How many positive integer solutions satisfy this equation?

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The discussion revolves around finding positive integer solutions for the equation $$\frac{1}{x}+\frac{1}{y}+\frac{1}{xy}=\frac{1}{2021}$$, which simplifies to $$xy = 2021(y + x + 1)$$. Participants explore the implications of the prime factorization of 2021 (43 x 47) and how it relates to the variables x and y. Various approaches are suggested, including rewriting the equation and considering the divisibility conditions imposed by the factors of 2021. Ultimately, the conversation leads to the conclusion that there are 32 positive integer solutions to the equation.
  • #31
Hall said:
Hello pal @songoku, we can rewrite your second equation as
$$
x+y+1= \frac{xy}{2021}$$

Now, we want ##x## and ##y## to be integer, that implies ##xy## must be a multiple of 2021, right? So, we can write it as ##xy =2021 k##.

Now, we can write out your third equation as:
$$
2021x + 2021y +2021= 2021k$$
Now, we have got a system:
$$
x+y =k-1$$

And $$xy =2021k$$
Taking ##y=k## and ##x=2021## would not satisfy, the first equation of our system, hence ##x## and ##y## must be the factors (or their multiples) of 2021. [Edited: or at most one of them can be a factor of ##k##, but not k itself].
Hello @Hall :smile:

I got the answer. Thank you

Prof B said:
To the OP: You have started correctly. Either your teacher taught you well, or he/she told you how to start. To continue, think about what you have been learning recently in pre-calc. Did you learn how to graph a hyperbola? Did you learn how to solve a degree-2 equation?

word
Yes, I know how to graph hyperbola from general equation:
$$\frac{(x-h)^2}{a^2}-\frac{(y-k)^2}{b^2}=1$$

But sorry I can't relate the question to hyperbola equation.

If by degree-2 equation you mean quadratic equation, then yes I can solve it using factorization, quadratic formula or completing square.

This question is given by the teacher only as a practice. He said this is our "holiday companion", we can do this to kill the time or just ignore it. So I am not really sure whether this question is related to what I have learned so far in the class.

Thanks
 
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  • #32
songoku said:
Hello @Hall :smile:

I got the answer. Thank you
62?
 
  • #33
OmCheeto said:
62?
Too many!
 
  • #34
PeroK said:
Too many!
Wolfram Alpha and I both got 62. How many did you get?

[edit] Doh! It says "positive". Change that to 32.
 
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  • #35
Hall said:
Now, we have got a system:
x+y=k−1

And xy=2021k
Applying familiar quadratic equation solution relation,
(X−x)(X−y)=X^2−(k−1)X+2021k=0
D=(k−1)^2−8084k=(k−4043)^2−(4043^2−1)>0
The problem is restated : how do we choose positive integer k so that
x,y=\frac{k−1±\sqrt{D}}{2}=2021+\frac{1}{2}(p±\sqrt{p^2−A})
where
p=k−4043
A=4043^2−1=4042∗4044=4∗2021∗2022=2^3∗3∗43∗47∗337=16,345,848 referring my previpus post, are positive integers and how many are such k ?

Say ##p^2−A=q^2## with positive integer q,
(p+q)(p−q)=A=2^3∗3∗43∗47∗337
There are 2^4 cases for which p+q or p-q is multiple of 3, 43, 47, 337.
There are 2^2 cases for such division of multiple 2^3, i.e. {1,8}{2,4}{4,2}{8,1}
So that both p+q and p-q are even, we should apply 2 cases of {2,4}{4,2} only.
So in total 2^5=32 x,y integer cases we have. Explicitly
x,y=2021+2^l 3^m 43^n 47^r 337^s, 2021+2^{1-l} 3^{1-m} 43^{1-n} 47^{1-r} 337^{1-s},<br />
where
l,m,n,r,s=\{0,1\}
 
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  • #36
OmCheeto said:
62?
62 is the number of integer solutions. But the question asked for the number of positive integer solutions.
 
  • #37
songoku said:
Yes, I know how to graph hyperbola from general equation:
$$\frac{(x-h)^2}{a^2}-\frac{(y-k)^2}{b^2}=1$$
You get different kinds of equations depending on how the hyperbola is rotated. For example xy=1 is the equation for a hyperbola. It's easy to tell how many integer solutions that one has.

Your equation is also a hyperbola. If you write the equation in the appropriate form you'll find the asymptotes and also the number of integer solutions.

songoku said:
If by degree-2 equation you mean quadratic equation, then yes I can solve it using factorization, quadratic formula or completing square.
You also got a quadratic equation. It has two variables, so complete the rectangle instead of completing the square.
 
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  • #38
Thank you very much for the help and explanation Delta2, BvU, anuttarasammyak, WWGD, Hall, Prof B, OmCheeto, PeroK
 
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  • #39
songoku said:
Thank you very much for the help and explanation Delta2, BvU, anuttarasammyak, WWGD, Hall, Prof B, OmCheeto, PeroK
We didn't see a lot of your work in this thread, it must be said!
 
  • #40
songoku said:
Hello @Hall :smile:

I got the answer. Thank you

PeroK said:
We didn't see a lot of your work in this thread, it must be said!

Yup - don't tell us you got the answe, tell us the answer you got!
 
  • #41
$$\frac{1}{x}+\frac{1}{y}+\frac{1}{xy}=\frac{1}{2021}$$
$$\frac{x+y+1}{xy}=\frac{1}{2021}$$
$$2021x+2021y+2021=xy$$
$$2021=xy-2021(x+y)$$
$$2021=(x-2021)(y-2021)-2021^2$$
$$(x-2021)(y-2021)=2021+2021^2$$
$$(x-2021)(y-2021)=2021 \times 2022$$

Let: ##x-2021=a## , then ##y-2021=\frac{2021 \times 2022}{a}=\frac{43 \times 47 \times 2 \times 3 \times 337}{a}##

Since ##a## is integer then for ##y## to be integer, ##a## must be combination of factor of 43, 47, 2, 3, and 337.

Each number has 2 factors so the possible combinations for ##a=2^5=32##
 
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  • #42
There's some work left to do. If a is positive then x and y are greater than 2021 so x and y are positive. You get 32 solutions that way. What if a is negative? Why don't you get any more solutions that way?
 
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  • #43
Prof B said:
What if a is negative? Why don't you get any more solutions that way?
Obviously from post #35 x,y=2021-2^l 3^m 43^n 47^r 337^s, 2021-2^{1-l} 3^{1-m} 43^{1-n} 47^{1-r} 337^{1-s}<br />
where
l,m,n,r,s=\{0,1\} Another 32 solutions.

[EDIT] Now I find (x,y)=(0,-1),(-1,0) should be excluded thanks to @PeroK #44.
 
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  • #44
Prof B said:
There's some work left to do. If a is positive then x and y are greater than 2021 so x and y are positive. You get 32 solutions that way. What if a is negative? Why don't you get any more solutions that way?
First, assuming ##a, b## are positive. We have ##x = a + 2021, \ y = b + 2021## and ##ab = 2021(2022)##.

We have the solution ##a = 2021, b = 2022## (and vice versa). Otherwise, ##a > 2022, b < 2021## or vice versa.

If we take the negative solutions ##-a, -b##, then the first two solutions are invalid, as either ##x## or ##y## is zero. And the original equation involved reciprocals. Otherwise, we have ##x > 0, y < 0## or vice versa. So, there are no more positive solutions.

There are, however, ##30 = 15 \times 2## further solutions with one of ##x, y## negative and the other positive.
 
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