
06.3. A sequence of positive integers $\left\{a_{n}\right\}$ is given by

$$
a_{0}=m \quad \text { and } \quad a_{n+1}=a_{n}^{5}+487
$$

for all $n \geq 0$. Determine all values of $m$ for which the sequence contains as many square numbers as possible.


Solution. Consider the expression $x^{5}+487$ modulo 4. Clearly $x \equiv 0 \Rightarrow x^{5}+487 \equiv 3$, $x \equiv 1 \Rightarrow x^{5}+487 \equiv 0 ; x \equiv 2 \Rightarrow x^{5}+487 \equiv 3$, and $x \equiv 3 \Rightarrow x^{5}+487 \equiv 2$. Square numbers are always $\equiv 0$ or $\equiv 1 \bmod 4$. If there is an even square in the sequence, then all subsequent numbers of the sequence are either $\equiv 2$ or $\equiv 3 \bmod 4$, and hence not squares. If there is an odd square in the sequence, then the following number in the sequence can be an even square, but then none of the other numbers are squares. So the maximal number of squares in the sequence is two. In this case the first number of the sequence has to be the first square, since no number of the sequence following another one satisfies $x \equiv 1 \bmod 4$. We have to find numbers $k^{2}$ such that $k^{10}+487=n^{2}$. We factorize $n^{2}-k^{10}$. Because 487 is a prime, $n-k^{5}=1$ and $n+k^{5}=487$ or $n=244$ and $k=3$. The only solution of the problem thus is $m=3^{2}=9$.
