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Forum URL: http://www.cut-the-knot.org/cgi-bin/dcforum/forumctk.cgi
Forum Name: High school
Topic ID: 408
Message ID: 0
#0, Number theory question
Posted by shivgaur on Mar-20-11 at 11:29 AM
The Problem:
Suppose for a positive integer n both 5n+1 and 7n+1 are perfect squares. Show that n is divisible by 24

My attempt:
Since 5n+1 is a perfect square and n is a positive integer then, the n's for which 5n+1 is a perfect square are: n= 3, 7, 16, 24 ..........
and for 7n+1 : n = 5, 9, 24......
therefore the least common 'n' which makes both 5n+1 and 7n+1 a perfect square is 24 and therefore 'n' is divisible by 24.

Any better approach to this problem?