Skip to main content
added 58 characters in body
Source Link
Zack Wolske
  • 1.9k
  • 15
  • 21

Since $4 | 2^k$, we can write $F_{n + 2^k} - F_n = F_{2^{k-1}}L_{n + 2^{k-1}}$. I have not resolved the case $k = 3$ (this gap has been fixed, see 2nd edit below), it is equivalent to finding Lucas numbers $x$ in the Diophantine equation $x^2 + 2 = 3y^2$. For now assume $k > 3$. By the facts above, we know that $3$ and $7$ cannot both divide a Lucas number, so we want to show that each of them divide $F_{2^{k-1}}$, and that neither $3^2$ nor $7^2$ do so. That they both 3 and 7 divide follows from $F_8=21$ and $F_n | F_{2n}$. That the squaresboth 9 and 49 don't divide follows by induction: the base case is $F_8$; and we have $F_{2^{k+1}} = F_{2^k}L_{2^k}$, and neither 3 nor 7 can divide $L_{2^k}$ when $k>2$. Then by induction the squares do not divide $F_{2^k}$ for $k \geq 3$, and neither $3$ nor $7$ divide $L_{2^k}$, since $2^k \equiv 0 \pmod{8}$. Hence there are no squares when $m = 2^k$ and $k > 3$.

Since $4 | 2^k$, we can write $F_{n + 2^k} - F_n = F_{2^{k-1}}L_{n + 2^{k-1}}$. I have not resolved the case $k = 3$ (this gap has been fixed, see 2nd edit below), it is equivalent to finding Lucas numbers $x$ in the Diophantine equation $x^2 + 2 = 3y^2$. For now assume $k > 3$. By the facts above, we know that $3$ and $7$ cannot both divide a Lucas number, so we want to show that each of them divide $F_{2^{k-1}}$, and that neither $3^2$ nor $7^2$ do so. That they both divide follows from $F_8=21$ and $F_n | F_{2n}$. That the squares don't divide follows by induction: the base case is $F_8$; and we have $F_{2^{k+1}} = F_{2^k}L_{2^k}$. Then by induction the squares do not divide $F_{2^k}$ for $k \geq 3$, and neither $3$ nor $7$ divide $L_{2^k}$, since $2^k \equiv 0 \pmod{8}$. Hence there are no squares when $m = 2^k$ and $k > 3$.

Since $4 | 2^k$, we can write $F_{n + 2^k} - F_n = F_{2^{k-1}}L_{n + 2^{k-1}}$. I have not resolved the case $k = 3$ (this gap has been fixed, see 2nd edit below), it is equivalent to finding Lucas numbers $x$ in the Diophantine equation $x^2 + 2 = 3y^2$. For now assume $k > 3$. By the facts above, we know that $3$ and $7$ cannot both divide a Lucas number, so we want to show that each of them divide $F_{2^{k-1}}$, and that neither $3^2$ nor $7^2$ do so. That both 3 and 7 divide follows from $F_8=21$ and $F_n | F_{2n}$. That both 9 and 49 don't divide follows by induction: the base case is $F_8$; and we have $F_{2^{k+1}} = F_{2^k}L_{2^k}$, and neither 3 nor 7 can divide $L_{2^k}$ when $k>2$. Then by induction the squares do not divide $F_{2^k}$ for $k \geq 3$, and neither $3$ nor $7$ divide $L_{2^k}$, since $2^k \equiv 0 \pmod{8}$. Hence there are no squares when $m = 2^k$ and $k > 3$.

added 257 characters in body
Source Link
Zack Wolske
  • 1.9k
  • 15
  • 21

For the general case of $m=4k$, we write $F_{n + 4k} - F_n = F_{2k}L_{n + 2k} = F_{k}L_{k}L_{n + 2k}$ and invoke Carmichael's theorem: for each $n>3$, there is at least one prime $p | F_n$ which divides no previous Fibonacci number. Such a prime is called a primitive. Further - this is not part of the theorem - $p^2 \nmid F_n$ (after trying to work out a proof of this, I went to the literature and found that this is a conjecture in P. Ribenboim "Square classes of Fibonacci and Lucas numbers" Port. Math 46 (1989), 159-175. I'm not sure if it's been proven or falsified since then). Taking $n$ to be odd, we exploit the fact that $p$ does not divide any Lucas number, since its Fibonacci entry point is odd (see C. Ballot and M. Elia, "Rank and period of primes in the Fibonacci sequence; a trichotomy," Fib. Quart., 45 (No. 1, 2007), 56-63). If the odd part of $k$ is greater than $3$, we are done, since we can continue splitting $F_{k} = F_{k/2}L_{k/2}$ until we have an odd indexed Fibonacci number, and use a primitive for it. So we now have only $k = 3\cdot2^i$ left to consider. $i = 0$ and $i=1$ are easy to deal with: $F_{n + 12} - F_n = F_{6}L_{n + 6} = 8L_{n+6}$ and we know $L_{n+6} = 2x^2$ only if $n=0$ or negative (from J. Cohn's paper "Square Fibonacci Numbers, Etc." Fibonacci Quarterly 2 1964, pp. 109-113). $F_{n + 24} - F_n = F_{12}L_{n + 12} = 12^2L_{n+6}$ and we know $L_{n+12} = x^2$ has no solutions (again barring negative Fibonacci numbers - in these cases no solutions are distinct from the positive ones). $i=2$ causes me some trouble, and led to the negative solution $F_{36} - F_{-12} = 3864^2$. I also leave this unresolved.

For the general case of $m=4k$, we write $F_{n + 4k} - F_n = F_{2k}L_{n + 2k} = F_{k}L_{k}L_{n + 2k}$ and invoke Carmichael's theorem: for each $n>3$, there is at least one prime $p | F_n$ which divides no previous Fibonacci number. Such a prime is called a primitive. Further - this is not part of the theorem - $p^2 \nmid F_n$. Taking $n$ to be odd, we exploit the fact that $p$ does not divide any Lucas number, since its Fibonacci entry point is odd (see C. Ballot and M. Elia, "Rank and period of primes in the Fibonacci sequence; a trichotomy," Fib. Quart., 45 (No. 1, 2007), 56-63). If the odd part of $k$ is greater than $3$, we are done, since we can continue splitting $F_{k} = F_{k/2}L_{k/2}$ until we have an odd indexed Fibonacci number, and use a primitive for it. So we now have only $k = 3\cdot2^i$ left to consider. $i = 0$ and $i=1$ are easy to deal with: $F_{n + 12} - F_n = F_{6}L_{n + 6} = 8L_{n+6}$ and we know $L_{n+6} = 2x^2$ only if $n=0$ or negative (from J. Cohn's paper "Square Fibonacci Numbers, Etc." Fibonacci Quarterly 2 1964, pp. 109-113). $F_{n + 24} - F_n = F_{12}L_{n + 12} = 12^2L_{n+6}$ and we know $L_{n+12} = x^2$ has no solutions (again barring negative Fibonacci numbers - in these cases no solutions are distinct from the positive ones). $i=2$ causes me some trouble, and led to the negative solution $F_{36} - F_{-12} = 3864^2$. I also leave this unresolved.

For the general case of $m=4k$, we write $F_{n + 4k} - F_n = F_{2k}L_{n + 2k} = F_{k}L_{k}L_{n + 2k}$ and invoke Carmichael's theorem: for each $n>3$, there is at least one prime $p | F_n$ which divides no previous Fibonacci number. Such a prime is called a primitive. Further - this is not part of the theorem - $p^2 \nmid F_n$ (after trying to work out a proof of this, I went to the literature and found that this is a conjecture in P. Ribenboim "Square classes of Fibonacci and Lucas numbers" Port. Math 46 (1989), 159-175. I'm not sure if it's been proven or falsified since then). Taking $n$ to be odd, we exploit the fact that $p$ does not divide any Lucas number, since its Fibonacci entry point is odd (see C. Ballot and M. Elia, "Rank and period of primes in the Fibonacci sequence; a trichotomy," Fib. Quart., 45 (No. 1, 2007), 56-63). If the odd part of $k$ is greater than $3$, we are done, since we can continue splitting $F_{k} = F_{k/2}L_{k/2}$ until we have an odd indexed Fibonacci number, and use a primitive for it. So we now have only $k = 3\cdot2^i$ left to consider. $i = 0$ and $i=1$ are easy to deal with: $F_{n + 12} - F_n = F_{6}L_{n + 6} = 8L_{n+6}$ and we know $L_{n+6} = 2x^2$ only if $n=0$ or negative (from J. Cohn's paper "Square Fibonacci Numbers, Etc." Fibonacci Quarterly 2 1964, pp. 109-113). $F_{n + 24} - F_n = F_{12}L_{n + 12} = 12^2L_{n+6}$ and we know $L_{n+12} = x^2$ has no solutions (again barring negative Fibonacci numbers - in these cases no solutions are distinct from the positive ones). $i=2$ causes me some trouble, and led to the negative solution $F_{36} - F_{-12} = 3864^2$. I also leave this unresolved.

added 356 characters in body
Source Link
Zack Wolske
  • 1.9k
  • 15
  • 21

Since $4 | 2^k$, we can write $F_{n + 2^k} - F_n = F_{2^{k-1}}L_{n + 2^{k-1}}$. I have not resolved the case $k = 3$ (this gap has been fixed, see 2nd edit below), it is equivalent to finding Lucas numbers $x$ in the Diophantine equation $x^2 + 2 = 3y^2$. For now assume $k > 3$. By the facts above, we know that $3$ and $7$ cannot both divide a Lucas number, so we want to show that each of them divide $F_{2^{k-1}}$, and that neither $3^2$ nor $7^2$ do so. That they both divide follows from $F_8=21$ and $F_n | F_{2n}$. That the squares don't divide follows by induction: the base case is $F_8$; and we have $F_{2^{k+1}} = F_{2^k}L_{2^k}$. Then by induction the squares do not divide $F_{2^k}$ for $k \geq 3$, and neither $3$ nor $7$ divide $L_{2^k}$, since $2^k \equiv 0 \pmod{8}$. Hence there are no squares when $m = 2^k$ and $k > 3$.

EDIT: The other even numbers are easier. Writing $F_{n + 4k+2} - F_n = L_{2k+1}F_{n + 2k+1}$ and considering $F_{n + 2k+1}$, the primitive argument removes all indices $n+2k+1$ with an odd part greater than $3$. The same argument as above works for all powers of $2$, since $3$ never divides $L_{2k+1}$. Finally, when the odd part is $3$, it's easier than before, since $7$ divides $F_{3\cdot2^i}$ for $i > 2$, $7^2$ never does, and $7$ and cannot divide the Lucas numbers since they have odd index. $i= 0, 1$ and $2$ are solved by finding all Lucas numbers which are squares, or $2$ times a square.

EDIT 2: For $m=2^3$, we want to know if $F_4L_{n+4} = 3L_{n+4}$ is a square. This is solved in M. Goldman. "On Lucas Numbers of the Form $px^2$ where $p=3,7,47,2207$". Math. Reports Canada Acad. Sci. (June 1988). The only example is n+4 = 2, which either does or doesn't happen according to your taste.

Since $4 | 2^k$, we can write $F_{n + 2^k} - F_n = F_{2^{k-1}}L_{n + 2^{k-1}}$. I have not resolved the case $k = 3$, it is equivalent to finding Lucas numbers $x$ in the Diophantine equation $x^2 + 2 = 3y^2$. For now assume $k > 3$. By the facts above, we know that $3$ and $7$ cannot both divide a Lucas number, so we want to show that each of them divide $F_{2^{k-1}}$, and that neither $3^2$ nor $7^2$ do so. That they both divide follows from $F_8=21$ and $F_n | F_{2n}$. That the squares don't divide follows by induction: the base case is $F_8$; and we have $F_{2^{k+1}} = F_{2^k}L_{2^k}$. Then by induction the squares do not divide $F_{2^k}$ for $k \geq 3$, and neither $3$ nor $7$ divide $L_{2^k}$, since $2^k \equiv 0 \pmod{8}$. Hence there are no squares when $m = 2^k$ and $k > 3$.

EDIT: The other even numbers are easier. Writing $F_{n + 4k+2} - F_n = L_{2k+1}F_{n + 2k+1}$ and considering $F_{n + 2k+1}$, the primitive argument removes all indices $n+2k+1$ with an odd part greater than $3$. The same argument as above works for all powers of $2$, since $3$ never divides $L_{2k+1}$. Finally, when the odd part is $3$, it's easier than before, since $7$ divides $F_{3\cdot2^i}$ for $i > 2$, $7^2$ never does, and $7$ and cannot divide the Lucas numbers since they have odd index. $i= 0, 1$ and $2$ are solved by finding all Lucas numbers which are squares, or $2$ times a square.

Since $4 | 2^k$, we can write $F_{n + 2^k} - F_n = F_{2^{k-1}}L_{n + 2^{k-1}}$. I have not resolved the case $k = 3$ (this gap has been fixed, see 2nd edit below), it is equivalent to finding Lucas numbers $x$ in the Diophantine equation $x^2 + 2 = 3y^2$. For now assume $k > 3$. By the facts above, we know that $3$ and $7$ cannot both divide a Lucas number, so we want to show that each of them divide $F_{2^{k-1}}$, and that neither $3^2$ nor $7^2$ do so. That they both divide follows from $F_8=21$ and $F_n | F_{2n}$. That the squares don't divide follows by induction: the base case is $F_8$; and we have $F_{2^{k+1}} = F_{2^k}L_{2^k}$. Then by induction the squares do not divide $F_{2^k}$ for $k \geq 3$, and neither $3$ nor $7$ divide $L_{2^k}$, since $2^k \equiv 0 \pmod{8}$. Hence there are no squares when $m = 2^k$ and $k > 3$.

EDIT: The other even numbers are easier. Writing $F_{n + 4k+2} - F_n = L_{2k+1}F_{n + 2k+1}$ and considering $F_{n + 2k+1}$, the primitive argument removes all indices $n+2k+1$ with an odd part greater than $3$. The same argument as above works for all powers of $2$, since $3$ never divides $L_{2k+1}$. Finally, when the odd part is $3$, it's easier than before, since $7$ divides $F_{3\cdot2^i}$ for $i > 2$, $7^2$ never does, and $7$ and cannot divide the Lucas numbers since they have odd index. $i= 0, 1$ and $2$ are solved by finding all Lucas numbers which are squares, or $2$ times a square.

EDIT 2: For $m=2^3$, we want to know if $F_4L_{n+4} = 3L_{n+4}$ is a square. This is solved in M. Goldman. "On Lucas Numbers of the Form $px^2$ where $p=3,7,47,2207$". Math. Reports Canada Acad. Sci. (June 1988). The only example is n+4 = 2, which either does or doesn't happen according to your taste.

added 607 characters in body
Source Link
Zack Wolske
  • 1.9k
  • 15
  • 21
Loading
Source Link
Zack Wolske
  • 1.9k
  • 15
  • 21
Loading