- #1
Elroch
- 138
- 12
Most number theorists will be familiar with the result conjectured in the 19th century and proved in the 20th century that the only square pyramidal numbers that are square numbers are 1 and 4900 (the sum of the squares from 1^2 to 24^2 = 70^2).
While discussing this, it was pointed out to me that the sum of the squares 1^2 up to 48^2 is 1 short of a perfect square. A little investigation found the same was true of the sum up to 47^2, but I did not find any other small examples.
This seems intriguing, especially as 48 is double 24. My best guess is that someone must have noticed this 100 years ago, but I have not confirmed this.
The question is are there any solutions of the diophantine equation:
1^2 + 2^2 + ... N^2 = M^2 - 1
other than N=47 and N=48?
While discussing this, it was pointed out to me that the sum of the squares 1^2 up to 48^2 is 1 short of a perfect square. A little investigation found the same was true of the sum up to 47^2, but I did not find any other small examples.
This seems intriguing, especially as 48 is double 24. My best guess is that someone must have noticed this 100 years ago, but I have not confirmed this.
The question is are there any solutions of the diophantine equation:
1^2 + 2^2 + ... N^2 = M^2 - 1
other than N=47 and N=48?
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