Shades of Fermat's Last Theorem

257 /www/nrich/html/content/99/03/15plus2/ 1 2011-02-01T00:00:01 <mdoxml version="1.0"> There are exactly three solutions of the equation $$(x - 1)^n + x^n = (x + 1)^n$$ where $x$ is an integer and $n= 2, 3, 4$ or $5$. Prove this statement and find the solutions. </mdoxml> <mdoxml version="1.0"> The familiar Pythagorean relationship $3^2+ 4^2=5^2$ is one solution to$$(x - 1)^n + x^n = (x + 1)^n$$ so what about other solutions for $x$ an integer and $n = 2, 3, 4$ or $5$ ? The question asks you to prove that there are exactly three solutions. Both Alan Riddell of Madras College, St Andrew's and Edward Wallace of Graveney School, Tooting solved this problem. When $n = 2$ $$(x - 1)^n + x^n = (x + 1)^n$$ becomes $$(x - 1)^2 + x^2 = (x + 1)^2$$ $$x^2 - 2x +1 + x^2 = x^2 +2x +1$$ $$x^2 - 4x = x(x - 4) = 0$$ so $x = 0$ or $x = 4$. The three solutions to this problem are $x=4, n=2$ where $3^2 + 4^2 = 5^2;$ $x=0, n=2$ where $(-1)^2 +0^2 = 1^2$ and $x=0, n=4 $ where $(-1)^4 +0^4 = 1^4.$ We now show that there are no other solutions. For $n = 3$ we seek solutions of $$(x - 1)^3 + x^3 = (x + 1)^3$$ Simplifying: $$x^3 -3x^2 +3x -1 +x^3 = x^3 +3x^3 +3x +1$$ $$x^3 -6x^2 = 2 $$ $$x^2(x - 6) = 2.$$ If any solution exists then $x> 6$ because the right hand side is positive so $x \geq 7 $ but then $x^2(x - 6) \geq 49 $ so there are no solutions. For $n = 4$ we seek solutions of $$(x - 1)^4 + x^4 = (x + 1)^4$$ Simplifying: $$x^4 - 4x^3 + 6x^2 - 4x +1 +x^4 = x^4 + 4x^3 + 6x^2 + 4x +1$$ $$x^4 - 8x^3 - 8x = 0$$ This gives the solution $x=0,n=4$ where $(-1)^4 +0^4 = 1^4.$ If another solution exists for $n = 4$ then $x^2(x - 8) = 8$ so $x> 8$ because the right hand side is positive. In this case $x \geq 9$ but then $x^2(x - 8) \geq 81$ so there are no solutions. For $n = 5$ we seek solutions of $$(x - 1)^5+ x^5 = (x + 1)^5$$ Simplifying: $$x^5 - 10x^4 -20x^2 - 2 = 0$$ If a solution exists for $n = 5$ then $x^2(x^3 - 10x^2 - 20) = 2$. Clearly this has no solutions because both sides are positive so $x > 10$ but then $x^2(x^3 - 10x^2 - 20) > 100$ and cannot equal 2. </mdoxml> <mdoxml version="1.0"> Investigate what happens when you put $n=2$ in the expression. Then try $n=3$, $4$ and $5$. </mdoxml> 2 3 0 0 0 0 1 Shades of Fermat's Last Theorem The familiar Pythagorean 3-4-5 triple gives one solution to (x-1)^n + x^n = (x+1)^n so what about other solutions for x an integer and n= 2, 3, 4 or 5? Admin Long problems Algebra Diophantine equations Algebra Inequality/inequalities Collections epsilons Admin Stage 5 - Reviewed 2012