Pythagorean Triples

[BMAD]

The most famous Pythagorean Triangle (a right triangle with all integer sides) is the 3 , 4 , 5 where 3^2 + 4^2 = 5^2. The 'legs', a=3 and b=4, are

consecutive integers, making a nearly-isosceles right triangle. What are the next two smallest integral right triangles with consecutive legs?

[k-man]

20,21,29 and 119,120,169

[bonanova]

5 12 13

[BMAD]

5 12 13

Hmm do they consider the hypotenuse a leg in America?

[superprismatic]

I've exhausted all triangles whose two legs differ by 1 where

the length of the shortest leg is less than or equal to 10¹⁰.

I found only 9:

3 4 5

20 21 29

119 120 169

696 697 985

4059 4060 5741

23660 23661 33461

137903 137904 195025

803760 803761 1136689

4684659 4684660 6625109

[bonanova]

5 12 13

Hmm do they consider the hypotenuse a leg in America?

No, they don't.

[BMAD]

We have a^2 + b^2 = c^2; we are seeking solutions where b=a+1. So, a^2 + (a+1)^2 = c^2 => 2a^2 +2a + 1 - c^2 = 0.

Using the standard formula for solving a quadratic:

a = (1/4)*( -2 +or- sqrt(2^2 - 4*2*(1-c^2))) => a= (1/2)*(-1 + sqrt(2*c^2 - 1)) (eqn 1) [we only need pos sqrt]

For a solution in integers sqrt(2*c^2-1) is an integer, k. Then k=sqrt(2*c^2-1) => k^2 - 2*c^2 = -1.

This is a well known Pell equation which can be solved using continued fractions for sqrt(2). (see below)

Or at least, if we discover the first solution we can generate all others. First few integer solutions for (c,k) are: (1,1);(5,7);(29,41);(169,239);(985,1393);(5741,8119);(33461,47321);(195025,475807);(1136689,1607521);(6625109,9369319).

For the current problem we need only the first couple solutions (the first being trivial and the second given in the question)

Substituting the next four results into (eqn 1) gives:(c,a) = (29,20);(169,119);(985,696) and (5741,4059).

So, the required Pythag. triangles are: (a,b,c) = (20,21,29); (119,120,169);

Note:

You can generate the (a,b,c) by using m=2, n=1 ==> (3,4,5) ; then m=prev c = 5, n= prev m = 2 ==> (21,20,29), etc.

These give a ratio of successive perimeters approaching 5.828 = 3 + 2 sqrt[2].

This helps explain the reference to 'continued fraction solution of Pell's equation x^2 - d y^2 = +/- 1.