Difference between revisions of "Sophie Germain Identity"

m
Line 16: Line 16:
 
=== Intermediate ===
 
=== Intermediate ===
 
*Compute <math>\frac{(10^4+324)(22^4+324)(34^4+324)(46^4+324)(58^4+324)}{(4^4+324)(16^4+324)(28^4+324)(40^4+324)(52^4+324)}</math>. ([[1987 AIME Problems/Problem 14|1987 AIME, #14]])
 
*Compute <math>\frac{(10^4+324)(22^4+324)(34^4+324)(46^4+324)(58^4+324)}{(4^4+324)(16^4+324)(28^4+324)(40^4+324)(52^4+324)}</math>. ([[1987 AIME Problems/Problem 14|1987 AIME, #14]])
 
+
*Find the largest prime divisor of <math>25^2+72^2</math>. ([[Mock AIME 5 2005-2006 Problems/Problem 5]])
  
 
== See Also ==
 
== See Also ==
 
* [http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Biographies/Germain.html MacTutor biography of Sophie Germain]
 
* [http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Biographies/Germain.html MacTutor biography of Sophie Germain]

Revision as of 16:00, 13 February 2008

The Sophie Germain Identity states that:

$a^4 + 4b^4 = (a^2 + 2b^2 + 2ab)(a^2 + 2b^2 - 2ab)$

One can prove this identity simply by multiplying out the right side and verifying that it equals the left. To derive the factoring, first completing the square and then factor as a difference of squares:

$\begin{align*}a^4 + 4b^4 & = a^4 + 4a^2b^2 + 4b^4 - 4a^2b^2 \\ & = (a^2 + 2b^2)^2 - (2ab)^2 \\ & = (a^2 + 2b^2 - 2ab) (a^2 + 2b^2 + 2ab)\end{align*}$ (Error compiling LaTeX. Unknown error_msg)

Problems

Introductory

Intermediate

See Also