Exercise · ZW-PELL-S-EQUATION-005 · ★★☆ Intermediate

Which pair \((x,y)\) is a solution of \(x^2 - 2y^2 = 1\)?

Choose one option.

Show answer
  • A. \((3,2)\)

Explanation

Substituting, \(3^2 - 2\cdot 2^2 = 9 - 8 = 1\). The pair (2,1) gives \(4-2=2\) and does not satisfy the equation.

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Review the concept: Pell's equation

Pell's equation is the quadratic Diophantine equation in integers \(x\), \(y\) that sets equal to 1 the difference between \(x^2\) and \(d\) times \(y^2\), where \(d\) is a positive integer that is not a perfect square.

\[x^2 - d y^2 = 1\]

More practice problems: pell's equation

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