Difference between revisions of "1969 IMO Problems/Problem 1"

(Created page with 'The equation was<math>z = n^4 + a</math> ,you can put <math> a = 4 m^4 </math> for all natural numbers m. So you will get <math> z = n^4 + 4 m^4 = n^4+4m^4 +4n^2 m^2 - 4n^2 m^2</…')
 
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The equation was<math>z = n^4 + a</math> ,you can put <math> a = 4 m^4 </math> for all natural numbers m. So you will get <math> z = n^4 + 4 m^4 = n^4+4m^4 +4n^2 m^2 - 4n^2 m^2</math> <math>z = (n^2+2 m^2)^2 - (2nm)^2 = (n^2+2 m^2 -2nm)(n^2+2 m^2 +2nm) </math> so you get z is composite for all <math> a = 4 m^4</math>
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==Problem==
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Prove that there are infinitely many natural numbers <math>a</math> with the following property: the number <math>z = n^4 + a</math> is not prime for any natural number <math>n</math>.
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==Solution==
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The equation was <math>z = n^4 + a</math> ,you can put <math>a = 4 m^4 </math> for all natural numbers m. So you will get <math> z = n^4 + 4 m^4 = n^4+4m^4 +4n^2 m^2 - 4n^2 m^2</math> <math>z = (n^2+2 m^2)^2 - (2nm)^2 = (n^2+2 m^2 -2nm)(n^2+2 m^2 +2nm) </math> so you get <math>z</math> is composite for all <math> a = 4 m^4</math>
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{{alternate solutions}}
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== See Also == {{IMO box|year=1969|before=First question|num-a=2}}

Revision as of 12:35, 29 January 2021

Problem

Prove that there are infinitely many natural numbers $a$ with the following property: the number $z = n^4 + a$ is not prime for any natural number $n$.

Solution

The equation was $z = n^4 + a$ ,you can put $a = 4 m^4$ for all natural numbers m. So you will get $z = n^4 + 4 m^4 = n^4+4m^4 +4n^2 m^2 - 4n^2 m^2$ $z = (n^2+2 m^2)^2 - (2nm)^2 = (n^2+2 m^2 -2nm)(n^2+2 m^2 +2nm)$ so you get $z$ is composite for all $a = 4 m^4$

Alternate solutions are always welcome. If you have a different, elegant solution to this problem, please add it to this page.

See Also

1969 IMO (Problems) • Resources
Preceded by
First question
1 2 3 4 5 6 Followed by
Problem 2
All IMO Problems and Solutions