Exercise · ZW-PELL-S-EQUATION-008 · ★★☆ Intermediate

Determine the fundamental solution of \(x^2 - 7y^2 = 1\) knowing that \(8^2 - 7\cdot 3^2 = 1\).

Choose one option.

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  • B. \((8,3)\)

Explanation

The pair \((8,3)\) satisfies the equation and has the smallest positive \(y\). The pair \((64,24)\) does not satisfy the equation, and neither do \((3,8)\) or \((15,8)\).

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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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