A series of 288 consecutive odd integers has a non-zero sum that is a perfect fourth power. Find the smallest possible sum for this series.

8 answers

If the sum starts at the (k+1)st odd number, its sum is

(k+288)^2 - k^2 = 576k + 82944

When k=432, the sum is 331,776 = 24^4

How you'd find that algebraically I have no clue.
aidan barkel om kapadia
a series of 288 consecutive odd integers has a non-zero sum that is a perfect fourth power, find the smallest possible sum for this series? (I hope I’m right idk how to explain this tho)
a = smallest odd integer

S = a + (a+2) + (a+4) + ... + (a+2*287) = 288(a+(a+574))/2 = 288(a+287)

288 = 2^5 * 3^2

Therefore, smallest value of (a+287) that will make S = 288(a+287) a perfect fourth power is:
a + 287 = 2^3 * 3^2 = 72
a = −215

Smallest sum = 288*72 = 20736 = 12^4

Smallest odd integer in series = −215
−215 + −213 + −211 + ... + −1 + 1 + 3 + ... + 213 + 215 + ... + 359
= 20736 = 12^4
whos right
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