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Let m be an odd positive integer we wish to factor. Let c be the smallest integer (also positive) so that c2>m. (If m is a perfect square, we are done.) Set r=c2-m.
The least non-negative value of x for which x2+2cx+r is a perfect square is a value of x which produces s=c+x whose square differs from m by a perfect square amount t2: m=s2-t2=(s+t)(s-t), quite probably a desired factorization. (With hat-tip to Pierre de Fermat.)
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