TITLE: Equivalence of Quadratic Forms that represent the same values
QUESTION [6 upvotes]: An integer quadratic form is a function $Q(x,y) = ax^2 + bxy + cy^2$ where the numbers $a,b,c \in \mathbb Z$.
Call the set of values a quadratic forms takes on $V(Q) = \{ Q(x,y) \in \mathbb Z | x,y \in \mathbb Z \}$.
Two quadratic forms $Q,R$ are said to be equivalent if there is a $SL_2(\mathbb Z)$ matrix $M$ such that $R(x,y) = Q((x,y)M)$. 
This is the definition used in for example, 1.1 page 4 of http://www.rzuser.uni-heidelberg.de/~hb3/publ/bf.pdf . Under that definition two quadratic forms maybe be "opposite" but not equal, and take on the same set of values.
I'm interested in the equivalence we get with $GL_2(\mathbb Z)$ matrices, We'll say $R \sim Q$ if there is a $GL_2(\mathbb Z)$ matrix $M$ such that $R(x,y) = Q((x,y)M)$.

Let $Q,R$ be two integer quadratic forms: Does $V(Q) = V(R)$ imply $Q \sim R$?
  If it's true how would it be proved? If false when does it fail?

I'm not assuming that the QFs have the same discriminant or are positive definite.

REPLY [6 votes]: As you mentioned on Chat, Kap and I wrote a note on forms of different discriminants (but positive definite forms, meaning negative discriminants). This was corrected and extended by John Voight, now at Dartmouth; also published. 
The best known examples are the pair $x^2 + xy + y^2$ and $x^2 + 3 y^2.$ The proof that these represent the same numbers is some 2 by 2 matrices, some things mod 2. Same for the indefinite pair  $x^2 + xy - y^2$ and $x^2 - 5 y^2.$
Probably worth pointing out that the forms $x^2 + xy + 2ky^2$ and $x^2 + (8k-1)y^2$ represent all the same odd numbers, including any odd primes. The latter form does not represent $2$ or $-2,$ if you can say the same about the former form they agree on primes. We called these "Trivial Pairs." Um; as with Gauss, we discard these if the discriminant is square, meaning we demand $8k - 1 \neq -w^2,$ or $k \neq \frac{1 - w^2}{8}.$
The question changes if you allow square discriminants. 
There may be infinitely many other indefinite pairs, we did not check.
If the discriminant is not a square, two forms of the same discriminant that share even a single prime are $GL_2 \mathbb Z$ equivalent. In traditional terms, they are either equivalent or opposite. 
Forms with square discriminant, such as $xy$ or $x^2 - y^2,$ are unusual in representing entire arithmetic progressions. Primes do not control things. 
For self study, I recommend Buell, Binary Quadratic Forms.  I find it easier reading than Buchmann and Vollmer. I also recommend L. E. Dickson Introduction to the Theory of Numbers. For just the first section, I also like Cox, Primes of the Form $x^2 + n y^2.$  Cox does a good job on positive forms, genera, composition. No indefinite forms, though, no Pell. As you can see from my answers, I like the first chapter in Conway, The Sensual Quadratic Form. The wonderful thing there is the "Topograph" construction. I have written a bunch of software to tell me how to avoid arithmetic mistakes in drawing those. These give the best way for talking about a fixed indefinite form $A x^2 + B x y + C y^2$ with $B^2 - 4 AC > 0 $ but not a square. The "cycle" method of Lagrange does not do well when $|n|$ is too large, in finding all solutions to $A x^2 + B x y + C y^2 = n.$ Lagrange's method gives all answers when $|n| < \frac{1}{2} \sqrt{B^2 - 4 AC};$ this result is Theorem 85 in Dickson. Oh, both Lagrange and Conway are talking about primitive representations, $\gcd(x,y) = 1.$