Pell's Equation

Pell's Equation is the equation $x^2 - d y^2 = 1$, where $d$ is a positive integer that is not a square, and one is interested in solutions in integers $x$ and $y$.

In this file, we aim at providing all of the essential theory of Pell's Equation for general $d$ (as opposed to the contents of NumberTheory.PellMatiyasevic, which is specific to the case $d = a^2 - 1$ for some $a > 1$).

We begin by defining a type Pell.Solution₁ d for solutions of the equation, show that it has a natural structure as an abelian group, and prove some basic properties.

We then prove the following

Theorem. Let $d$ be a positive integer that is not a square. Then the equation $x^2 - d y^2 = 1$ has a nontrivial (i.e., with $y \ne 0$) solution in integers.

See Pell.exists_of_not_isSquare and Pell.Solution₁.exists_nontrivial_of_not_isSquare.

We then define the fundamental solution to be the solution with smallest $x$ among all solutions satisfying $x > 1$ and $y > 0$. We show that every solution is a power (in the sense of the group structure mentioned above) of the fundamental solution up to a (common) sign, see Pell.IsFundamental.eq_zpow_or_neg_zpow, and that a (positive) solution has this property if and only if it is fundamental, see Pell.pos_generator_iff_fundamental.

References

• K. Ireland, M. Rosen, A classical introduction to modern number theory (Section 17.5)

Tags

Pell's equation

TODO

• Extend to x ^ 2 - d * y ^ 2 = -1 and further generalizations.
• Connect solutions to the continued fraction expansion of √d.

Group structure of the solution set

We define a structure of a commutative multiplicative group with distributive negation on the set of all solutions to the Pell equation x^2 - d*y^2 = 1.

The type of such solutions is Pell.Solution₁ d. It corresponds to a pair of integers x and y and a proof that (x, y) is indeed a solution.

The multiplication is given by (x, y) * (x', y') = (x*y' + d*y*y', x*y' + y*x'). This is obtained by mapping (x, y) to x + y*√d and multiplying the results. In fact, we define Pell.Solution₁ d to be ↥(unitary (ℤ√d)) and transport the "commutative group with distributive negation" structure from ↥(unitary (ℤ√d)).

We then set up an API for Pell.Solution₁ d.

theorem Pell.is_pell_solution_iff_mem_unitary {d : ℤ} {a : ℤ√d} : a.re ^ 2 - d * a.im ^ 2 = 1 ↔ a ∈ unitary (ℤ√d)

An element of ℤ√d has norm one (i.e., a.re^2 - d*a.im^2 = 1) if and only if it is contained in the submonoid of unitary elements.

TODO: merge this result with Pell.isPell_iff_mem_unitary.

def Pell.Solution₁ (d : ℤ) : Type

Pell.Solution₁ d is the type of solutions to the Pell equation x^2 - d*y^2 = 1. We define this in terms of elements of ℤ√d of norm one.

Equations

• Pell.Solution₁ d = ↥(unitary (ℤ√d))

instance Pell.Solution₁.instCommGroup {d : ℤ} : CommGroup (Pell.Solution₁ d)

Equations

• Pell.Solution₁.instCommGroup = inferInstanceAs (CommGroup ↥(unitary (ℤ√d)))

instance Pell.Solution₁.instHasDistribNeg {d : ℤ} : HasDistribNeg (Pell.Solution₁ d)

Equations

• Pell.Solution₁.instHasDistribNeg = inferInstanceAs (HasDistribNeg ↥(unitary (ℤ√d)))

instance Pell.Solution₁.instInhabited {d : ℤ} : Inhabited (Pell.Solution₁ d)

Equations

• Pell.Solution₁.instInhabited = inferInstanceAs (Inhabited ↥(unitary (ℤ√d)))

instance Pell.Solution₁.instCoeZsqrtd {d : ℤ} : Coe (Pell.Solution₁ d) (ℤ√d)

Equations

• Pell.Solution₁.instCoeZsqrtd = { coe := Subtype.val }

def Pell.Solution₁.x {d : ℤ} (a : Pell.Solution₁ d) : ℤ

The x component of a solution to the Pell equation x^2 - d*y^2 = 1

Equations

• a.x = (↑a).re

def Pell.Solution₁.y {d : ℤ} (a : Pell.Solution₁ d) : ℤ

The y component of a solution to the Pell equation x^2 - d*y^2 = 1

Equations

• a.y = (↑a).im

theorem Pell.Solution₁.prop {d : ℤ} (a : Pell.Solution₁ d) : a.x ^ 2 - d * a.y ^ 2 = 1

The proof that a is a solution to the Pell equation x^2 - d*y^2 = 1

theorem Pell.Solution₁.prop_x {d : ℤ} (a : Pell.Solution₁ d) : a.x ^ 2 = 1 + d * a.y ^ 2

An alternative form of the equation, suitable for rewriting x^2.

theorem Pell.Solution₁.prop_y {d : ℤ} (a : Pell.Solution₁ d) : d * a.y ^ 2 = a.x ^ 2 - 1

An alternative form of the equation, suitable for rewriting d * y^2.

theorem Pell.Solution₁.ext {d : ℤ} {a b : Pell.Solution₁ d} (hx : a.x = b.x) (hy : a.y = b.y) : a = b

Two solutions are equal if their x and y components are equal.

def Pell.Solution₁.mk {d : ℤ} (x y : ℤ) (prop : x ^ 2 - d * y ^ 2 = 1) : Pell.Solution₁ d

Construct a solution from x, y and a proof that the equation is satisfied.

Equations

• Pell.Solution₁.mk x y prop = ⟨{ re := x, im := y }, ⋯⟩

@[simp]

theorem Pell.Solution₁.x_mk {d : ℤ} (x y : ℤ) (prop : x ^ 2 - d * y ^ 2 = 1) : (Pell.Solution₁.mk x y prop).x = x

@[simp]

theorem Pell.Solution₁.y_mk {d : ℤ} (x y : ℤ) (prop : x ^ 2 - d * y ^ 2 = 1) : (Pell.Solution₁.mk x y prop).y = y

@[simp]

theorem Pell.Solution₁.coe_mk {d : ℤ} (x y : ℤ) (prop : x ^ 2 - d * y ^ 2 = 1) : ↑(Pell.Solution₁.mk x y prop) = { re := x, im := y }

@[simp]

theorem Pell.Solution₁.x_one {d : ℤ} : Pell.Solution₁.x 1 = 1

@[simp]

theorem Pell.Solution₁.y_one {d : ℤ} : Pell.Solution₁.y 1 = 0

@[simp]

theorem Pell.Solution₁.x_mul {d : ℤ} (a b : Pell.Solution₁ d) : (a * b).x = a.x * b.x + d * (a.y * b.y)

@[simp]

theorem Pell.Solution₁.y_mul {d : ℤ} (a b : Pell.Solution₁ d) : (a * b).y = a.x * b.y + a.y * b.x

@[simp]

theorem Pell.Solution₁.x_inv {d : ℤ} (a : Pell.Solution₁ d) : a⁻¹.x = a.x

@[simp]

theorem Pell.Solution₁.y_inv {d : ℤ} (a : Pell.Solution₁ d) : a⁻¹.y = -a.y

@[simp]

theorem Pell.Solution₁.x_neg {d : ℤ} (a : Pell.Solution₁ d) : (-a).x = -a.x

@[simp]

theorem Pell.Solution₁.y_neg {d : ℤ} (a : Pell.Solution₁ d) : (-a).y = -a.y

theorem Pell.Solution₁.eq_zero_of_d_neg {d : ℤ} (h₀ : d < 0) (a : Pell.Solution₁ d) : a.x = 0 ∨ a.y = 0

When d is negative, then x or y must be zero in a solution.

theorem Pell.Solution₁.x_ne_zero {d : ℤ} (h₀ : 0 ≤ d) (a : Pell.Solution₁ d) : a.x ≠ 0

A solution has x ≠ 0.

theorem Pell.Solution₁.y_ne_zero_of_one_lt_x {d : ℤ} {a : Pell.Solution₁ d} (ha : 1 < a.x) : a.y ≠ 0

A solution with x > 1 must have y ≠ 0.

theorem Pell.Solution₁.d_pos_of_one_lt_x {d : ℤ} {a : Pell.Solution₁ d} (ha : 1 < a.x) : 0 < d

If a solution has x > 1, then d is positive.

theorem Pell.Solution₁.d_nonsquare_of_one_lt_x {d : ℤ} {a : Pell.Solution₁ d} (ha : 1 < a.x) : ¬IsSquare d

If a solution has x > 1, then d is not a square.

theorem Pell.Solution₁.eq_one_of_x_eq_one {d : ℤ} (h₀ : d ≠ 0) {a : Pell.Solution₁ d} (ha : a.x = 1) : a = 1

A solution with x = 1 is trivial.

theorem Pell.Solution₁.eq_one_or_neg_one_iff_y_eq_zero {d : ℤ} {a : Pell.Solution₁ d} : a = 1 ∨ a = -1 ↔ a.y = 0

A solution is 1 or -1 if and only if y = 0.

theorem Pell.Solution₁.x_mul_pos {d : ℤ} {a b : Pell.Solution₁ d} (ha : 0 < a.x) (hb : 0 < b.x) : 0 < (a * b).x

The set of solutions with x > 0 is closed under multiplication.

theorem Pell.Solution₁.y_mul_pos {d : ℤ} {a b : Pell.Solution₁ d} (hax : 0 < a.x) (hay : 0 < a.y) (hbx : 0 < b.x) (hby : 0 < b.y) : 0 < (a * b).y

The set of solutions with x and y positive is closed under multiplication.

theorem Pell.Solution₁.x_pow_pos {d : ℤ} {a : Pell.Solution₁ d} (hax : 0 < a.x) (n : ℕ) : 0 < (a ^ n).x

If (x, y) is a solution with x positive, then all its powers with natural exponents have positive x.

theorem Pell.Solution₁.y_pow_succ_pos {d : ℤ} {a : Pell.Solution₁ d} (hax : 0 < a.x) (hay : 0 < a.y) (n : ℕ) : 0 < (a ^ n.succ).y

If (x, y) is a solution with x and y positive, then all its powers with positive natural exponents have positive y.

theorem Pell.Solution₁.y_zpow_pos {d : ℤ} {a : Pell.Solution₁ d} (hax : 0 < a.x) (hay : 0 < a.y) {n : ℤ} (hn : 0 < n) : 0 < (a ^ n).y

If (x, y) is a solution with x and y positive, then all its powers with positive exponents have positive y.

theorem Pell.Solution₁.x_zpow_pos {d : ℤ} {a : Pell.Solution₁ d} (hax : 0 < a.x) (n : ℤ) : 0 < (a ^ n).x

If (x, y) is a solution with x positive, then all its powers have positive x.

theorem Pell.Solution₁.sign_y_zpow_eq_sign_of_x_pos_of_y_pos {d : ℤ} {a : Pell.Solution₁ d} (hax : 0 < a.x) (hay : 0 < a.y) (n : ℤ) : (a ^ n).y.sign = n.sign

If (x, y) is a solution with x and y positive, then the y component of any power has the same sign as the exponent.

theorem Pell.Solution₁.exists_pos_variant {d : ℤ} (h₀ : 0 < d) (a : Pell.Solution₁ d) : ∃ (b : Pell.Solution₁ d), 0 < b.x ∧ 0 ≤ b.y ∧ a ∈ {b, b⁻¹, -b, -b⁻¹}

If a is any solution, then one of a, a⁻¹, -a, -a⁻¹ has positive x and nonnegative y.

Existence of nontrivial solutions

theorem Pell.exists_of_not_isSquare {d : ℤ} (h₀ : 0 < d) (hd : ¬IsSquare d) : ∃ (x : ℤ) (y : ℤ), x ^ 2 - d * y ^ 2 = 1 ∧ y ≠ 0

If d is a positive integer that is not a square, then there is a nontrivial solution to the Pell equation x^2 - d*y^2 = 1.

theorem Pell.exists_iff_not_isSquare {d : ℤ} (h₀ : 0 < d) : (∃ (x : ℤ) (y : ℤ), x ^ 2 - d * y ^ 2 = 1 ∧ y ≠ 0) ↔ ¬IsSquare d

If d is a positive integer, then there is a nontrivial solution to the Pell equation x^2 - d*y^2 = 1 if and only if d is not a square.

theorem Pell.Solution₁.exists_nontrivial_of_not_isSquare {d : ℤ} (h₀ : 0 < d) (hd : ¬IsSquare d) : ∃ (a : Pell.Solution₁ d), a ≠ 1 ∧ a ≠ -1

If d is a positive integer that is not a square, then there exists a nontrivial solution to the Pell equation x^2 - d*y^2 = 1.

theorem Pell.Solution₁.exists_pos_of_not_isSquare {d : ℤ} (h₀ : 0 < d) (hd : ¬IsSquare d) : ∃ (a : Pell.Solution₁ d), 1 < a.x ∧ 0 < a.y

If d is a positive integer that is not a square, then there exists a solution to the Pell equation x^2 - d*y^2 = 1 with x > 1 and y > 0.

Fundamental solutions

We define the notion of a fundamental solution of Pell's equation and show that it exists and is unique (when d is positive and non-square) and generates the group of solutions up to sign.

def Pell.IsFundamental {d : ℤ} (a : Pell.Solution₁ d) : Prop

We define a solution to be fundamental if it has x > 1 and y > 0 and its x is the smallest possible among solutions with x > 1.

Equations

• Pell.IsFundamental a = (1 < a.x ∧ 0 < a.y ∧ ∀ {b : Pell.Solution₁ d}, 1 < b.x → a.x ≤ b.x)

theorem Pell.IsFundamental.x_pos {d : ℤ} {a : Pell.Solution₁ d} (h : Pell.IsFundamental a) : 0 < a.x

A fundamental solution has positive x.

theorem Pell.IsFundamental.d_pos {d : ℤ} {a : Pell.Solution₁ d} (h : Pell.IsFundamental a) : 0 < d

If a fundamental solution exists, then d must be positive.

theorem Pell.IsFundamental.d_nonsquare {d : ℤ} {a : Pell.Solution₁ d} (h : Pell.IsFundamental a) : ¬IsSquare d

If a fundamental solution exists, then d must be a non-square.

theorem Pell.IsFundamental.subsingleton {d : ℤ} {a b : Pell.Solution₁ d} (ha : Pell.IsFundamental a) (hb : Pell.IsFundamental b) : a = b

If there is a fundamental solution, it is unique.

theorem Pell.IsFundamental.exists_of_not_isSquare {d : ℤ} (h₀ : 0 < d) (hd : ¬IsSquare d) : ∃ (a : Pell.Solution₁ d), Pell.IsFundamental a

If d is positive and not a square, then a fundamental solution exists.

theorem Pell.IsFundamental.y_strictMono {d : ℤ} {a : Pell.Solution₁ d} (h : Pell.IsFundamental a) : StrictMono fun (n : ℤ) => (a ^ n).y

The map sending an integer n to the y-coordinate of a^n for a fundamental solution a is stritcly increasing.

theorem Pell.IsFundamental.zpow_y_lt_iff_lt {d : ℤ} {a : Pell.Solution₁ d} (h : Pell.IsFundamental a) (m n : ℤ) : (a ^ m).y < (a ^ n).y ↔ m < n

If a is a fundamental solution, then (a^m).y < (a^n).y if and only if m < n.

theorem Pell.IsFundamental.zpow_eq_one_iff {d : ℤ} {a : Pell.Solution₁ d} (h : Pell.IsFundamental a) (n : ℤ) : a ^ n = 1 ↔ n = 0

The nth power of a fundamental solution is trivial if and only if n = 0.

theorem Pell.IsFundamental.zpow_ne_neg_zpow {d : ℤ} {a : Pell.Solution₁ d} (h : Pell.IsFundamental a) {n n' : ℤ} : a ^ n ≠ -a ^ n'

A power of a fundamental solution is never equal to the negative of a power of this fundamental solution.

theorem Pell.IsFundamental.x_le_x {d : ℤ} {a₁ : Pell.Solution₁ d} (h : Pell.IsFundamental a₁) {a : Pell.Solution₁ d} (hax : 1 < a.x) : a₁.x ≤ a.x

The x-coordinate of a fundamental solution is a lower bound for the x-coordinate of any positive solution.

theorem Pell.IsFundamental.y_le_y {d : ℤ} {a₁ : Pell.Solution₁ d} (h : Pell.IsFundamental a₁) {a : Pell.Solution₁ d} (hax : 1 < a.x) (hay : 0 < a.y) : a₁.y ≤ a.y

The y-coordinate of a fundamental solution is a lower bound for the y-coordinate of any positive solution.

theorem Pell.IsFundamental.x_mul_y_le_y_mul_x {d : ℤ} {a₁ : Pell.Solution₁ d} (h : Pell.IsFundamental a₁) {a : Pell.Solution₁ d} (hax : 1 < a.x) (hay : 0 < a.y) : a.x * a₁.y ≤ a.y * a₁.x

theorem Pell.IsFundamental.mul_inv_y_nonneg {d : ℤ} {a₁ : Pell.Solution₁ d} (h : Pell.IsFundamental a₁) {a : Pell.Solution₁ d} (hax : 1 < a.x) (hay : 0 < a.y) : 0 ≤ (a * a₁⁻¹).y

If we multiply a positive solution with the inverse of a fundamental solution, the y-coordinate remains nonnegative.

theorem Pell.IsFundamental.mul_inv_x_pos {d : ℤ} {a₁ : Pell.Solution₁ d} (h : Pell.IsFundamental a₁) {a : Pell.Solution₁ d} (hax : 1 < a.x) (hay : 0 < a.y) : 0 < (a * a₁⁻¹).x

If we multiply a positive solution with the inverse of a fundamental solution, the x-coordinate stays positive.

theorem Pell.IsFundamental.mul_inv_x_lt_x {d : ℤ} {a₁ : Pell.Solution₁ d} (h : Pell.IsFundamental a₁) {a : Pell.Solution₁ d} (hax : 1 < a.x) (hay : 0 < a.y) : (a * a₁⁻¹).x < a.x

If we multiply a positive solution with the inverse of a fundamental solution, the x-coordinate decreases.

theorem Pell.IsFundamental.eq_pow_of_nonneg {d : ℤ} {a₁ : Pell.Solution₁ d} (h : Pell.IsFundamental a₁) {a : Pell.Solution₁ d} (hax : 0 < a.x) (hay : 0 ≤ a.y) : ∃ (n : ℕ), a = a₁ ^ n

Any nonnegative solution is a power with nonnegative exponent of a fundamental solution.

theorem Pell.IsFundamental.eq_zpow_or_neg_zpow {d : ℤ} {a₁ : Pell.Solution₁ d} (h : Pell.IsFundamental a₁) (a : Pell.Solution₁ d) : ∃ (n : ℤ), a = a₁ ^ n ∨ a = -a₁ ^ n

Every solution is, up to a sign, a power of a given fundamental solution.

theorem Pell.existsUnique_pos_generator {d : ℤ} (h₀ : 0 < d) (hd : ¬IsSquare d) : ∃! a₁ : Pell.Solution₁ d, 1 < a₁.x ∧ 0 < a₁.y ∧ ∀ (a : Pell.Solution₁ d), ∃ (n : ℤ), a = a₁ ^ n ∨ a = -a₁ ^ n

When d is positive and not a square, then the group of solutions to the Pell equation x^2 - d*y^2 = 1 has a unique positive generator (up to sign).

theorem Pell.pos_generator_iff_fundamental {d : ℤ} (a : Pell.Solution₁ d) : (1 < a.x ∧ 0 < a.y ∧ ∀ (b : Pell.Solution₁ d), ∃ (n : ℤ), b = a ^ n ∨ b = -a ^ n) ↔ Pell.IsFundamental a

A positive solution is a generator (up to sign) of the group of all solutions to the Pell equation x^2 - d*y^2 = 1 if and only if it is a fundamental solution.