Beal conjecture

E530308

The Beal conjecture is an unsolved problem in number theory proposing that if A^x + B^y = C^z with A, B, C, x, y, z positive integers and exponents greater than 2, then A, B, and C must share a common prime factor.

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Statements (46)

Predicate Object
instanceOf mathematical conjecture
alsoKnownAs Beal’s conjecture NERFINISHED
Mauldin’s conjecture NERFINISHED
computationalVerification verified for many ranges of parameters by computer search
conclusion A,B,C share a common prime factor
conditionOnExponents x > 2
y > 2
z > 2
conditionOnVariables A,B,C,x,y,z are positive integers
difficulty considered very hard
equationForm A^x + B^y = C^z
field number theory
firstPrizeAnnouncementYear 1997
formulation If A^x + B^y = C^z with A,B,C,x,y,z positive integers and x,y,z > 2, then A,B,C have a common prime factor
generalizes Fermat’s Last Theorem NERFINISHED
hasCounterexampleStatus no counterexample known
hasPrize Beal Prize NERFINISHED
implies no nontrivial coprime integer solutions to A^x + B^y = C^z with x,y,z > 2
involvesConcept coprime integers
exponential Diophantine equation
greatest common divisor
prime factorization
prime numbers
logicalForm implication from existence of solution to existence of common prime factor
openProblemList listed among major unsolved problems in number theory
prizeAmount 1000000 US dollars
prizeCondition awarded for a published proof or counterexample
prizeDonor Andrew Beal NERFINISHED
prizeRequirement solution must appear in a refereed mathematics journal
solution must be accepted by the mathematical community
prizeSponsor American Mathematical Society NERFINISHED
proposedBy Andrew Beal NERFINISHED
proposerNationality American
proposerOccupation banker
publicationVenueForStatement Notices of the American Mathematical Society NERFINISHED
relatedTo Catalan’s conjecture NERFINISHED
Fermat’s Last Theorem NERFINISHED
abc conjecture NERFINISHED
researchArea exponential Diophantine equations
researchedBy number theorists
restrictionOnABC A,B,C are pairwise coprime only if no solution with x,y,z > 2 exists
specialCase When x = y = z, equation resembles generalized Fermat-type equations
status open problem
unproven
subfield Diophantine equations
yearProposed 1993

Referenced by (1)

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Fermat's Last Theorem relatedProblem Beal conjecture