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Is this proof correct:

An odd integer $n \in \mathbb{N}$ is composite iff it can be written in the form

$n = x^2 - y^2, y+1 < x$

Proof:

$\leftarrow$

Want: $n = ab$ Where $a$ and $b$ are odd integers (since $n$ is odd)

Let $n = x^2 - y^2, x > y + 1$. Let $x = \dfrac{a+b}{2}$ and let $y= \dfrac{a-b}{2}$ where $a$ and $b$ are odd integers.

Consider $n = x^2 - y^2$:

$ = (x+y)(x-y) \iff (\dfrac{a+b}{2} + \dfrac{a-b}{2})\cdot(\dfrac{a+b}{2} - \dfrac{a-b}{2})$

Thus we have $ab$.

Now I could do similar steps backwards to prove the other direction.

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    It looks solid, except that you should explicitly mention where the condition that $x\gt y+1$ comes into play (hint; there's another condition on $a$ and $b$ that you haven't mentioned - actually, two more, one being $a\geq b$ since $y$ is positive...)2012-09-30
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    Is it the fact that $x \geq \lceil \sqrt n \rceil$?2012-09-30
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    No, that's actually moot - it's what that condition implies about $a$ and $b$. (Slightly larger hint: _every_ number $n$ has a factorization $n=ab$; what do you need to ensure that $n$ isn't prime?)2012-09-30
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    $a \neq 1$ and $b \neq 1$2012-09-30

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