## $2^{x}=3^{y}+5$

For discussing Olympiad Level Number Theory problems
asif e elahi
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### $2^{x}=3^{y}+5$

Find all positive integers x,y such that $2^{x}=3^{y}+5$

harrypham
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### Re: $2^{x}=3^{y}+5$

asif e elahi wrote:Find all positive integers x,y such that $2^{x}=3^{y}+5$
It is easy to see that $(x,y)=(3,1),(5,3)$.
If $x \ge 6$ then $64|2^x$. Therefore $3^y \equiv 59 \pmod{64}$. It follows that $y \equiv 11 \pmod{16}$. Hence $3^y \equiv 3^{11} \equiv 7 \pmod{17}$.
Since $3^y+5 \equiv 2 \pmod{3}$ then $2^x \equiv 2 \pmod{3}$. It follows that $x$ is odd. Hence $x \equiv 1,3,5,7 \pmod{8}$.
If $x \equiv 1 \pmod{8}$ then $2^x \equiv 2 \pmod{17}$, a contradiction.
If $x \equiv 3 \pmod{8}$ then $2^x \equiv 8 \pmod{17}$, a contradiction.
If $x \equiv 5 \pmod{8}$ then $2^x \equiv 15 \pmod{17}$, a contradiction.
If $x \equiv 7 \pmod{8}$ then $2^x \equiv 9 \pmod{17}$, a contradiction.
Thus, the solution is $\boxed{ (x,y)=(3,1),(5,3)}$.

harrypham
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### Re: $2^{x}=3^{y}+5$

More stronger: $2^x=3^y+5^z$.

asif e elahi
Posts: 183
Joined: Mon Aug 05, 2013 12:36 pm
Location: Sylhet,Bangladesh

### Re: $2^{x}=3^{y}+5$

harrypham wrote: Therefore $3^y \equiv 59 \pmod{64}$. It follows that $y \equiv 11 \pmod{16}$. Hence $3^y \equiv 3^{11} \equiv 7 \pmod{17}$.
How $y \equiv 11 \pmod{16}$ ?

harrypham
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Joined: Wed Aug 31, 2011 12:31 pm
Location: Vietnam
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### Re: $2^{x}=3^{y}+5$

asif e elahi wrote:
harrypham wrote: Therefore $3^y \equiv 59 \pmod{64}$. It follows that $y \equiv 11 \pmod{16}$. Hence $3^y \equiv 3^{11} \equiv 7 \pmod{17}$.
How $y \equiv 11 \pmod{16}$ ?
You note that $3^{16} \equiv 1 \pmod{64}$ and $3^{11} \equiv 59 \pmod{64}$.