TITLE: Proof for elements of $\textbf{Z}[\sqrt{3}]$ regarding the existence of the norm.
QUESTION [6 upvotes]: Prove that if there exists elements $z$ and $x$ of $\textbf{Z}[\sqrt{3}]$ such that $N(z)=ab$ and $N(x)=a$ where $a$ and $b$ are integers, then there exists a $y \in \textbf{Z}[\sqrt{3}]$ such that $N(y)=b$.


Background statements:

The norm of an element of $\textbf{Z}[\sqrt{3}]$ referred to as $z = a+b\sqrt{3}$ where $a$ and $b$ are integers is defined to be $N(z) = a^2 - 3b^2$.

We already proved that the norm is always an integer.

REPLY [3 votes]: There is nothing wrong with Akiva Weinberger's post. However, since this post was made in the context of a somewhat more rigorous and formal setting, I'm posting a formal proof that I believe would most likely be considered acceptable in that setting.

Let $z$ and $y$ be extended integers such that for integers $a > 1$ and $b > 1$, $N(z) = ab$ and $N(x) = a$. Then there exists an extended integer $y$ such that $N(y) = b$.

Proof:
First some background information. Since $N(z) > 1$ we can write $z = p_1 p_2 p_3 \cdots p_n$ where all $p$'s are prime extended integers and $n$ is the unique number of prime factors. By the properties of the conjugate $\overline{z} = \overline{p_1} \overline{p_2} \overline{p_3} \cdots \overline{p_n}$.
Since the number of prime factors in an extended integer is unique we will perform complete induction along the number of factors in $x$.
For the base case we assume that $x$ is a prime extended integer. Therefore $\overline{x}$ is also a prime extended integer. Since $N(x) | N(z)$ we can state that there is a $j \in Z$ such that $x | p_j$ and $0 < j \leq n$. Therefore since they are both prime numbers we can say that $N(x) = N(p_j)$. We can assume without loss of generality that $j = 1$. Therefore $\frac {N(z)}{N(x)} = N(p_2) N(p_3) \cdots N(p_n)$. By the properties of the norm, there exists an extended integer $y$ such that $N(y) = N(p_2) N(p_3) \cdots N(p_n) = b$. This completes the base case.
For the inductive step, we assume that the statement is true whenever $x$ has $m$ prime factors and seek to prove it when $x$ has $m+1$ extended integer prime factors. First, we can write $x = q_1 q_2 q_3 \cdots q_{m+1}$. Due to factoring we know that $N(q_{m+1}) | N(z)$. Therefore there exists an extended integer $w$ such that $N(w) = N(q_1) N(q_2) N(q_3) \cdots N(q_{m}) b$. Since $q_1 q_2 q_3 \cdots q_{m}$ has $m$ extended integer prime factors than by induction there exists an extended integer $y$ such that $y = \frac {N(z)}{N(x)} = b$. This completes the inductive step.
Therefore by induction the proof is complete for all extended integers.

Remarks
It is quite possible that I could do it without induction, but that is the method which felt natural to me. I think it also makes the proof easier to read, which is by far the second most important component (the first is rigorous justification). Credit to Akiva Weinberger for thinking of the splendid method of factorization. I had been trying to do it algebraically through division for some time with complete failure. I see now that factoring was both the intuition that led to me thinking of the conjecture as well as the only simplistic argument that can sufficiently prove it.
For those who may be curious, I am accepting this answer as it is the one that best fits the style of proofs the rest were constructed in.