I have a polynomial which, simplified, ends up in the form $$4xy+3 = c^2+3d^2.$$
Evidently $4xy+3$ is of the form $a^2+3b^2$, in light of the equality. But does $$ c^2 + 3d^2 = 4xy + 3 = xy(2)^2 + 3(1)^2 $$ necessarily force $xy$ to be a square? I just can't see how to prove it.
Thanks.
This answer is just to remove this post from the Unanswered queue. As per the counterexample given by @Tomas, the answer is negative: $xy$ does not have to be a square.