IMO 1983 LL CAN18

Let b \geq2 be a positive integer.

IMO 1983 LL CAN18

Origin: CAN

Problem

Let b \geq2 be a positive integer. (a) Show that for an integer N, written in base b, to be equal to the sum of the squares of its digits, it is necessary either that N = 1 or that N have only two digits. (b) Give a complete list of all integers not exceeding 50 that, relative to some base b, are equal to the sum of the squares of their digits. (c) Show that for any base b the number of two-digit integers that are equal to the sum of the squares of their digits is even. (d) Show that for any odd base b there is an integer other than 1 that is equal to the sum of the squares of its digits.