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Gunnar
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2003 4:02 pm
Guest
Hello.
Is there a way to find the values of n for which sqrt(8n^2+1) is an
integer? Or is testing n=1,2,3,4... the only way?
Rob Johnson
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2003 4:02 pm
Guest
In article <ZHJEb.42905$dP1.167901@newsc.telia.net>,
Gunnar <gunnar@gunix.dk> wrote:
Quote:
Is there a way to find the values of n for which sqrt(8n^2+1) is an
integer? Or is testing n=1,2,3,4... the only way?

Starting with a_0 = 0 and a_1 = 1, use a_n = 6 a_{n-1} - a_{n-2}.

0,1,6,35,204,1189,6930,40391,235416,1372105,etc.

This should give you all of them. This is derived from the continued
fraction for sqrt(Cool = (2,1,4,1,4,1,4,...). In fact the sequence above
is the sequence of denominators of every second partial quotient. It
can be shown that if p/q - sqrt(Cool < 1/(2q^2) then p/q is a partial
quotient of the continued fraction for sqrt(Cool.

Rob Johnson <rob@trash.whim.org>
take out the trash before replying
Charlie Johnson
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2003 4:33 pm
Guest
"Gunnar" <gunnar@gunix.dk> wrote in message
news:ZHJEb.42905$dP1.167901@newsc.telia.net...
Quote:
Hello.
Is there a way to find the values of n for which sqrt(8n^2+1) is an
integer? Or is testing n=1,2,3,4... the only way?

Mathematical Induction.

Lurch
Guest
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2003 5:07 pm
On 19 Dec 2003, Gunnar wrote:
Quote:
Hello.
Is there a way to find the values of n for which sqrt(8n^2+1) is an
integer? Or is testing n=1,2,3,4... the only way?


sqrt(8n^2+1) = m, where m is an integer.

8n^2 + 1 = m^2

8n^2 = m^2 - 1

n^2 = (m^2 - 1)/8

n = sqrt((m^2 - 1)/Cool, let m vary over the integers

That gives all values of n to which m is an integer.
Lynn Kurtz
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2003 5:17 pm
Guest
On Fri, 19 Dec 2003 21:33:10 GMT, "Charlie Johnson"
<cj-bubba@bite.mindspring.com> wrote:

Quote:

"Gunnar" <gunnar@gunix.dk> wrote in message
news:ZHJEb.42905$dP1.167901@newsc.telia.net...
Hello.
Is there a way to find the values of n for which sqrt(8n^2+1) is an
integer? Or is testing n=1,2,3,4... the only way?

Mathematical Induction.

Lurch

Induction???!! You are kidding of course.


I know it isn't responsive to your question, but I ran it through
MAPLE and up through 10,000, only n = 1, 6, 35, 204, 1189, 6930 work.
Not too many that's for sure.

--Lynn
che phip
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2003 5:26 pm
Guest
Charlie Johnson a écrit:
Quote:
"Gunnar" <gunnar@gunix.dk> wrote in message
news:ZHJEb.42905$dP1.167901@newsc.telia.net...

Hello.
Is there a way to find the values of n for which sqrt(8n^2+1) is an
integer? Or is testing n=1,2,3,4... the only way?

Mathematical Induction.

Lurch


Hello,

Pell Equation m^2 - 8*n^2 = 1 (search Google for details)
This one is used to find the square = triangle numbers.

n=1,6,35,204 ...
n_(i+2)=6*n_(i+1) - n_i with n_0 = 1 and n_1 = 6

or if you prefer getting directly n_i with
m + n*sqrt(Cool = (3 + sqrt(Cool )^i

Otherwise, just "Mathematical Induction" is not enough...

regards
--
chephip at free dot fr
Hugo Pfoertner
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2003 5:35 pm
Guest
Gunnar wrote:
Quote:

Hello.
Is there a way to find the values of n for which sqrt(8n^2+1) is an
integer? Or is testing n=1,2,3,4... the only way?

Look at http://www.research.att.com/projects/OEIS?Anum=A001109
a(n)^2 is a triangular number: a(n) = 6*a(n-1) - a(n-2).
8*a(n)^2 + 1 is a perfect square.
0,1,6,35,204,1189,6930,40391,235416,1372105,7997214,....

with lots of formulas, links and references.

Hugo Pfoertner
Jpr2718
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2003 11:42 pm
Guest
Gunnar gunnar@gunix.dk wrote:

Quote:
Is there a way to find the values of n
for which sqrt(8n^2+1) is an integer?

See methods for solving the Pell equation given in

Solving the generalized Pell equation - PDF File

at

http://hometown.aol.com/jpr2718/

to solve x^2 - 8y^2 = 1.

Others have posted correct solutions.

John Robertson
Gunnar
Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2003 3:44 am
Guest
Thanks for all the answers and ruining my X-mas (now I just have to study
this)

Quote:
See methods for solving the Pell equation given in
Solving the generalized Pell equation - PDF File
at
http://hometown.aol.com/jpr2718/
to solve x^2 - 8y^2 = 1.
Others have posted correct solutions.
John Robertson
 
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