Can any number of the form $4k+2$ be written as $a^2+b^2-c^2-d^2$?
2026-04-02 07:55:48.1775116548
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Can any number of the form $4k+2$ be written as $a^2+b^2-c^2-d^2$?
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The OEIS sequence A042965 is the sequence of nonnegative integers not congruent to 2 mod 4. It is also the nonnegative integers that can be written as a difference of two integer squares. Thus for all $\,n\,$ not of the form $\,4k+2\,$ we have $\,n = a^2-b^2\,$ and for those of the form $\,4k+2\,$ we have $\, n = a^2+1^2-b^2.\,$ Thus, for all nonnegative integers $\,n\,$ we can find integers $\,a,b,c,d\,$ such that $\,n=a^2+b^2-c^2-d^2.$
Here is one way:
$$4k+2=(k+1)^2+(k+1)^2-k^2-k^2$$