Problem 420
Forum rules
As your posts will be visible to the general public you are requested to be thoughtful in not posting anything that might explicitly give away how to solve a particular problem.
This forum is NOT meant to discuss solution methods for a problem.
See also the topics:
Don't post any spoilers
Comments, questions and clarifications about PE problems.
As your posts will be visible to the general public you are requested to be thoughtful in not posting anything that might explicitly give away how to solve a particular problem.
This forum is NOT meant to discuss solution methods for a problem.
In particular don't post any code fragments or results.
Don't start begging others to give partial answers to problems
Don't ask for hints how to solve a problem
Don't start a new topic for a problem if there already exists one
Don't start begging others to give partial answers to problems
Don't ask for hints how to solve a problem
Don't start a new topic for a problem if there already exists one
See also the topics:
Don't post any spoilers
Comments, questions and clarifications about PE problems.
-
jpatou
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Sat Mar 09, 2013 8:13 am
Problem 420
I've got a problem for this one : I find F(50) = 6 with these matrix
[5, 4]
[4, 5]
[10, 6]
[6, 10]
[17, 8]
[8, 17]
[20, 8]
[32, 20]
[20, 32]
8, 20]
[20, 16]
[16, 20]
Can someone check if these are correct and if so, which one I missed ?
Thanks
[5, 4]
[4, 5]
[10, 6]
[6, 10]
[17, 8]
[8, 17]
[20, 8]
[32, 20]
[20, 32]
8, 20]
[20, 16]
[16, 20]
Can someone check if these are correct and if so, which one I missed ?
Thanks

-
Ted
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Sun Apr 02, 2006 10:46 pm
-
jpatou
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Sat Mar 09, 2013 8:13 am
Re: Problem 420
Thanks very much .
I identified and fixed the bug. My function to test matrix candidates now works.
Now I have to think how to eliminate quickly most of the candidates.
I identified and fixed the bug. My function to test matrix candidates now works.
Now I have to think how to eliminate quickly most of the candidates.

-
3uc1id
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Wed Mar 27, 2013 10:13 pm
Re: Problem 420
I actually computed 8 different matrices for F(50)!! Which is a liar?
[5 4]
[4 5]
[10 6]
[6 10]
[13 12]
[12 13]
[17 8]
[8 17]
[12 8]
[24 28]
[20 8]
[32 20]
[20 16]
[16 20]
[18 9]
[18 27]
[5 4]
[4 5]
[10 6]
[6 10]
[13 12]
[12 13]
[17 8]
[8 17]
[12 8]
[24 28]
[20 8]
[32 20]
[20 16]
[16 20]
[18 9]
[18 27]
-
RobA
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Sat Mar 23, 2013 11:00 pm
Re: Problem 420
This same list of eight matrices is given in a math.stackexchange post http://math.stackexchange.com/questions ... -euler-420. That post also gives the square roots and those square roots are not all positive integer matrices.
-
3uc1id
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Wed Mar 27, 2013 10:13 pm
-
3uc1id
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Wed Mar 27, 2013 10:13 pm
- TheEvil
- Posts: 84
- Joined: Sun Nov 13, 2011 10:38 am
- Location: Szeged, Hungary
- Jochen_P
- Posts: 55
- Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2009 10:47 am
- Location: Stuttgart, Germany
Re: Problem 420
I don't get this at all.. Can someone explain to me how these matrices relate to each other?
The sum of those matrices are different and I just can't make out any other relation
taking the sample:

Maybe I'm just a bit undercaffeinated?
The sum of those matrices are different and I just can't make out any other relation
taking the sample:

Maybe I'm just a bit undercaffeinated?

- hk
- Administrator
- Posts: 12817
- Joined: Sun Mar 26, 2006 10:34 am
- Location: Haren, Netherlands
Re: Problem 420
Squaring a matrix has nothing to do with matrix addition.
What you can read there is that for some matrices A,B,C holds that $A=B^2$ but also $A=C^2$
What you can read there is that for some matrices A,B,C holds that $A=B^2$ but also $A=C^2$

War ruins the life and health of untold numbers of innocent children.
- Jochen_P
- Posts: 55
- Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2009 10:47 am
- Location: Stuttgart, Germany
Re: Problem 420
Nope, sorry.
Still don't get it. Seems that I'm a bit thick today
[edit] The only thing I see there is that the ratios on the diagonals are the same in every matrix, but how that accounts for those lesser matrices to be squared? No clue[/edit]
[edit 2] Animus was so kind to link me to the corresponding wiki article, Thanks [/edit]
Still don't get it. Seems that I'm a bit thick today
[edit] The only thing I see there is that the ratios on the diagonals are the same in every matrix, but how that accounts for those lesser matrices to be squared? No clue[/edit]
[edit 2] Animus was so kind to link me to the corresponding wiki article, Thanks [/edit]

- RobertStanforth
- Administrator
- Posts: 2664
- Joined: Mon Dec 30, 2013 11:25 pm
Re: Problem 420
To be clear: 'squaring' a matrix refers specifically to matrix multiplication of a matrix with itself.
-
mdean
- Posts: 206
- Joined: Tue Aug 02, 2011 2:05 am
Re: Problem 420
It might be a bit premature of me to ask, but when the problem says it can be expressed in 2 different ways, does it mean exactly 2 ways or at least 2 ways?

- heteroing
- Posts: 74
- Joined: Thu Sep 10, 2020 10:23 am
- Contact:
Re: Problem 420
If you're not sure, you should investigate the problem more. The correct interpretation will be clear with a bit of poking.mdean wrote: Thu Mar 12, 2026 6:47 am It might be a bit premature of me to ask, but when the problem says it can be expressed in 2 different ways, does it mean exactly 2 ways or at least 2 ways?

