeatSciences
Diophantine
BellEquations
Example
For example if we want 10 terms on the right side our first term
on the left would be
n2 = [k (2k + 1)]2
= [10(2(10) + 1)]2
= 2102
yielding,
2102 + 2112 + 2122 + 2132 + 2142 + 2152 + 2162 + 2172 + 2182 + 2192 + 2202
= 2212 + 2222 + 2232 + 2242 + 2252 + 2262 + 2272 + 2282 + 2292 + 2302 = 508585

A Few NeatSciences
Diophantine
BellEquations
WOW!
Wow, this is really neat! Now, why aren’t more people

interested in this. Perhaps the problem is our presentation. If
we just begin to toss equations around people tend to cringe
and give this reaction,

A Few NeatSciences
Diophantine
BellEquations
Sad
However, switch things around a bit, and. . .

A Few NeatSciences
Diophantine
BellEquations
Happy
However, switch things around a bit,

A Few NeatSciences
Diophantine
BellEquations
An Innocent expression
Consider the following expression

x y z
+ + = 4
y +z z +x x +y
One almost wants to dismiss it as child’s play. It looks like the

kiddy challenges we find on social media. In fact, I once posted
the following image to Facebook,

A Few NeatSciences
Diophantine
BellEquations
Suddenly Interesting!
and I was flooded with replies, and requests for hints, and a
solution.
A Few NeatSciences
Diophantine
BellEquations
Remark
If your in math education, you should really consider

researching the advantages of swapping variables for fruit, and
colorful flowers when teaching mathematics!

A Few NeatSciences
Diophantine
BellEquations
Investigating
Returning to
x y z
+ + = 4
y +z z +x x +y
We can eliminate the denominators to yield the following

Diophantine equation,

x 3 + y 3 + z 3 = 3x 2 (y + z) + x 3y 2 + 5yz + 3z 2 + 3yz(y +(3)
z)
which looks so suspiciously like an elliptic curve, which are

those curves of the form
y 2 = x 3 + ax 2 + bx + c,
and on whose points we can define a group structure.

A Few NeatSciences
Diophantine
BellEquations
Investigating
It turns out, that dividing 3 by x 3 , and using the transformation,
y (t + u − 56) z (4(3t + 14))

= & = ,
x (t − u − 56) x (t − u − 56)
we get
t 3 + 109t 2 + 224t − u 2
= 0
−t + u + 56
⇒ u 2 = t 3 + 109t 2 + 224t
an elliptic curve.

A Few NeatSciences
Diophantine
BellEquations
Brief Preliminaries
Now the following binary operation ’+’ endows a group structure
on the set of elliptic curves as follows:
For different points on the curve,

A Few NeatSciences
Diophantine
BellEquations
Brief Preliminaries
For coinciding points,

A Few NeatSciences
Diophantine
BellEquations
Brief Preliminaries
Once we find a rational point on our existing curve, we will use

that to calculate for that particular point P on the curve,
{2P, 3P, · · · , kP, · · · }, thus generating solutions to our given
problem.

A Few NeatSciences
Diophantine
BellEquations
Finally
For our given curve, we find that a particular rational solution is

P = (t, u) = (−100, 260), Now we calculate KP , for
K = 1, 2, 3, · · · until we arrive at a solution set containing an
entirely positive solutions, and as many more as we wish to
find. To convert back we use
x = (56 − t + u)
y = (56 − t − u)
z = 2(−28 − 6t)

A Few NeatSciences
Diophantine
BellEquations
Magic
Our first, and smallest solution set with all positive numbers is,
x = 154476802108746166441951315019919837485664325669565431700026634898253202035277999
y = 36875131794129999827197811565225474825492979968971970996283137471637224634055579
z = 4373612677928697257861252602371390152816537558161613618621437993378423467772036

A Few NeatSciences
Diophantine
BellEquations
Thank You!
Questions
or
Comments

A Few NeatSciences
Diophantine
BellEquations
For Further Reading
http://abstrusegoose.com/63
https://memegenerator.net/

A Few NeatSciences
Diophantine
BellEquations

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A Few Neat Diophantine Equations and Their

January 23, 2018

Angel Agüero The University of Texas at El Paso Department of Mathematical

Diophantine equations have been a topic of interest among

Angel Agüero The University of Texas at El Paso Department of Mathematical

Can you find distinct integers such that,

Here we will investigate one possible approach.

Angel Agüero The University of Texas at El Paso Department of Mathematical

Taking the original equation, and completing the square we get,

Angel Agüero The University of Texas at El Paso Department of Mathematical

We chose to complete the square using ’a’, but what about b, c,

Angel Agüero The University of Texas at El Paso Department of Mathematical

which has a period of two. Thus, we can’t just endlessly

(a, b, c, d) → (a0 , b, c, d) → (a0 , b0 , c, d) → (a0 , b0 , c 0 , d) (1)

and so on, but this blows up rather quickly.

Another way could be to evaluate,

xn xn−1 xn−2 − xn−3

and assigning it to,

{x1 , x2 , x3 , x4 , ..., xn+1 = xn xn−1 xn−2 − xn−3 , ...}

of which any four consecutive terms in the sequence satisfies

Angel Agüero The University of Texas at El Paso Department of Mathematical

and we can go on indefinitely.

Diophantine equations as simple as they appear bring about

Angel Agüero The University of Texas at El Paso Department of Mathematical

Leading to our next problem.

102 + 112 + 122 = 132 + 142 ,

Well, there is the most famous Pythagorean triple,

but it is not the same. It turns out there is also,

212 + 222 + 232 + 242 = 252 + 262 + 272 ,

but that is also different.

It turns out that in their class, these sequential solutions are

x02 + x12 + · · · + xk2 = xk+1

Angel Agüero The University of Texas at El Paso Department of Mathematical

(n)2 + (n + 1)2 + · · · + (n + k)2 = (n + (k + 1))2 + (n + (k + 2))2 + · · · + (n + 2k)2

giving us an expression for the first term of the identity in terms

Angel Agüero The University of Texas at El Paso Department of Mathematical

Angel Agüero The University of Texas at El Paso Department of Mathematical

Wow, this is really neat! Now, why aren’t more people

Angel Agüero The University of Texas at El Paso Department of Mathematical

However, switch things around a bit, and. . .

Angel Agüero The University of Texas at El Paso Department of Mathematical

Angel Agüero The University of Texas at El Paso Department of Mathematical

Consider the following expression

One almost wants to dismiss it as child’s play. It looks like the

Angel Agüero The University of Texas at El Paso Department of Mathematical

If your in math education, you should really consider

Angel Agüero The University of Texas at El Paso Department of Mathematical

We can eliminate the denominators to yield the following

which looks so suspiciously like an elliptic curve, which are

and on whose points we can define a group structure.

Angel Agüero The University of Texas at El Paso Department of Mathematical

It turns out, that dividing 3 by x 3 , and using the transformation,

y (t + u − 56) z (4(3t + 14))

Angel Agüero The University of Texas at El Paso Department of Mathematical

Angel Agüero The University of Texas at El Paso Department of Mathematical

Angel Agüero The University of Texas at El Paso Department of Mathematical

Once we find a rational point on our existing curve, we will use

Angel Agüero The University of Texas at El Paso Department of Mathematical

For our given curve, we find that a particular rational solution is

Angel Agüero The University of Texas at El Paso Department of Mathematical

Angel Agüero The University of Texas at El Paso Department of Mathematical

Angel Agüero The University of Texas at El Paso Department of Mathematical

Angel Agüero The University of Texas at El Paso Department of Mathematical

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