Lời giải:
$x^2+16=25^a=(5^a)^2$
$\Rightarrow 16=(5^a)^2-x^2=(5^a-x)(5^a+x)$
$\Rightaarrow 5^a+x\in Ư(16)$
Mà $5^a+x\geq 2$ với mọi $a,x\in\mathbb{N}^*$
$\Rightarrow 5^a+x\in\left\{2; 4;8;16\right\}$
$\Rightarrow 5^a-x\in\left\{8; 4; 2; 1\right\}$
Vì $5^a+x> 5^a-x$ nên $(5^a+x, 5^a-x)\in \left\{(8,2), (16,1)\right\}$
$\Rightarrow (a,x)=(1,3)$