a² + b² = 2c²

procyon

Junior Member
Joined
Aug 13, 2011
Messages
53
a² + b² = 2c²

clip_image003.png
where
clip_image002.png
and
clip_image001.png
and a, b and c are all integers


I tried to break this equation down like this

let
clip_image004.png

so that

clip_image005.png

then
clip_image006.png
clip_image007.png
clip_image008.png

but then I realised that

clip_image009.png so clip_image010.png


this is clearly wrong as c is an integer.


Is there any way of breaking down the original equation?

Many thanks, (btw, if someone could let me know how to properly insert the above images would be a great help also ;) )

Pro
 
Last edited:
thanks for the quick reply pka and letting me know about the [tex.] [/tex.] tags ;)

I was basically looking for a similar form to the solution for

\(\displaystyle a^2 + b^2 = c^2\)

where choosing any arbitrary m, n gives a correct solution

by setting
\(\displaystyle a = m^2 - n^2\)

\(\displaystyle b = 2mn\)

\(\displaystyle c = m^2 + n^2\)


instead of trial and error.

Is there any similar way of approaching \(\displaystyle a^2+b^2=2c^2 ?\)

Thanks again

Pro
 
I think this is the problematic step. c = (2u)1/2 → c is irrational

....as I pointed out at the end of my original post, but thanks anyway ;)
 
View attachment 1314
where
View attachment 1313
and
View attachment 1312
and a, b and c are all integers

Just wondering whether you ever discovered any means of deriving other solutions.

Considering a Pell Equation of the form x^2 - Dy^2 = +/-1, (D not a square):

Rearranging your given equation into a Pell Equation format, a^2 - 2c^2 = -b^2, the minimum solution is a = 7 and c = 5 leading to b = 1, or 49 - 2(25) = -1.

Other solutions derive from

....................a = [(p + qsqrt(D))^n + (p - qsqrt(D))^n]/2, n being odd in all cases

...................c = [(p + qsqrt(D))^n - (p - qsqrt(D))^n]/2sqrt(D), n being odd in all cases.

The first two subsequent solutions are a = 99 with c = 70 and a = 1393 with c = 785.
 
Hi,

Yes, here is a way to do it. Like the similar way for pythagorean triples, it returns an infinite number of solutions, but not all solutions.

\(\displaystyle a^2+b^2=2c^2\)

as noted earlier in the thread a and b are both even or both odd, so the above can be written

\(\displaystyle \left(\dfrac{a+b}{2}\right)^2+\left(\dfrac{a-b}{2}\right)^2=c^2\)

where we are back to the pythagorean form of \(\displaystyle x^2+y^2=z^2\)

proof:

\(\displaystyle \left(\dfrac{a+b}{2}\right)^2=\dfrac{a^2+2ab+b^2}{4}\)

\(\displaystyle \left(\dfrac{a-b}{2}\right)^2=\dfrac{a^2-2ab+b^2}{4}\)

so \(\displaystyle \left(\dfrac{a+b}{2}\right)^2+\left(\dfrac{a-b}{2}\right)^2=\dfrac{a^2+b^2}{2}=c^2\)

so \(\displaystyle a^2+b^2=2c^2\)
 
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