Sum of two squares theorem

In number theory, the sum of two squares theorem relates the prime decomposition of any integer n > 1 to whether it can be written as a sum of two squares, such that n = a² + b² for some integers a, b.

An integer greater than one can be written as a sum of two squares if and only if its prime decomposition contains no prime congruent to ‍$3$‍ modulo ‍$4$‍ raised to an odd power.

This theorem supplements Fermat's theorem on sums of two squares which says when a prime number can be written as a sum of two squares, in that it also covers the case for composite numbers.

Examples

The prime decomposition of the number 2450 is given by 2450 = 2 · 5² · 7². Of the primes occurring in this decomposition, 2, 5, and 7, only 7 is congruent to 3 modulo 4. Its exponent in the decomposition, 2, is even. Therefore, the theorem states that it is expressible as the sum of two squares. Indeed, 2450 = 7² + 49².

The prime decomposition of the number 3430 is 2 · 5 · 7³. This time, the exponent of 7 in the decomposition is 3, an odd number. So 3430 cannot be written as the sum of two squares.

See also

• Brahmagupta–Fibonacci identity. This identity entails that the set of all sums of two squares is closed under multiplication.
• Landau–Ramanujan constant, used in a formula for the density of the numbers that are sums of two squares