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prove that if in an arithmetic sequence of natural numbers, one of the terms is a perfect square, then there are many terms which are perfect squares. Is there an arithmetic sequence of natural numbers in which no terms term is a perfect square ? |
The nth term of an arithmetic sequence is tn = t1 + (n-1)d second term ,t2 = t1 + (2-1)d implies t2 = t1 + d ie, d = t2 - t1 d is an integer ,d cannot be negative If d=0 Then the terms are all the same ,and if any one of them is a perfect square ,then all the numbers are perfect squares. If d is a natural numbers Suppose the kth term is a perfect square ,p2 ie, tk= t1 + (k-1)d = p2 add 2pmd + m2d2 to both sides where m is a natural number. t1 + (k-1)d +2pmd + m2d2 = p2 +2pmd +m2d2 Take d as a commn factor from the last three terms on the left and factor the right side as a perfect square t1 +[ (k-1) +2pm + m2d ]d = [p+md]2 Here right side is a perfect square for infinitely many values of m. Hence the theorem is proved. Qn:Is there an arithmetic sequence of natural numbers in which no terms term is a perfect square ? Ans: A simple case with d = 0, 2,2,2,...... This one doesn't contain any term that is a perfect square Consider the sequence 2,6,10,14,18,22,.... This sequence contains only even terms. If this sequence contained a term which is a perfect square it would be even. But every even perfect square is divisible by 4. This sequence has t1 = 2 ,d = 4 Thus its mth term is tn = t1 +(n-1)d = 2 + (n-1)4 = 4n - 2 If we divide4n -2 by 4 we get n - 1/2 which is not an integer.So the sequence cannot contain a perfect square |