2007 AMC 10A Problem 23

Attempt Problem 23 of the 2007 AMC 10A below, then check your answer against the professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2007 AMC 10A solutions, or check the answer key.

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23.

How many ordered pairs (m,n)(m, n) of positive integers, with m>n,m \gt n, have the property that their squares differ by 96?96?

33

44

66

99

1212

Answer: B
Concepts:difference of squaresDiophantine Equationparity
Difficulty rating: 1400
Solution:

Since (m+n)(mn)=96(m + n)(m - n) = 96 and 9696 is even, both factors must be even.

The even factor pairs are (48,2),(48, 2), (24,4),(24, 4), (16,6),(16, 6), and (12,8),(12, 8), giving (m,n)=(25,23),(m, n) = (25, 23), (14,10),(14, 10), (11,5),(11, 5), and (10,2).(10, 2).

So there are 44 ordered pairs.

Thus, the correct answer is B.

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