Monday, 21 September 2026

Exercise (8.3).2

Check that $r = 649 + 180\sqrt{13}$ produces a solution of $x^2 − 13y^2 = 1$.

Determine another positive solution of this equation $x^2 − 13y^2 = 1$.


From $r=649+180\sqrt{13}$ we have $x=649$ and $y=180$. 

$$ x^2 - 13y^2 =  649^2 - 13(180)^2 = 421201 - 421200 = 1$$


By Theorem (8.21) all other positive solutions are produced by $r^n$, where $n$ is a natural number. We can try $n=2$.

$$ r^2 = (649+180\sqrt{13})^2 = 842401 + 233640\sqrt{13} $$

That is $(x,y)=(842401, 233640)$. 

Let's verify this solution

$$ x^2 - 13y^2 = 842401^2 - 13(233640)^2 =  709639444801 - 709639444800 = 1$$