+0  
 
+2
1463
8
avatar+129852 

Can anyone think of 5 positive integers, a,b,c,d and e such that

a^2 + b^2 + c^2 + d^2 = e^2   ?????

[ There is more than one correct answer ]  !!!!!!

 (Also....and I should have been more specific....the integers are all different ) !!!!

 Oct 8, 2014

Best Answer 

 #4
avatar+5478 
+29

Hm...

a = 4, b = 8, c = 10, b = 12, and e = 18 :)

 Oct 10, 2014
 #1
avatar
-1

is the answer 1 

 Oct 8, 2014
 #2
avatar+33661 
+6

a = b = c = d = n;  e = 2n;  where n is any positive integer.

 Oct 8, 2014
 #3
avatar+118677 
+1

Chris said all the integers were different!  

 Oct 9, 2014
 #4
avatar+5478 
+29
Best Answer

Hm...

a = 4, b = 8, c = 10, b = 12, and e = 18 :)

kitty<3 Oct 10, 2014
 #5
avatar+129852 
+1

Ding!!  Ding!! Ding!!!......we have a winner!!

kitty<3  !!!!

I came up with........

1 , 2 , 8, 10, 13

Note, that any positive integer multiples of these answers "work," too. (Just like in the Pythagorean "Multiples")

[Mmmm...I wonder if there is a general "formula" for generating the "correct" values??? ]

 

 Oct 10, 2014
 #6
avatar+33661 
+6

Here's a way of generating more sets of values:

 

Choose a Pythagorean triple, say 3, 4, 5.  Let a = 3m, b = 4m, c = 3n, d = 4n, and e = 5√(m2 + n2

 

a2 + b2 + c2 + d2 = (32 + 42)m2 + (32 + 42)n2 = (32 + 42)(m2 + n2) = 52(m2 + n2) = e2

 

Now choose m and n to be part of another Pythagorean triple, say m = 5 and n = 12, and we have e as an integer (=5*13).

 

So a = 3*5 = 15;  b = 4*5 = 20;  c = 3*12 = 36;  d = 4*12 = 48; e = 5*13 = 65;

$${{\mathtt{15}}}^{{\mathtt{2}}}{\mathtt{\,\small\textbf+\,}}{{\mathtt{20}}}^{{\mathtt{2}}}{\mathtt{\,\small\textbf+\,}}{{\mathtt{36}}}^{{\mathtt{2}}}{\mathtt{\,\small\textbf+\,}}{{\mathtt{48}}}^{{\mathtt{2}}} = {\mathtt{4\,225}}$$

$${{\mathtt{65}}}^{{\mathtt{2}}} = {\mathtt{4\,225}}$$

 

(I don't remember seeing Chris's last line when I gave my previous answer.  Hmm!)

 

.

 Oct 10, 2014
 #7
avatar+129852 
+1

Very nice, Alan.....I added that last line after you posted your first answer.....I meant for the all the digits to be different.......

 

 Oct 10, 2014
 #8
avatar+118677 
+1

Well Alan, I shall, give you 3 points for your first answer then - otherwise you would be getting cheated!  

 Oct 11, 2014

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