Simultaneous quadratic equations with few or no solutions (Q5935879)

Let \(a\) and \(b\) be distinct nonsquare positive integers with \(a>1,b>1\). A number of recent papers have discussed the solvability in integers of systems of simultaneous Pell equations of the form \[ x^2-az^2=1,\qquad y^2-bz^2=1.\tag{1} \] For the case \(b=2a\), let \(a_k\) denote those \(a\) in increasing order such that the system (1) has a solution. In 1982, the reviewer [see \textit{Z. Cao}, J. Math., Wuhan Univ. 3, 227-235 (1983; Zbl 0541.10017))] proved that if \(k\geq 7\), then \(a_k\) contains at least 6 distinct prime factors [see also p. 171-174 of the reviewer's book ``Introduction to Diophantine equations'' (Chinese). Harbin Gongye Daxue Chubanshe (1989; Zbl 0849.11029)]. After fifteen years, \textit{P. G. Walsh} [Acta Arith. 82, 69-76 (1997; Zbl 0881.11035)] only proved that if \(k\geq 5\), then \(a_k\) contains at least 5 distinct prime factors. In this paper, the authors discuss the solvability of system (1) for the case \(b-a\in\{1,2,4\}\) or the case \(b-a\) is a prime or prime power. The authors prove the following two theorems. Theorem 1: If \(b-a\in\{1,2,4\}\), then system (1) has no solutions in positive integers \((x,y,z)\) unless one of the following situations occurs: (i) \((a,b)=(u^2-1,u^2+1)\) for some integer \(u\), in which case there is the solution \((x,y,z)=(2u^2-1, 2u^2+1, 2u)\). (ii) \((a,b)=(u^2-2,u^2+2)\) for some integer \(u\), in which case there is the one solution \((x,y,z)=(u^2-1, u^2+1, u)\). Theorem 2. If \(b-a=p^k\) for \(p\) prime and \(k\in\mathbb{N}\), then system (1) has at most one solution in positive integers \((x,y,z)\) with \(\gcd(x,y)\) not divisible by \(p\). The proofs are elementary.