Product of $3$ consecutive triangular numbers is a perfect square

elementary-number-theory

When is the product of $3$ consecutive triangular numbers a perfect square
My try:

$k^2 = n(n+1)^2(n+2)^2\frac{n+3}{ 8}$ where $n$ and $k$ are integers, then

$\frac{n(n+3)}{2}$ must be a square number

$n(n+3) =2x^2$ , $n^2+3n-2x^2=0$
then the discriminant must also be a perfect square.

$9+8x^2 = y^2$ but I don't know how to solve this in integers

Best Answer

You have a Pell-type equation $$y^2-8x^2=9.$$ This implies that $y$ and $x$ are multiples of $3$, so $$(y/3)^2-8(x/3)^2=1$$ which is a genuine Pell equation. Its solution is $$(y+2x\sqrt2)/3=\pm(3+2\sqrt2)^n$$ for $n\in\Bbb Z$.