Finding triangular numbers that are also pentagonal

Question

Problem: Find a general form for numbers that are both triangular and pentagonal

So far

The formula for the nth s-sided polygonal number is $k(s, n) = (s-2)(n (n-1))/2 + n $

Which gives forumla for triangular numbers $n(n+1)/2$ and pentagonal numbers $n(3n-1)/2$

Equating these $$x(x+1)/2 = y(3y-1)/2$$

$$x^2 + x + y - 3y^2$$

So I want integer solutions to this equation. I figured completing the squares so there is only one instance of x and y would make this easier to approach

$$(x + 1/2)^2 - 1/4 + y - 3y^2 = 0$$

$$(x + 1/2)^2 -3(y - 1/6)^2 - 1/6 = 0$$

This is the point I am stuck at. What direction should I go next? Have I made any mistakes with my reasoning so far?

Answer 1

There are a number of steps. The outcome is $$ x_n = 0, 1, 20, 285, 3976, ... $$ $$ y_n = 0, 1, 12, 165, 2296, ... $$ obeying $$ \color{blue}{ x_{n+2} = 14 x_{n+1} - x_n + 6,} $$ $$ \color{blue}{ y_{n+2} = 14 y_{n+1} - y_n -2.} $$ It took a while, but the recurrence for $x_n$ does give, eventually, the recurrence for the actual numbers, $ 0, 1, 210, 40755, 7906276, 1533776805,$ in that $$ \color{blue}{ TP_{n+2} = 194 \, TP_{n+1} - TP_n + 16.} $$

some of the middle ground is completing the square twice, giving $$ (6y-1)^2 - 3 (2x+1)^2 = -2, $$ or Pell type $$ u^2 - 3 v^2 = -2. $$ As $2$ is prime, there is not much of a mess,

jagy@phobeusjunior:~$ ./Pell_Target_Fundamental
  Automorphism matrix:  
    2   3
    1   2
  Automorphism backwards:  
    2   -3
    -1   2

  2^2 - 3 1^2 = 1

 u^2 - 3 v^2 = -2

Mon Feb 27 10:14:53 PST 2017

u:  -1  v:  1 ratio: 1   
u:  1  v:  1 ratio: 1  SEED   KEEP +- 
u:  5  v:  3 ratio: 1.66667
u:  19  v:  11 ratio: 1.72727
u:  71  v:  41 ratio: 1.73171
u:  265  v:  153 ratio: 1.73203
u:  989  v:  571 ratio: 1.73205
u:  3691  v:  2131 ratio: 1.73205
u:  13775  v:  7953 ratio: 1.73205
u:  51409  v:  29681 ratio: 1.73205
u:  191861  v:  110771 ratio: 1.73205
u:  716035  v:  413403 ratio: 1.73205
u:  2672279  v:  1542841 ratio: 1.73205
u:  9973081  v:  5757961 ratio: 1.73205
u:  37220045  v:  21489003 ratio: 1.73205

Mon Feb 27 10:15:53 PST 2017

 u^2 - 3 v^2 = -2

jagy@phobeusjunior:~$ 

This worked out nicely, https://oeis.org/A014979

Let's see, the "automorphism matrix" says that, given a solution $(u,v)$ to $u^2 - 3 v^2 = -2,$ the very next one is $$ (2u+3v, u + 2v). $$ Howeve, we need to take every other solution to get $u \equiv -1 \pmod 6.$ That is, given a solution $(p,q)$ to $p^2 - q v^2 = -2,$ two solutions on is $$ (7p+12q, 4p + 7q). $$ The matrix $$ \left( \begin{array}{rr} 7 & 12 \\ 4 & 7 \end{array} \right) $$ has trace $14$ and determinant $1,$ so Cayley Hamilton says $$ p_{n+2} = 14 p_{n+1} - p_n, $$ $$ q_{n+2} = 14 q_{n+1} - q_n. $$ We have chosen solutions $$ p_n = -1, 5, 71, 989, 13775, 191861, $$ $$ q_n = 1, 3, 41, 571, 7953, 110771, $$ after which $x = (q-1)/2,$ $y = (p + 1)/6$

Answer 2

$$y(3y-1)=x(x+1)$$

Using the first solution. $(p;s) - (2;1)$ Others will find the formula.

$$p_2=2p+3s$$

$$s_2=p+2s$$

The solution will have the form.

$$y=p^2-3ps+2s^2$$

$$x=p^2-5ps+6s^2$$

Or.

$$y=s(p-s)$$

$$x=s(3s-p)$$