Let's try an example. How about finding b for a=1:

a(a + 1) = b(b + 2)
1(1+1) = b(b+2)
2 = b²+2b 

So, let's try see if we can find a b that solves it:

b=1: b²+2b = 1²+2 = 3
b=0: b²+2b = 0
b=-1: b²+2b = (-1)²-2 = -1
b=-2: b²+2b = (-2)²-4 = 0
b=-3: b²+2b = (-3)²-6 = 3   ... oops, went straight past it

Time for thinking cap ...

a=0 b=0
until now I have only found the solution a=0 and b=0
probably there aren't more solutions

Thanks, MathsisFun.
I'll continue from where you left.
a(a+1) is certainly even.
b(b+2) is odd if b is odd.
If b is even, b(b+2) is even, and is always a multiple of 4.
a(a+1) is a multiple of 4 only if a is multiple of 4 or it is a number of the form 4n+3.
Lets assume a is a number of the form 4n+3.
a(a+1) = (4n+3)(4n+4) = 16n² + 16n + 12n + 12 = 16n² + 28n + 12
= 4(4n²+7n+3)
Let this number be equal to b(b+2)
b(b+2) = 4(4n²+7n+3)
b² + 2b - 4(4n²+7n+3) = 0
b = [-2 ± √{4 +16(4n²+7n+3)}]/4
Let n=0, we get an irrational number as b.
Let n=1, we get an irrational number as b.
Let n=2, again, we get an irrational number as b.

Can {4 +16(4n²+7n+3)} never be a perfect square?

Is it because the last digit of {4 +16(4n²+7n+3)} is 2 or 8 and not 4 or 6?

Last edited by ganesh (2005-08-10 16:35:20)

is it possible to use some general method as outlined by Euclid

then,
RHS=b²+2b+1= (b+1)²

but what abt LHS ?

Last edited by wcy (2005-08-11 10:42:04)

a can only be 0

Here is a solution to this one.

a(a + 1) = b(b + 2) <=> a² + a + 1 = (b + 1)².
For positive a, a² < a² + a + 1 < (a + 1)², implying there is a perfect square between consecutive squares; contradiction.

For negative a, a(a + 1) = p(p - 1), where p = -a, so there are no solutions for p - 1 > 0; i.e., a < -1.

It is then easy to check for solutions with a = -1, 0.
These are: (a,b) = (-1,-2), (-1,0), (0,-2), (0,0).