<s>[INST] What are the solutions to $a^2+ab+b^2$ $=$ $3^n$? What are all known integer solutions ($a, b, n$) to $a^2+ab+b^2$ $=$ $3^n$ besides ($1, 1, 1$) and ($-2, 1, 1$)? Do any others even exist?
This question comes from the identity that ($a^3±b^3$)/($a±b$) $=$ $0, 1$ $\pmod 3$. If ($a^3±b^3$)/($a±b$) $=$ $0$ $\pmod 3$, then let $3^n$ be highest power of $3$ dividing ($a^3±b^3$)/($a±b$). ($a^3±b^3$)/(($a±b$)$*3^n$) $=$ $1$ $\pmod 3$. When does ($a^3±b^3$)/(($a±b$)$*3^n$) $=$ $1$?
 [/INST] Let $a=u+v$ and $b=u-v$. It follows:
$$a^2+ab+b^2=(u+v)^2+(u^2-v^2)+(u-v)^2$$
Hence
$$3u^2+v^2=3^n$$
If $n=0$, then, $u=0$ and $v=\pm 1$
If $n=1$, then $v^2=3(1-u)(1+u)$ $\implies$ $(u,v)=(\pm 1,0),(\pm 1, \pm 1 )$
If $n>1$, then $u,v$ are both divisible by 3.
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