How to Find Integer Solution for $\frac {x^2-y^2}{a^2-b^2}$

Question

Given $\frac {x^2-y^2}{a^2-b^2}$ is an integer,

For which non-zero $x, y, a, b\in\mathbb Z$, the fraction $\frac {x^2-y^2}{a^2-b^2}$ is an integer?

I can start with $x^2-y^2 = (x-y)(x+y)$ but it does not lead anywhere.

Answer 1

Above equation shown below is equivalent to:

$x^2-y^2=w(a^2-b^2)$ ----$(1)$

where '$w$' is an integer

Equation (1) has parametric solution given below:

$x=(k+3)(k^2-1)$

$y=4k(k+1)$

$a=(k^2+4k-1)$

$b=2(k-1)$

$w=(k+1)(k-3)$

For, k=4 we get, $(x,y,a,b)=(105,80,31,6)$

and, $w=5$

Answer 2

Here is one description of the solution set that may be unsatisfying.

Fix any $x,y$. Then $x^2-y^2$ has some finite list of factors. For each factor in that list, either $a^2-b^2=(\text{that factor})$ has integer solutions for $a$ and $b$ or it does not. There is a solution exactly when that factor is not congruent to $2$ mod $4$. When there is a solution, there may be multiple solutions, but not infinitely many.

So the solution set can be described as:

• Let $x$ be any integer.
• Let $y$ be any integer.
• For each factor $d$ of $x^2-y^2$ where $d\not\equiv 2$ mod $4$, take all solutions to $a^2-b^2=d$.