Can Anyone Help Crack the Nut on Solving (m,n) Pairs for this Equality?

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The discussion focuses on finding nonnegative integer pairs \((m,n)\) that satisfy the equation \((m-n)^2(n^2-m) = 4m^2n\). Initial attempts to find solutions revealed that both integers must be even, as odd integers lead to contradictions in divisibility. A successful approach was discovered by substituting \(m=2n\) and \(m=3n\), yielding solutions \((36,18)\) and \((36,12)\) respectively. The conversation highlights the importance of modular arithmetic and strategic substitutions in solving complex equations.

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Find the pairs of nonnegative integers, $(m,n)$, which obey the equality:

\[(m-n)^2(n^2-m) = 4m^2n\]

So far, I haven´t found a single pair, but I cannot prove, that the set of solutions is empty.
Perhaps, someone can help me to crack this nut?
 
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lfdahl said:
Find the pairs of nonnegative integers, $(m,n)$, which obey the equality:

\[(m-n)^2(n^2-m) = 4m^2n\]

So far, I haven´t found a single pair, but I cannot prove, that the set of solutions is empty.
Perhaps, someone can help me to crack this nut?
My suggestion is to take the whole thing a modulo 2 so you would have only a limited number of cases to check.

-Dan
 
Ah well. It was a nice idea, but it doesn't actually help a whole lot. Good luck with it and if I get any other wild ideas I'll let you know. :)

-Dan
 
lfdahl said:
Find the pairs of nonnegative integers, $(m,n)$, which obey the equality:

\[(m-n)^2(n^2-m) = 4m^2n\]
Not a solution but some elimination

So far, I haven´t found a single pair, but I cannot prove, that the set of solutions is empty.
Perhaps, someone can help me to crack this nut?

first neither can be odd
because if both are odd LHs is divisible by 8 being product of 3 even numbers and RHS is not

if one is odd then LHS is odd and RHS even.

thus both are even
you can have this as a starting point
 
lfdahl said:
Find the pairs of nonnegative integers, $(m,n)$, which obey the equality:

\[(m-n)^2(n^2-m) = 4m^2n\]

So far, I haven´t found a single pair, but I cannot prove, that the set of solutions is empty.
Perhaps, someone can help me to crack this nut?
Try for a solution with $m=2n$: $$(2n-n)^2(n^2-2n) = 16n^3,$$ $$n^3(n-2) = 16n^3,$$ $$ n-2 = 16,$$ $$ n=18.$$ That gives the solution $(m,n) = (36,18).$

Edit. You can also try $m=3n$, which leads to the solution $(36,12).$
 
Last edited:
Clever Opalg! That generalizes nicely. (Bow)

-Dan
 
Thankyou so much, Opalg, kaliprasad for your help to "crack the nut".
Thankyou, topsquark for nice and helpful comments.
 

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