document.write( "Question 1171548: Last year Jason's age was a prime number. This year it is a square number. How old is he this year? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #796453 by greenestamps(13200)![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! \n" ); document.write( "The first tutor missed the point of the problem; there is only one solution. \n" ); document.write( "His age this year is a square number; let it be x^2. \n" ); document.write( "That means last year his age was x^2-1. \n" ); document.write( "But x^2-1 = (x-1)(x+1), which is the product of two integers. The only way the product of two integers can be prime is if one of them is 1. \n" ); document.write( "So x-1 is 1, making x=2 and x+1=3. So his age last year was 1*3=3, making his age this year 4. \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " |