New generalizations of congruent numbers (Q1668849)

In this review we denote by \(\mathbb{N}\) the set of positive integers, by \(\mathbb{Q}^+\) the set of positive rational numbers, by \(\mathbb{Q}^*\) the multiplicative group of rational numbers and by \(\mathbb{Q}^{*2}\) its subgroup of squares. Let \(a,b,c,d,e\in\mathbb{Q}^+\) which represent the lengths as shown in the picture of the rectangle below. \begin{center} \begin{tikzpicture} \draw [draw=black] (5,3) rectangle (0,0); \draw (-0.2,1.5) node {\(a\)}; \draw (0.8,-0.2) node {\(b\)}; \draw (1.5,0) node {{\tiny \textbullet}}; \draw (3.2,-0.2) node {\(d\)}; \draw (5.2,1.5) node {\(a\)}; \draw (1.5,0) -- (0,3); \draw (1.5,0) -- (5,3); \draw (1,1.5) node {\(c\)}; \draw (3.2,1.7) node {\(e\)}; \draw [draw=black] (0.2,0.2) rectangle (0,0); \draw (2.5,3.2) node {\(b+d\)}; \end{tikzpicture} \end{center} Then we say that we have an ``envelope \((a,b,c,d,e)\)''. Obviously, \(a^2+b^2=c^2\), \(a^2+d^2=e^2\) and the area of the rectangle is \(a(b+d)\). Then \(\mathcal{E}\) is defined as the set of all positive integers \(n\) for which there exists an envelope \((a,b,c,d,e)\) with area \(n\), i.e. such that \(a(b+d)=n\). Equivalently, we say that \((a,b,c,d,e)\) is an envelope for \(n\). Recall that \(n\in\mathbb{N}\) is called a \textit{congruent number} if there exist \(a,b,c\in\mathbb{Q}^+\) such that \(a^2+b^2=c^2\) and \(n=ab/2\); therefore \((a,b,c,b,c)\) is an envelope of \(n\). Consequently the set of congruent numbers is a subset of \(\mathcal{E}\). Another interesting subset of \(\mathcal{E}\) is \(\mathcal{E}_A(\theta)\), where \(\theta\) is a given angle, \(0<\theta<\pi\) with rational cosinus. By definition, \(n\in\mathbb{N}\) belongs to \(\mathcal{E}_A(\theta)\) if there exists an envelope \((a,b,c,d,e)\) for \(n\), such that, in the triangle with sides \(c,e,b+d\), the angle opposite to \(b+d\) is \(\theta\). It is easy to see then that \(\cos\theta=(a^2-bd)/e\). Also, \(n\in\mathcal{E}_A(\pi/2)\) if and only if \(2n\) is a congruent number. A third interesting subset of \(\mathcal{E}\) is \(\mathcal{E}_R(m)\) where \(m>1\) is a rational number. By definition, \(n\in\mathbb{N}\) belongs to \(\mathcal{E}_R(m)\) if there exists an envelope \((a,b,c,d,e)\) for \(n\), such that \(d/b=m\). The main results of this paper concern subsets \(\mathcal{E}_R(m)\). Before presenting these results we recall the well-known fact, that \(n\in\mathbb{N}\) is a congruent number if and only if the elliptic curve \(E_n: y^2=x^3-n^2x\) has positive rank over \(\mathbb{Q}\). In this paper, results of this flavor, characterizing \(\mathcal{E}_R(m)\), are proved. As a kind of intermediate result, it is proved that \(n\in\mathbb{N}\) belongs to \(\mathcal{E}_R(m)\) if and only if the system of equations \[ y^2=x^3-(2n/(m+1))^2\cdot x,\quad u^2= (x^2-(2n/(m+1))^2)^2-(4mn/(m+1)\cdot x)^2 \] has a rational solution \((x,y,u)\) with \(y\neq 0\). \\ The elliptic curve defined by the second equation above is birationally equivalent to the elliptic curve \[ E(m): U^2=X(X-m^2)(X-(m^2-1)) \] the rank of which we denote by \(r(m)\). The author gives a complete characterization of the torsion subgroup \(E(m)(\mathbb{Q})_{\mathrm{tors}}\) and then he proves his main results. Theorem (Theorem 6 in the paper). Let \(m>1\) be a rational number. (a)\: \(\mathcal{E}_R(m)=\emptyset \Leftrightarrow m\) or \(m+1\) does not belong to \(\mathbb{Q}^{*2}\) and \(r(m)=0\). (b)\: \(\mathcal{E}_R(m)=\{\sqrt{m}\pmod{\mathbb{Q}^{*2}}\} \Leftrightarrow m\) and \(m+1\) belong to \(\mathbb{Q}^{*2}\) and \(r(m)=0\). (c)\: \(\mathcal{E}_R(m)\) contains infinitely many classes \(n\pmod{\mathbb{Q}^{*2}}\Leftrightarrow r(m)>0\). Theorem (Theorem 7 in the paper) (a)\: If \(n\in\mathbb{N}\) and \(m>1\) is a rational number, then \(n\in\mathcal{E}_R(m)\) if and only if the curve (of genus \(5\)) defined by \[ y^4=(\tfrac{2n}{m+1})^2x(x-m^2)(x-(m^2-1))(x-m(m-1))^2(x-m(m+1))^2 \] has a rational point with \(y\neq 0\). (b)\: For any \(n\in \mathbb{N}\) there exist only finitely many envelopes \((a,b,c,d,e)\) for \(n\) with \(d/b\) equal to a given fixed rational \(m>1\). A few intermediate results are also proved which are necessary for the proof of the above theorems. Finally, the following three questions are raised: (1) Is it true that \(\mathcal{E}=\mathbb{N}\)? (2) Given \(n\in\mathcal{E}\), are there infinitely many envelopes for \(n\)? (3) Given \(n\in\mathcal{E}\), are there infinitely many rational numbers \(m>1\) such that \(n\in\mathcal{E}_R(m)\)?