ERIC Number: EJ769552
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2005
Pages: 5
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0730-8639
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Counting Primitive Pythagorean Triples
Ayoub, Ayoub B.
Mathematics and Computer Education, v39 n1 p37-41 Win 2005
A triple (x,y,z) of natural numbers is called a Primitive Pythagorean Triple (PPT) if it satisfies two conditions: (1) x[squared] + y[squared] = z[squared]; and (2) x, y, and z have no common factor other than one. All the PPT's are given by the parametric equations: (1) x = m[squared] - n[squared]; (2) y = 2mn; and (3) z = m[squared] + n[squared], where m and n are relatively prime natural numbers, not both odd, and m greater than n. As a result of the constraints imposed on m and n, x will be an odd number, y will be an even number of the form 4l, and z will be an odd number of the form 4k + 1. This article will address the following questions: (1) How many PPT's have the same x?; (2) How many PPT's have the same y?; and (3) How many PPT's have the same z?. As this article will show, the answers depend on the prime factorization of x, y, and z, respectively.
Descriptors: Geometric Concepts, Equations (Mathematics), Mathematical Concepts, Problem Solving, Mathematics Education, Number Concepts
MATYC Journal Inc. Mathematics and Computer Education, P.O. Box 158, Old Bethpage, NY 11804. Tel: 516-822-5475; Web site: http://www.macejournal.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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