What are the possible integers for which a given expression is an integer?

In summary, positive integers are whole numbers greater than zero, represented by numbers like 1, 2, 3, etc. To determine if a number is a positive integer, you check if it is greater than zero. The main difference between positive and negative integers is that positive integers are greater than zero while negative integers are less than zero. Decimals cannot be considered positive integers as they are not whole numbers. Positive integers are important in mathematics as they are used in various operations and concepts, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, as well as representing quantities in real-world situations.
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Determine all possible integers $n$ for which $\dfrac{n^2+1}{\lfloor{\sqrt{n}}\rfloor^2+2}$ is an integer.
 
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Let $m=\lfloor n \rfloor$ and $a=n-m^2$. We have $m\ge 1$ since $n\ge 1$. From $n^2+1=(m^2+a)^2+1 \equiv (a-2)^2+1 \pmod {(m^2+2)}$, it follows that the condition of the problem is equivalent to the fact that $(a-2)^2+1$ is divisible by $m^2+2$. Since we have

$0<(a-2)^2+1\le max{2^2,\,(2m-2)^2}+1\le 4m^2+1<4(m^2+2)$,

we see that $(a-2)^2+1=k(m^2+2)$ must hold with $k=1,\,2$ or $3$. We will show that none of these can occur.

Case 1: When $k=1$.

We get $(a-2)^2-m^2=1$ and this implies that $a-2=\pm 1$, $m=0$ must hold, but this contradicts with fact $m\ge 1$.

Case 2: When $k=2$.

We get $(a-2)^2+1=2(m^2+2)$ in this case, but any perfect square is congruent to 0, 1, 4 mod 8 and therefore we have $(a-2)^2+1\equiv 1,\,2,\, 5 \pmod {8}$ while $2(m^2+2)\equiv 4,\,6 \pmod {8}$. Thus, this case cannot occur either.

Case 3: When $k=3$.

We get $(a-2)^2+1=3(m^2+2)$ in this case. Since any perfect square is congruent to 0 or 1 mod 3, we have $(a-2)^2+1\equiv 1,\,2 \pmod {3}$ while $3(m^2+2)\equiv 0 \pmod {8}$, which shows that this case cannot occur either. And then we are done with the proof.
 

FAQ: What are the possible integers for which a given expression is an integer?

What are positive integers?

Positive integers are whole numbers that are greater than zero. They can be represented on a number line as all the numbers to the right of zero.

What is the difference between positive integers and negative integers?

The main difference between positive integers and negative integers is that positive integers are greater than zero while negative integers are less than zero. Positive integers represent quantities that are being added or counted, while negative integers represent quantities that are being subtracted or removed.

How do you determine if a number is a positive integer?

To determine if a number is a positive integer, you can simply check if it is greater than zero. If the number is greater than zero, it is a positive integer. If the number is less than zero or equal to zero, it is not a positive integer.

Can fractions or decimals be considered positive integers?

No, fractions and decimals cannot be considered positive integers. Positive integers are whole numbers, meaning they do not have any fractions or decimals. Fractions and decimals can be converted to positive integers by rounding up or down, but they are not considered positive integers on their own.

What are some real-life examples of positive integers?

Positive integers can be used to represent quantities in real-life situations, such as the number of apples in a basket, the number of students in a classroom, or the temperature on a thermometer. They can also be used in mathematical equations and calculations.

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