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For a specific real number $x$, the difference between any two of $x^{1919}$, $x^{1960}$ , and $x^{2100}$ is always an integer. How would one prove that $x$ is an integer?

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  • $\begingroup$ The same integer in both substractions or not necessarily? $\endgroup$ Commented Apr 16, 2013 at 22:36
  • $\begingroup$ What do you mean by the difference of three numbers? Between any two of them? $\endgroup$ Commented Apr 16, 2013 at 23:01
  • $\begingroup$ The differences between any two of them is an integer . $\endgroup$ Commented Apr 16, 2013 at 23:07
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    $\begingroup$ BTW, where is this problem from? $\endgroup$ Commented Apr 18, 2013 at 16:23
  • $\begingroup$ From my teacher $\endgroup$ Commented Apr 19, 2013 at 13:59

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First, prove that $x$ is rational.

Say $x^{2100} - x^{1919} = a > 0$ and $x^{1960} - x^{1919} = b > 0$.

Obviously, $x$ is algebraic, of degree at most $1960$. We need to show that the $2099$ other complex solutions to the first equation and the $1959$ other solutions to the second are distinct.

Here, it helps to plot the complex numbers $z$ such that $z^{2100} - z^{1960}$ is a positive real, and similarly with $z^{1960} - z^{1919}$. That graph should look like a bunch of concentric "lines".

We have an asymptotic development for the roots :
The roots of $x^{2100} - x^{1919} = a$ are $\alpha + \frac 1 {2100}\alpha^{-180} + \frac {1739}{8820000}\alpha^{-361} + \ldots$ where $\alpha^{2100} = a$.

Similarly, the roots of $x^{1960} - x^{1919} = b$ are $\beta + \frac 1 {1960}\beta^{-40} + \frac{1879}{7683200}\beta^{-81} + \ldots$ where $\beta^{1960} = b$

Looking at the first term removes every candidate root except $10$ : Since $gcd(2100,1960) = 10$, the only possible common arguments for $\alpha$ and $\beta$ are the $10$ multiples of $\pi/5$ : $\alpha^{10}$ and $\beta^{10}$ have to be positive reals if you want the two roots to have a remote chance at being equal.

We are left with the real axis and $8$ pairs of "lines" that look very close together. Looking at the second term of the expansion, we see that it is real, and very quickly, $\beta^{-40}/1960$ is much larger than $\alpha^{-180}/2100$, so unless we pick real roots, those line stay disjoint from each other.

Hence any simultaneous solution to the two equation has to be one of the two real solutions. And again, the negative solutions are $-x + \frac 2 {2100}x^{-180} + \ldots$ and $-x + \frac 2 {1960} x^{-40} + \ldots$, and they are different for $x$ large enough.


Once you know that $x$ has only one conjugate, and is rational, write $x = c/d$ with coprime $c$ and $d$. Since $c^{2100} = c^{1919}d^{181} + ad^{2100}$, $d^{181}$ divides $c^{2100}$, hence if $p$ is a prime factor of $d$, $p$ also divides $c$, which is impossible. Hence $d=1$ and $x$ is an integer.

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  • $\begingroup$ What do you mean by "The roots of $x^{2100} - x^{1919} = a$ are $\alpha + \frac 1 {2100}\alpha^{-180} + \dots$"? Assuming real $\alpha$, that series has a unique sum and defines only one number, right? $\endgroup$ Commented Apr 20, 2013 at 4:05
  • $\begingroup$ @ShreevatsaR : you get the $2100$ roots of $x^{2100} - x^{1919} = a$ by choosing $\alpha$ among the $2100$ different $2100$th roots of $a$. $\endgroup$ Commented Apr 20, 2013 at 12:39
  • $\begingroup$ Oh I see, ok... and how do you get that asymtotic series? $\endgroup$ Commented Apr 20, 2013 at 13:44
  • $\begingroup$ @ShreevatsaR : Put $t = x/\alpha$ and $u = \alpha^{-181}$. The relation becomes $t^{2100} = 1 + t^{1919}u$. You can then solve this with Puiseux series in $u$. Interestingly you obtain roots in $\Bbb C[[u]]$. The series converge for $u$ small enough (which means $a$ large enough). Actually it should converge for any $|a|$ larger than the $a$ value corresponding to $x=(1919/2100)^{1/181}$ (where the derivative of $x \mapsto x^{2100} - x^{1919}$ vanishes). $\endgroup$ Commented Apr 23, 2013 at 12:32
  • $\begingroup$ How did you show that $x$ is rational? I think you showed that $x$ is real...? $\endgroup$ Commented Nov 11, 2019 at 10:37

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