- #1
yorick
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Homework Statement
X = {x: x=4n+1, n[tex]\in[/tex][tex]N[/tex]}
Y = {y: y=m[tex]^{2}[/tex]+m+1, m[tex]\in[/tex][tex]N[/tex]}
Find: Y[tex]\cap[/tex]X
The Attempt at a Solution
First I tried to set x=y
[tex]\Rightarrow[/tex] n[tex]^{2}[/tex]+n+1=4n+1
[tex]\Rightarrow[/tex] n[tex]^{2}[/tex]-3n=0
[tex]\Rightarrow[/tex] n(n-3)=0
[tex]\Rightarrow[/tex] n=0,3
Subbing this into either equation yields {1,13}.
I thought I was doing okay.
However I was comparing assignments with a classmate and she had this massive set that just keeps on going: {1, 13, 21, 57, 73, 133, 157, 241, 273, ...}
After I thought about it, this made sense, as my solution only found the elements that are in both sets when n is the same for both equations, but set equality relies only on its elements, not at what stage they were reached.
She'd done this the long way round, scripting a little program to calculate all elements for both sets then compare the elements and find the common ones.
What I'd like to know is, how can I go about solving this algebraically?
Thanks in advance,
Yorick.