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Beal Conjecture Proved Very Simply

A. A. Frempong

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Abstract

By applying basic mathematical principles, the author surely, and instructionally, proves, directly, the original Beal conjecture which states that if A^x + B^y = C^z, where A, B, C, x, y, z are positive integers and x, y, z > 2, then A, B and C have a common prime factor. One will let r, s, and t be prime factors of A, B and C, respectively, such that A = Dr, B = Es, C = Ft, where D, E, and F are positive integers. Then, the equation A^x + B^y = C^z becomes D^xr^x + E^ys^y = F^zt^z. The proof would be complete after showing that the equalities, r^x = t^x, s^y = t^y and r = s = t, are true. The proof of the above equalities would involve showing that the ratios, (r^x)/(t^x) = 1 and (s^y)/(t^y) =1, which would imply that r = s = t. The main principle for obtaining relationships between the prime factors on the left side of the equation and the prime factor on the right side of the equation is that the power of each prime factor on the left side of the equation equals the same power of the prime factor on the right side of the equation. High school students can learn and prove this conjecture for a bonus question on a final class exam.

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What this paper is about

By applying basic mathematical principles, the author surely, and instructionally, proves, directly, the original Beal conjecture which states that if A^x + B^y = C^z, where A, B, C, x, y, z are positive integers and x, y, z > 2, then A, B and C have a common prime factor. One will let r, s, and t be prime factors of A, B and C, respectively, such that A = Dr, B = Es, C = Ft, where D, E, and F are positive integers. Then, the equation A^x + B^y = C^z becomes D^xr^x + E^ys^y = F^zt^z. The proof would be complete after showing that the equalities, r^x = t^x, s^y = t^y and r = s = t, are true. The proof of the above equalities would involve showing that the ratios, (r^x)/(t^x) = 1 and (s^y)/(t^y) =1, which would imply that r = s = t. The main principle for obtaining relationships between the prime factors on the left side of the equation and the prime factor on the right side of the equation is that the power of each prime factor on the left side of the equation equals the same power of the prime factor on the right side of the equation. High school students can learn and prove this conjecture for a bonus question on a final class exam.

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Available abstract

By applying basic mathematical principles, the author surely, and instructionally, proves, directly, the original Beal conjecture which states that if A^x + B^y = C^z, where A, B, C, x, y, z are positive integers and x, y, z > 2, then A, B and C have a common prime factor. One will let r, s, and t be prime factors of A, B and C, respectively, such that A = Dr, B = Es, C = Ft, where D, E, and F are positive integers. Then, the equation A^x + B^y = C^z becomes D^xr^x + E^ys^y = F^zt^z. The proof would be complete after showing that the equalities, r^x = t^x, s^y = t^y and r = s = t, are true. The proof of the above equalities would involve showing that the ratios, (r^x)/(t^x) = 1 and (s^y)/(t^y) =1, which would imply that r = s = t. The main principle for obtaining relationships between the prime factors on the left side of the equation and the prime factor on the right side of the equation is that the power of each prime factor on the left side of the equation equals the same power of the prime factor on the right side of the equation. High school students can learn and prove this conjecture for a bonus question on a final class exam.

Key concepts: Conjecture, Prime (order theory), Mathematics, Prime factor, Combinatorics, Number theory, Prime power, Beal's conjecture

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