document.write( "Question 1127550: The general formula for the Pythagorean triples is a=m^2-n^2, b=2mn and c=m^2+n^2 for integers m and n. How would this formula be used to find all the number of primitive Pythagorean triples containing 24 as one number? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #743978 by greenestamps(13200)![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! \n" ); document.write( "2mn is always even. \n" ); document.write( "If m and n are both even, then both m^2-n^2 and m^2+n^2 are even, and the triple would not be primitive. \n" ); document.write( "If m and n are both odd, then again both m^2-n^2 and m^2+n^2 are even, and the triple is again not primitive. \n" ); document.write( "So for a primitive triple, we need the following: \n" ); document.write( "(1) m and n are one even and one odd \n" ); document.write( "(2) m > n \n" ); document.write( "(3) 2mn = 24 --> mn = 12 \n" ); document.write( "There are 3 pairs of integers m and n that meet conditions (2) and (3): \n" ); document.write( "(m,n) = (12,1); (6,2); (4,3). \n" ); document.write( "The second pair does not satisfy condition (1), so there are exactly 2 primitive Pythagorean Triples containing the number 24: \n" ); document.write( "m = 12, n = 1 --> the triple is (143, 24, 145) \n" ); document.write( "and \n" ); document.write( "m = 4, n = 3 --> the triple is (7, 24, 25) |