TITLE: $x-\frac1x+y-\frac1y=4\,$ has no rational solutions?
QUESTION [12 upvotes]: Do there exist rational numbers $x,y$ such that $x-\frac1x+y-\frac1y=4?$
I think no, because the equation reduces to $\frac{x^2-1}{x}+\frac{y^2-1}{y}=4\implies x^2y+x(y^2-4y-1)-y=0$ in two variables is irreducible in the field $\mathbb{Q}$(Eisenstein) Is my reasoning right? Thanks beforehand.

REPLY [5 votes]: WLOG, suppose that $x,y>0$ (otherwise $x'=-\dfrac{1}{x}$),then let $x= \tfrac ab, y= \tfrac cd$ with $a,b,c,d \in \mathbb{N}, \; \gcd (a,b)= \gcd (c,d)=1$. The equation is equivalent to $$\dfrac{a}{b}-\dfrac{b}{a}+\dfrac{c}{d}-\dfrac{d}{c}=4 \iff cd(a^2-b^2)+ab(c^2-d^2)=4abcd.$$
From here, since $ab|(a^2-b^2)cd+(c^2-d^2)ab$,we obtain $ab \mid cd(a^2-b^2)$ but since $\gcd (a,b)=1$ so $ab \mid cd$. Similarly, we obtain $cd \mid ab$. Thus, $ab=cd$. Since $\gcd (a,b)= \gcd (c,d)=1$ so there exists pairwise relatively prime numbers $m,n,p,q$ such that $a=mp,c=mq, b=nq,d=np$. Therefore, the equation becomes $$\left( p^2+q^2 \right) \left( m^2-n^2 \right)= 4mnpq.$$
If $2 \nmid mnpq$ then $8 \mid LHS$ but $RHS \equiv 4 \pmod{8}$, a contradiction.
If $2 \mid m$ (or $2 \mid n$) then $2 \nmid npq$ (or $2 \nmid mpq$) so $LHS \equiv 2 \pmod{4}$ and $4 \mid RHS$, a contradiction. 
If $2 \mid pq$. WLOG, suppose that $2 \mid p$ then $2 \nmid qmn$. This follows that $2 \nmid p^2+q^2$. Also note that $\gcd (p^2+q^2,pq)= \gcd (m^2-n^2,mn)=1$ so $p^2+q^2=mn, m^2-n^2=4pq$. This follows $$\begin{aligned} 2 \left( \frac{m+n}{2} \right)^2 & = n^2+(p+q)^2, \\ 2x^2 &=z^2+w^2, \\ x^2 & = \left( \frac{z+w}{2} \right)^2+ \left( \frac{z-w}{2} \right)^2, \end{aligned}$$ with $x= \tfrac{m+n}{2}, z=n, w=p+q$. Since $x, \tfrac{z+w}{2}, \tfrac{z-w}{2}$ are pairwise relatively prime numbers and $2 \nmid n$ so there exist $k,l \in \mathbb{N}$ with $k>l, \gcd (k,l)=1$ such that $$x= k^2+l^2, \frac{z+w}{2}=2kl, \frac{z-w}{2}=k^2-l^2 \; \text{or} \; \frac{z+w}{2}=k^2-l^2, \frac{z-w}{2}=2kl.$$
We find $z=n= k^2-l^2+2kl$ and $\tfrac{m+n}{2}=x= k^2+l^2$ so $m= k^2+3l^2-2kl$. Hence, $$m^2-n^2=(k^2+3l^2-2kl)^2-(k^2-l^2+2kl)^2= 8l(l-k)(k^2+l^2) <0,$$ a contradiction since $4pq=m^2-n^2>0$.
Thus, there is no rational numbers $x,y$ such that $x- \frac 1x +y- \frac 1y=4$.         $\blacksquare$