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Mathematics of Computation

Published by the American Mathematical Society since 1960 (published as Mathematical Tables and other Aids to Computation 1943-1959), Mathematics of Computation is devoted to research articles of the highest quality in computational mathematics.

ISSN 1088-6842 (online) ISSN 0025-5718 (print)

The 2020 MCQ for Mathematics of Computation is 1.78.

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On $A^ 4+B^ 4+C^ 4=D^ 4$
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by Noam D. Elkies PDF
Math. Comp. 51 (1988), 825-835 Request permission

Abstract:

We use elliptic curves to find infinitely many solutions to ${A^4} + {B^4} + {C^4} = {D^4}$ in coprime natural numbers A, B, C, and D, starting with \[ {2682440^4} + {15365639^4} + {18796760^4} = {20615673^4}.\] We thus disprove the $n = 4$ case of Euler’s conjectured generalization of Fermat’s Last Theorem. We further show that the corresponding rational points $( \pm A/D, \pm B/D, \pm C/D)$ on the surface ${r^4} + {s^4} + {t^4} = 1$ are dense in the real locus. We also discuss the smallest solution, found subsequently by Roger Frye.
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Additional Information
  • © Copyright 1988 American Mathematical Society
  • Journal: Math. Comp. 51 (1988), 825-835
  • MSC: Primary 11D25; Secondary 11G35, 11G40
  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1090/S0025-5718-1988-0930224-9
  • MathSciNet review: 930224