Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2005/ii/paper-4/11h/b/solution

The continued-fraction algorithm gives
after which the process repeats. Thus
The first two convergents are and , of field norms and respectively. The even period gives the fundamental solution
It is also directly the smallest positive solution: for , the values are , neither square; gives . Cubing by the preceding Pell equation group law gives
Indeed .

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