MathLabs

Problem 3

Find all pairs of positive integers m,n≥3m,n\ge3 for which there exist infinitely many positive integers aa such that am+a−1an+a2−1\frac{a^m+a-1}{a^n+a^2-1} is itself an integer.
Step 1 of 3: Turn infinitely many values into divisibility
In plain words

Turn infinitely many values into divisibility

xn+x2−1∣xm+x−1x^n+x^2-1\mid x^m+x-1
Detailed analysis

Divide by the monic denominator. At infinitely many large positive integers an integral quotient has remainder smaller in absolute value than the denominator, so the remainder is zero infinitely often and hence identically zero.