Albert1 Messages 1,221 Reaction score 0 Thread starter Aug 28, 2014 #1 $x\in N$ $y=x^4+2x^3+2x^2+2x+1$ prove:$y$ is not a perfect square
mathbalarka Messages 452 Reaction score 0 Aug 28, 2014 #2 Spoiler For all $x > 0$, $$(x^2 + x)^2 = x^4 + 2x^3 + x^2 < x^4 + 2x^3 + 2x^2 + 2x + 1 < x^4 + 2x^3 + 3x^2 + 2x + 1 = (x^2 + x + 1)^2$$ As $y$ is sitting in between two consecutive perfect squares for $x \in \Bbb N \setminus \{0\}$, $y$ cannot itself be a perfect square.
Spoiler For all $x > 0$, $$(x^2 + x)^2 = x^4 + 2x^3 + x^2 < x^4 + 2x^3 + 2x^2 + 2x + 1 < x^4 + 2x^3 + 3x^2 + 2x + 1 = (x^2 + x + 1)^2$$ As $y$ is sitting in between two consecutive perfect squares for $x \in \Bbb N \setminus \{0\}$, $y$ cannot itself be a perfect square.
kaliprasad Gold Member MHB Messages 1,333 Reaction score 0 Aug 28, 2014 #3 Spoiler $y=x^4+2x^3+2x^2+2x+1$ =$x^4+2x^2+1+2x^3+2x$ =$(x^2+1)^2+2x(x^2+1)$ = $(x^2+1)(x^2+2x+1)$ = $(x^2+1)(x+1)^2$ as $x^2+1$ is between $x^2$ and $(x+1)^2$ and not a perfect square and $(x+1)^2$ is so the product is not a perfect square
Spoiler $y=x^4+2x^3+2x^2+2x+1$ =$x^4+2x^2+1+2x^3+2x$ =$(x^2+1)^2+2x(x^2+1)$ = $(x^2+1)(x^2+2x+1)$ = $(x^2+1)(x+1)^2$ as $x^2+1$ is between $x^2$ and $(x+1)^2$ and not a perfect square and $(x+1)^2$ is so the product is not a perfect square