Skip to main content

All Questions

Filter by
Sorted by
Tagged with
13 votes
1 answer
1k views

Can we extend the proof of Catalan's conjecture?

What is it, in Mihailescu's proof of Catalan conjecture, that uses explicitly the fact that there is a 1 on the right hand side of $x^p - y^q = 1$? In other words, why can't we extend his argument to ...
user51156's user avatar
  • 133
13 votes
1 answer
666 views

On the equation $9x^3+y^3=z^2+3$

The question is whether there exist integers $x,y,z$ such that $$ 9x^3+y^3=z^2+3. $$ This is one of the nicest (if not the nicest one!) cubic equations for which I do not know whether integer ...
Bogdan Grechuk's user avatar
13 votes
3 answers
3k views

Solving the quartic equation $r^4 + 4r^3s - 6r^2s^2 - 4rs^3 + s^4 = 1$

I'm working on solving the quartic Diophantine equation in the title. Calculations in maxima imply that the only integer solutions are \begin{equation} (r,s) \in \{(-3, -2), (-2, 3), (-1, 0), (0, -1),...
13 votes
1 answer
1k views

On cubic reciprocity for $x^3+y^3+z^3 = 996$?

I. The Diophantine equation, $$x^3+y^3+z^3 = 3w^3\tag1$$ with $x\geq y \geq z$ and $w=1$ has only two known solutions, namely $1,1,1$ and $4,4,-5$. Are there larger ones? As Noam Elkies points out ...
Tito Piezas III's user avatar
13 votes
2 answers
1k views

On Euler's elliptic curve for $A^4+B^4 = C^4+D^4$?

To solve, $$A^4+B^4 = C^4+D^4$$ we use Euler's method. Let, $$(p+q)^4+(r-s)^4=(p-q)^4+(r+s)^4$$ and define $p = (a^3 - b),\, q = a y,\, r = b (a^3 - b),\, s = y.\,$ The equation above transforms to ...
Tito Piezas III's user avatar
13 votes
1 answer
524 views

The number of representations of an integer as the inner product of integral lattice points

I was looking through some old notes of mine and I came across a couple lemmas/identities I wrote down in regards to a question I asked about four years ago. In particular I wrote that for an ...
Ethan Splaver's user avatar
13 votes
2 answers
1k views

Integers $d$ for which the negative Pell equation is soluble for both $d$ and $2d$?

Let $\text{NPE}_d$ denote the negative Pell equation: $$ x^2-dy^2=-1$$ Where $d$ is a given positive nonsquare integer and integer solutions are sought for x and y. we know that (in this paper archive)...
Elaqqad's user avatar
  • 223
13 votes
1 answer
716 views

Integer Solutions of $x+y^n = y + x^m$ for $n < m$

I found 8 of them and believe there is no more: $$2+3^2=3+2^3$$ $$2+6^2=6+2^5$$ $$6+15^2=15+6^3$$ $$3+16^2=16+3^5$$ $$3+13^3=13+3^7$$ $$2+91^2=91+2^{13}$$ $$5+280^2=280+5^7$$ $$30+4930^2=4930+30^5$$ ...
Willie Wu's user avatar
  • 176
13 votes
1 answer
499 views

On the equation $a^6+b^6+c^6=d^2$

I have been studying the equation $a^6+b^6+c^6=d^2$, trying to find rational solutions. I know it is a K3 surface, with high Picard rank, so there should be rational or elliptic curves on it. When ...
Thomas's user avatar
  • 2,811
13 votes
0 answers
1k views

Effective proofs of Siegel's theorem using arithmetic geometry

This is a speculation and perhaps naive. The theorem of Siegel that There exist only finitely many integral points on a curve of genus $\geq 1$ over a number ring $\mathcal O_{K, S}$ where $S$ is a ...
Anweshi's user avatar
  • 7,442
12 votes
4 answers
2k views

Can repunits be perfect cubes?

Is it true that the equation $10^{n}-9m^{3}=1$ has only one positive integer solution, namely $n=m=1$? I can't find the answer. This has an equivalent description that the repunits $R_n = 11\dots1$ ...
Wangt Fei's user avatar
  • 333
12 votes
4 answers
1k views

Six consecutive positive integers with certain shape

Are there 6 consecutive positive integers, where each of them is a square or the product of a prime and a square ? If they exist, one of those six integers A will be the product of 2 and a square of ...
Tong Lingling's user avatar
12 votes
2 answers
1k views

What is the rank of the Mordell equation $y^2 = x^3 - 2$?

The mordell equation $E$ defined by $y^2 = x^3 - 2$ over $\mathbb{Q}$ is known to have only one non-trivial integer solution $P = (3,5)$ from here. However, the rank of Mordell-Weil group $E(\mathbb{Q}...
Avram Grant's user avatar
12 votes
2 answers
854 views

Are there any solutions to the diophantine equation $x^n-2y^n=1$ with $x>1$ and $n>2$?

This problem arose when considering storage of cannonballs in n-dimensional pirate ships, as explained in this MSE post. This MO question can also be reduced to the $n=3$ case. If $x,y$ is a solution ...
Sophie's user avatar
  • 223
12 votes
2 answers
905 views

Failing of heuristics from circle method

The heuristic from circle method for integral points on diagonal cubic surfaces $x^3+y^3+z^3=a$ ($a$ is a cubic-free integer) seems to fit well with numerical computations by ANDREAS-STEPHAN ELSENHANS ...
Y. Zhao's user avatar
  • 3,337
12 votes
1 answer
499 views

A diophantine equation in $\mathbb{N}$

While I was working on a paper on graph theory, I encountered a problem which I think is a number-theory-problem. I don't know if there are any tools to answer the question. Find all natural numbers $...
A. Mpi's user avatar
  • 351
12 votes
1 answer
2k views

rational points of a hyperelliptic curve

I have the following hyperelliptic curve of genus $2$: $$ y^2 = 561 x^6 - 41904 x^5 + 627264 x^4 + 11860992 x^3 - 197074944 x^2 + 124416^2 $$ I need to find all the rational points on this curve. ...
Lorenz H Menke's user avatar
12 votes
1 answer
993 views

General solution of the quartic $a^4+b^4=c^4+d^4$?

The background to the question: $$a^4+b^4=c^4+d^4 \label{1}\tag 1 $$ Tito Piezas, Tomita & others have recently given some parametric solutions on Math stack exchange & Math overflow. In math ...
David's user avatar
  • 127
12 votes
2 answers
1k views

Why can Diophantine equations represent exponential growth?

The wikipedia page on Matiyasevich's theorem challenges: Unfortunately there seems to be as yet no short intuitive explanation as to why Diophantine equations can represent exponential growth only ...
luqui's user avatar
  • 595
12 votes
1 answer
580 views

Why does genus control the number of points

Often number theorists can bound the number of solutions to a diophantine equation based on the size of the points and the size of the coefficients. But this, as I understand it, can be a bit of a red ...
anon's user avatar
  • 123
12 votes
2 answers
370 views

A sequence based on Catalan–Mihăilescu problem

It was conjectured by Catalan in 1844 that the only solutions of the equation $x^a-y^b=1$ over variables $a,b,x,y\in\mathbb{N^+}$ are trivial ones: $3^1-2^1=1$ and $3^2-2^3=1$. The conjecture was ...
Piotr Shatalin's user avatar
12 votes
1 answer
334 views

Sets of integers represented by degree zero rational functions

Suppose $f(x_1,x_2,\dots)=\frac{P}{Q}$, where $P,Q$ are polynomials in several variables with integer coefficients that have the same degree. Let's denote by $S(f)$ the set of integers $n$ for which $...
Gjergji Zaimi's user avatar
12 votes
3 answers
411 views

(Non-)Existence of curves of low degree on affine and projective varieties

I am interested in papers that investigates the existence or non-existence of curves of low degree (relative to the degree of the ambient variety). The starting example is that of surfaces and ...
Stanley Yao Xiao's user avatar
12 votes
1 answer
832 views

Basic prerequisite (topics) to read current research in Diophantine equation for an independent researcher

I have completed studying Galois theory, Fermat's Last Theorem for Regular prime and some number theoretic complex analysis (prime number theorem), and basic linear forms in logarithm. What else ...
Consider Non-Trivial Cases's user avatar
12 votes
2 answers
3k views

How many Pythagorean triples are there in which every member is triangular?

How many Pythagorean triples $(a,b,c)$ are there such that $a, b$ and $c$ are triangular? Any two solutions with only $a$ and $b$ interchanged are considered equivalent. The question of existence ...
Ricardo Buring's user avatar
12 votes
0 answers
704 views

Why are solutions to $\sqrt[k]{x_1^k+x_2^k+x_3^k+x_4^k}$ for $k=2,3$ curiously smooth?

Given an integer solution $s_m$ to the system, $$x_1^2+x_2^2+\dots+x_n^2 = y^2$$ $$x_1^3+x_2^3+\dots+x_n^3 = z^3$$ and define the function, $$F(s_m) = x_1+x_2+\dots+x_n$$ For $n\geq3$, using an ...
Tito Piezas III's user avatar
11 votes
2 answers
3k views

$3^n - 2^m = \pm 41$ is not possible. How to prove it?

$3^n - 2^m = \pm 41$ is not possible for integers $n$ and $m$. How to prove it?
Luca's user avatar
  • 211
11 votes
1 answer
619 views

Diophantine equation $3^a+1=3^b+5^c$

This is not a research problem, but challenging enough that I've decided to post it in here: Determine all triples $(a,b,c)$ of non-negative integers, satisfying $$ 1+3^a = 3^b+5^c. $$
hookah's user avatar
  • 1,096
11 votes
3 answers
875 views

How many solutions does $\frac{1}{x_1}+\frac{1}{x_2}+\cdots +\frac{1}{x_n}=1$ have?

It is well known that $\frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{3}+\frac{1}{6}=1$ and this is the only solution to $\frac{1}{x_1}+\frac{1}{x_2}+\frac{1}{x_3}=1$ with $2\leq x_1<x_2<x_3$. My question is: Let $...
Konstantinos Gaitanas's user avatar
11 votes
2 answers
1k views

Sum of consecutive cubes

I'm investigating when the sum of $n$ consecutive cubes equals a cube, i.e., for which $n$ does $$\sum_{i=0}^{n-1} (k+i)^3 = k^3 + (k+1)^3 + \cdots + (k+n-1)^3 = Y^3 $$ have nontrivial solutions $(k,...
Derek Orr's user avatar
  • 239
11 votes
5 answers
2k views

Analysis of a quadratic diophantine equation

Hi! This is my first post on Math Overflow. I have two equations: $a(3a-1) + b(3b-1) = c(3c-1)$ and $a(3a-1) - b(3b-1) = d(3d-1)$. I'm trying to find properties of $a$ and $b$ that lead to solutions, ...
apples's user avatar
  • 113
11 votes
1 answer
409 views

Symmetric functions on three parameters being perfect squares

Is it possible for $x+y+z, xy+yz+zx$, and $xyz$ to be perfect squares at the same time for positive integer values of $x,y,z$?
Hej's user avatar
  • 1,045
11 votes
4 answers
2k views

hard diophantine equation: $x^3 + y^5 = z^7$

Does the equation $x^3+y^5=z^7$ have a solution $(x,y,z)$ with $x,y,z$ positive integers and $(x,y)=1$? In his book H. Cohen (Number theory,2007) said "[...] seems presently out of reach". I couldn't ...
Fabio Montanari's user avatar
11 votes
1 answer
540 views

Prove that $1$ is the sum of three tetrahedral numbers infinitely many different ways

It's well known that $1$ is the sum of three cubes infinitely many different ways but is it true for perhaps the tetrahedral numbers as well? Let $T_n = (1/6)n(n+1)(n+2)$. Then the following are the ...
Benjamin L. Warren's user avatar
11 votes
2 answers
576 views

Equation $x^2=y^p + 1$

can you help me please for solving this diophantine equation : $x^2=y^p+1$ and if you can give me a general method to studying such equation : $x^2=y^p+t$ Thanks
ABRAICH Ayoub's user avatar
11 votes
4 answers
1k views

a family of Pellian equations

I have a question concering the family of Pellian equations $$x^2 - (k^2+1)y^2 = k^2. \qquad (*)$$ For an integer $k\geq 2$, the equation (*) has at least three classes of solutions in integers, ...
duje's user avatar
  • 625
11 votes
1 answer
664 views

how many consecutive integers $x$ can make $ax^2+bx+c$ square ?

The following problem was raised in a Mathlinks thread: If $a,b,c\in\mathbb Z$ such that $a\ne0$ and $b^2-4ac\ne 0$, for how many consecutive integers $x$ can $ax^2+bx+c$ ba a perfect square ? The ...
Wolfgang's user avatar
  • 13.4k
11 votes
1 answer
699 views

"strange" diophantine and parity of the partition function

Let $\{x_i\}:=\{x_1=5, x_2=13, x_3=29, x_4=37, x_5=45, \dots \}$ be the sequence of those positive integers of the form $$ p^{4\alpha+1}n^2$$ in increasing order where $p\equiv 5\pmod 8$ is prime ...
T. Amdeberhan's user avatar
11 votes
3 answers
2k views

Is there any formula to find number of Pythagorean triplets between two integers 2 and j, j>2?

Given $j \geq 5$, is there a formula for the number of Pythagorean triplets $(a, b, c)$ satisfying the constraint that $a, b, c \leq j$? There exists at least one Pythagorean triplet for $j\geq5$; ...
Mathivanan Palraj's user avatar
11 votes
1 answer
598 views

How to prove this problem about ternary quadratic form?

Is this right? And how to prove it ? For $n \equiv 1,2 \bmod 4$ $$ \Bigg|\ \mathbb Z^3\cap\Big\{(a_1,a_2,a_3)\ \Big|\ a_1^2+a_2^2+a_3^2=n \Big\}\Bigg| \\ = \frac12\Bigg|\mathbb Z^3\cap\Big\{(a_1,...
8451543498's user avatar
11 votes
1 answer
673 views

Can the sum of two non-zero coprime fifth powers be powerful?

I am wondering if the sum of two non-zero coprime fifth powers can be powerful. There are no small solutions. Q1 Can the sum of two non-zero coprime fifth powers be powerful? Got a partial result, ...
joro's user avatar
  • 25.4k
11 votes
1 answer
565 views

When adding a constant makes a multivariate polynomial reducible?

Given a multivariate polynomial $f(x_1,\dots,x_n)$ with integer coefficients, how to find an integer $m$ (if it exists) such that $f(x_1,\dots,x_n) + m$ factors into polynomials of smaller degrees? ...
Max Alekseyev's user avatar
11 votes
1 answer
2k views

Integer values of a rational function

Suppose we are given a rational function with numerator and denominator being polynomials with integer coefficients. Is there an efficient algorithm for finding all integers arguments at which the ...
Max Alekseyev's user avatar
11 votes
1 answer
625 views

A congruence conjecture regarding $(r-s)^4-1 \equiv 0\!\pmod{4r^2s}$

Is the following conjecture true? Conjecture. If $r > s \ge 1$ are relatively prime integers such that \begin{equation} (r-s)^4-1 \equiv 0\!\pmod{4r^2s}, \tag{1} \end{equation} then $r-s = 1$ ...
Kieren MacMillan's user avatar
11 votes
0 answers
363 views

Is it true that $\{x^4+y^3+z^2:\ x,y,z\in\mathbb Q_{\ge0}\}=\mathbb Q_{\ge0}$?

Let $\mathbb Q_{\ge0}$ be the set of all nonnegative rational numbers. I have the following conjecture based on my computation. 4-3-2 Conjecture. Each $r\in\mathbb Q_{\ge0}$ can be written as $x^4+y^3+...
Zhi-Wei Sun's user avatar
  • 15.6k
11 votes
0 answers
450 views

Is every integer a difference of two powers?

True or false? (I don't know.) Every positive integer is the difference of two powers. Examples: $ 1 = 3^2 - 2^3 $ $ 2 = 3^3 - 5^2 $ $ 3 = 2^7-5^3 $ $ 4 = 2^3-2^2 = 5^3-11^2 $ $ 5 = 2^5 - 3^3 $ ...
stephen gray's user avatar
11 votes
0 answers
2k views

Consecutive averages of sequence (or difference quotients of partial sums) always square

I proposed the following problem for the December 2013 USA IMO TST earlier this month: Let $a_1,a_2,a_3,\ldots$ be a sequence of integers, with the property that every consecutive group of $a_i$'s ...
Victor Wang's user avatar
11 votes
0 answers
431 views

Growth of $n=n(k)$ for which there's a non-trivial solution to $x_1^k+\cdots+x_n^k=y^k$?

Walter Hayman just asked me the following question. What, if anything, is known about the growth of the function $n(k)$, where $k\geq1$ is an integer, and $n=n(k)\geq2$ is the smallest integer for ...
Kevin Buzzard's user avatar
10 votes
4 answers
606 views

Nontrivial solutions for $\sum x_i = \sum x_i^3 = 0$

For $x_i \in \mathbb{Z}$, let $\{x_i\}$ be a fundamental solution to the equations: $$ \sum_{i= 1}^N x_i = \sum_{i=1}^N x_i^3 = 0 $$ if $x \in \{x_i\} \Rightarrow -x \notin \{x_i\}$. For instance, a ...
user avatar
10 votes
2 answers
1k views

Integer solutions of an exponential equation

How can I solve this equation? $$7^{x} +2=y^{2}$$ $x$ and $y$ must be natural numbers.
DADAS's user avatar
  • 103

1 2
3
4 5
16