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Smallest square that is a sum of powers

Question

Choose an integer ratio r>1r>1 and add up the geometric progression 1+r+r2+⋯+rk1+r+r^2+\cdots+r^{k} with at least three terms. What is the smallest perfect square that can arise this way? (For instance 1+2+4+8+16+32=631+2+4+8+16+32=63 just misses a square.)

Short answer

121. Three terms never work, since r2<1+r+r2<(r+1)2r^2<1+r+r^2<(r+1)^2. Searching small ratios and lengths, the first hit is 1+3+9+27+81=121=1121+3+9+27+81=121=11^2; the next is 1+7+49+343=4001+7+49+343=400.

Adapted from QuantQuestions.io; question and answer rewritten by SelfMadeQuant.com.

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