Factoring using the Brahmagupta Identity

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Brahmagupta Identity.

$$ \begin{align} (a^2+nb^2 )(c^2+nd^2 ) &= (ac-nbd)^2+n(ad+bc)^2 \newline &=(ac+nbd)^2+n(ad-bc)^2 \end{align} $$

We can factor $N$ using the Brahamagupta Identity by writing $N$ as $p^2 + nq^2$ and $r^2 + ns^2$ in two different ways.


This question is about whether we can use the fact

$$ \begin{align} p &= ac - nbd \newline q &= ad + bc \end{align} $$

from one of the representations to find the other.

For e.g., say $N = 19\times 73 = 1387$.

We can write $N = 1387 = 37^2 + 18 \cdot 1^2$ taking $p = 37, q= 1$ and $n = 18$.

We take any arbitrary integer value for $a$, say $a = 1$ then

$$ \begin{align} p &= ac - nbd = 1 \cdot c - 18 bd \newline q &= ad + bc = 1 \cdot d - bc \end{align} $$

Therefore,

$$ \begin{align} -c^2 + c p + 18 d^2 - 18 d q = 0 \newline \implies -c^2 + 37c + 18 d^2 - 18 d = 0 \end{align} $$

This can be solved using Legendre's method for two variable quadratic diophantine equations.

There are multiple solutions $(c,d)$:

$$ \begin{align} c &= -332, &d &= -82 \newline c &= -332, &d &= 83 \newline c &= -260, &d &= -65 \newline c &= -260, &d &= 66 \newline c &= -108, &d &= -29 \newline c &= -108, &d &= 30 \newline c &= -8, &d &= -4 \newline c &= -8, &d &= 5 \newline c &= 0, &d &= 0 \newline c &= 0, &d &= 1 \newline c &= 37, &d &= 0 \newline c &= 37, &d &= 1 \newline c &= 45, &d &= -4 \newline c &= 45, &d &= 5 \newline c &= 145, &d &= -29 \newline c &= 145, &d &= 30 \newline c &= 297, &d &= -65 \newline c &= 297, &d &= 66 \newline c &= 369, &d &= -82 \newline c &= 369, &d &= 83 \end{align} $$

$c=37, d=1$ gives $c^2 + 18d^2 = 1387$, only a trivial divisor.

Is there a way we can fix this approach so that we can get the non-trivial divisors.


I am aware of Brillhart's method of factoring. But that requires computing the two representations which is what this question is about.