Paper 3, Section II, G

Number Theory | Part II, 2017

Let dd be a positive integer which is not a square. Assume that the continued fraction expansion of d\sqrt{d} takes the form [a0,a1,a2,,am]\left[a_{0}, \overline{a_{1}, a_{2}, \ldots, a_{m}}\right].

(a) Define the convergents pn/qnp_{n} / q_{n}, and show that pnp_{n} and qnq_{n} are coprime.

(b) The complete quotients θn\theta_{n} may be written in the form (d+rn)/sn\left(\sqrt{d}+r_{n}\right) / s_{n}, where rnr_{n} and sns_{n} are rational numbers. Use the relation

d=θnpn1+pn2θnqn1+qn2\sqrt{d}=\frac{\theta_{n} p_{n-1}+p_{n-2}}{\theta_{n} q_{n-1}+q_{n-2}}

to find formulae for rnr_{n} and sns_{n} in terms of the pp 's and qq 's. Deduce that rnr_{n} and sns_{n} are integers.

(c) Prove that Pell's equation x2dy2=1x^{2}-d y^{2}=1 has infinitely many solutions in integers xx and yy.

(d) Find integers xx and yy satisfying x267y2=2x^{2}-67 y^{2}=-2.

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