Sums and differences of four \(k\)th powers (Q639952): Difference between revisions

From the abstract: This paper proves an upper bound for the number of representations of a positive integer \(N\) as a sum of four \(k\)th powers of integers of size at most \(B\), using a new version of the determinant method developed by \textit{D.R. Heath-Brown} [J. Number Theory 129, No. 6, 1579--1594 (2009; Zbl 1182.11017)], along with recent results by \textit{P. Salberger} [Counting rational points on projective varieties. Preprint (2009)] on the density of integral points on affine surfaces. More generally, representations by any diagonal form are considered. The estimates improve earlier results: specifically, an estimate \(O(B^{c/\sqrt{k}})\) is obtained, whereas earlier versions of the determinant method gave an exponent for \(B\) of order \(k^{-1/3}\). A further result improves upon bounds due to \textit{J. M. Wisdom} [Compos. Math. 121, No. 1, 55--78 (2000; Zbl 0949.11048)] for the representation of a positive integer \(N\) as a sum of four \(k\)th powers, \(k\geq 3\), of non-negative integers.