Problem

Source: 2019-20 International Dürer Competition, Category E, P1

Tags: algebra, substitutions



In maths class Albrecht had to compute $(a+2b-3)^2$ . His result was $a^2 +4b^2-9$ . ‘This is not correct’ said his teacher, ‘try substituting positive integers for $a$ and $b$.’ Albrecht did so, but his result proved to be correct. What numbers could he substitute? a) Show a good substitution. b) Give all the pairs that Albrecht could substitute and prove that there are no more.