On Fermat's quadruple equations (Q1969654)

For a given set of rational numbers \(\{a_1,\dots, a_m\}\) the system of equations \[ a_ix+1= \square \text{ (square)}, \quad i=1,\dots, m \] is referred to as Fermat's \(m\)-tuple equations. Fermat's triple equations usually have infinite many rational solutions [see \textit{D. Zagier}, Jahresber. Dtsch. Math.-Ver. 92, 58-76 (1990; Zbl 0708.14019)]. This is because the elliptic curve over \(\mathbb{Q}\) given by \[ y^2= (a_1x+ 1)(a_2 x+ 1)(a_3x+ 1) \] often has rank \(r\geq 1\). By employing this relationship with elliptic curves, the authors prove the following theorem on Fermat quadruple equations: Let \(\alpha_1\), \(\alpha_2\), \(\alpha_3\), \(\alpha_4\) be non-zero elements of an algebraic number field \(\mathbb{K}\), distinct in pairs. Then there exist only finitely many elements \(\beta\in \mathbb{K}\) such that \(\alpha_i \beta+ 1= \gamma_i^2\) holds for \(\gamma_i\in \mathbb{K}\), \(i=1, 2, 3, 4\). The paper ends with some interesting examples obtained by application of an algorithm for determining \(S\)-integral points on elliptic curves over \(\mathbb{Q}\).