Skip to main content
2 of 2
edited tags

A specific Diophantine equation related to the congruent number question

Let $n$ be an odd square free natural number. J.B. Tunnel in his 1983 paper, showed that a number $n$ is congruent, if and only if the number of triples of integers satisfying $2x^2+y^2+8z^2=n$ is equal to twice the number of triples of integers satisfying $2x^2+y^2+32z^2=n$. This is by assuming the BSD conjecture, but still we do not know an efficient (polynomial time) algorithm to determine whether a number is congruent or not, from the theorem stated above.

I am trying to move with this problem a little. A simple observation tells us that, if $(\alpha,\beta,\gamma)$ satisfies $2x^2+y^2+32z^2=n$, then $(\alpha,\beta,2\gamma)$ and $(\alpha,\beta,-2\gamma)$ satisfies $2x^2+y^2+8z^2=n$. So, like this we deduce that if $2x^2+y^2+8z^2=n$ has twice integral solution than $2x^2+y^2+32z^2=n$, then $2x^2+y^2+8z^2=n$ cannot have its integral solution with $z$ odd.

So, now the problem reduces to for what values of $n$, we will have an integral solution of $2x^2+y^2+8(2z+1)^2=n$. If it has a solution then $n$ is not congruent, otherwise it is. Now, I do not know how to proceed any further. As, the equation is not homogenous, one cannot directly invoke Hasse Minkowski's local global principle, so trying to solve over $p$-adics is not an option. However, if one fails to find solution over $\mathbb{Q}_p$ for any $p$ for a particular $n$, then $n$ is congruent. By this, I was able to prove that the numbers $n\equiv 5$ mod $8$ and $n\equiv 7$ mod $8$ are always congruent, as this type of numbers were failing to give any solution mod $8$ and hence, there was no $\mathbb{Q}_2$ solutions. But this will never say whether a number is not congruent.

I do not have any idea to proceed with the problem. Again, the diophantine problem is for what $n$, does $2x^2+y^2+8(2z+1)^2=n$ has integral solutions. Any suggestions or directions to move will be really helpful.