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I used n for two different things. Fixed now.
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Peter Shor
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Yes.

We take a fixed diophantine equation in variables $y,x_1, x_2, \ldots, x_n$$y,x_1, x_2, \ldots, x_k$. Task: for an input $n \in \mathbb{Z}$, output either

  1. Five values of $y$ for which solutions exist to the equation.
  2. A solution to the equation for which $y=n$.
  3. "No", in which case there must be no solution with $y=n$.

It is clear that for any diophantine equation, there is a program which performs this task. If there are five values of $y$ for which solutions exist, you need only have the program output these for all inputs. If there are fewer than four values of $y$ for which solutions exist, once you know the solutions, then writing the program is trivial.

However, telling whether a solution exists to a diophantine equation is undecidable.

Yes.

We take a diophantine equation in variables $y,x_1, x_2, \ldots, x_n$. Task: for an input $n \in \mathbb{Z}$, output either

  1. Five values of $y$ for which solutions exist to the equation.
  2. A solution to the equation for which $y=n$.
  3. "No", in which case there must be no solution with $y=n$.

It is clear that for any diophantine equation, there is a program which performs this task. If there are five values of $y$ for which solutions exist, you need only have the program output these for all inputs. If there are fewer than four values of $y$ for which solutions exist, once you know the solutions, then writing the program is trivial.

However, telling whether a solution exists to a diophantine equation is undecidable.

Yes.

We take a fixed diophantine equation in variables $y,x_1, x_2, \ldots, x_k$. Task: for an input $n \in \mathbb{Z}$, output either

  1. Five values of $y$ for which solutions exist to the equation.
  2. A solution to the equation for which $y=n$.
  3. "No", in which case there must be no solution with $y=n$.

It is clear that for any diophantine equation, there is a program which performs this task. If there are five values of $y$ for which solutions exist, you need only have the program output these for all inputs. If there are fewer than four values of $y$ for which solutions exist, once you know the solutions, then writing the program is trivial.

However, telling whether a solution exists to a diophantine equation is undecidable.

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Peter Shor
  • 6.3k
  • 4
  • 55
  • 65

Yes.

We take a diophantine equation in variables $y,x_1, x_2, \ldots, x_n$. Task: for an input $n \in \mathbb{Z}$, output either

  1. Five values of $y$ for which solutions exist to the equation.
  2. A solution to the equation for which $y=n$.
  3. "No", in which case there must be no solution with $y=n$.

It is clear that for any diophantine equation, there is a program which performs this task. If there are five values of $y$ for which solutions exist, you need only have the program output these for all inputs. If there are fewer than four values of $y$ for which solutions exist, once you know the solutions, then writing the program is trivial.

However, telling whether a solution exists to a diophantine equation is undecidable.