Skip to main content
5 of 5
added 151 characters in body
Carlo Beenakker
  • 188.2k
  • 18
  • 448
  • 651

There is an infinite number of rational solutions $$a=\left(\frac{n+1}{n}\right)^n,\;\;b=\left(\frac{n+1}{n}\right)^{n+1},\;\;n\in\mathbb{Z},\;\;0\neq n\neq -1.$$

For a proof that these are all the rational solutions of $a^b=b^a$ with $a\neq b$, see Marta Sved's article (1990). As she describes, this question has a long history, it was first answered by Euler in 1748 and has been generalized in various ways.

I show a screen shot from Euler's proof that there is an infinite number of rational solutions (Euler uses the word "innumerabilia" -- uncountable, obviously not in the technical sense of the word).

Carlo Beenakker
  • 188.2k
  • 18
  • 448
  • 651