Hatcher-Topology-of-Numbers · Problem 4.1.4

Quadratic Forms

Mathematics — Algebraic Topology · topograph

Problem

For the form Q(x,y)=2x2−xy+3y2Q(x,y) = 2x^2 - xy + 3y^2 do the following: (a) Draw the topograph, showing all the values Q(x,y)≤30Q(x,y) \leq 30 in the topograph, and including the labels x/y^x/_y. (b) List all the values Q(x,y)≤30Q(x,y) \leq 30 in order, including the values when the pair (x,y)(x,y) is not primitive. (c) Find all the integer solutions of Q(x,y)=24Q(x,y) = 24, both primitive and nonprimitive. (And do not forget that quadratic forms always satisfy Q(x,y)=Q(−x,−y)Q(x,y) = Q(-x,-y).)

Browse the problem library