Equations in prime powers
There are some number theoretical questions as Hauptidealsatz, Kronecker classes or arithmetically equivalent fields [c.f. the second author and \textit{D. B. Wales}, J. Algebra 96, 94-113 (1985; Zbl 0577.20005)] where problems of algebraic number theory are translated into group theoretical properties. So it is not surprising that scholars of group theory attempt to investigate number theoretical problems. The authors consider the diophantine equation (*) \((q^ n-1)/(q-1)=p^ a\) with positive integers \(a\), \(q\), \(n\), \(q\geq 2\), \(n\geq 3\), and \(p\) prime. Applying Zsigmondy's theorem on primitive prime divisors it is an exercise to see that \(n\) is prime and if \(q=r^ m\), then \(m\) is a power of \(n\), \(p\equiv 1\pmod{mn}\) [c.f. the reviewer's thesis, Diophantische Probleme bei Kreisteilungspolynomen, FU Berlin (1975), p. 40]. Theorem 1 shows that \((n,a)=1\) if \(r\) is a prime. The other number theoretical results are mainly known (Nagell, Ljunggren, Schinzel) or erroneous, e.g. the class number of \({\mathbb{Q}}(\sqrt{-341})\) is 28 [\textit{Z. I. Borevich} and \textit{I. R. Shafarevich}, Zahlentheorie (1964; Zbl 0121.042), Tabelle 4], so the requirements of corollary 2 are fulfilled, but the equation \(y^ 5=x^ 2+341\) has the solution \(y=377\), \(x=2.759.646\) [c.f. \textit{J. Blass}, Math. Comput. 30, 638-640 (1976; Zbl 0336.10012)]. The error seems to be in Theorem 4 where 331 perhaps should be 341. \{Reviewer's remark: According to the table in Borevich-Shafarevich there would be another counterexample: \(y^ 5=x^ 2+485\) has the solution \(y=9\), \(x=242\). But here the table is wrong: The class number of \({\mathbb{Q}}(\sqrt{-485})\) is 20, not 16 as indicated. -- Friendly communicated by J. Antoniadis.\} Finally the authors sketch a short proof that for a given prime p there are only finitely many a, q, n, \(n\geq 3\), with (*) [c.f. the more general result of \textit{T. Shorey} and \textit{R. Tijdeman}, Math. Scand. 39, 5-18 (1976; Zbl 0341.10017)]. From this they deduce corollary 3: If \(p\) is an odd prime, there are only finitely many simple groups which have a \(p\)-complement (i.e., a subgroup of order prime to \(p\) and of index a power of \(p\)).
- On the diophantine equation $y^2 + D^m = p^n$
- On Catalan's problem
- A note on the diophantine equation \(x^ 2+4D=y^ p\)
- On some cases of the solution of the congruence \(z^{p^n -1} \equiv 1\,(\text{mod.\,}p)\).
- scientific article; zbMATH DE number 5693674
- scientific article; zbMATH DE number 4043930
- On the group-defining relations \((2, 3, 7; p)\).
- On a criterion for Catalan's conjecture
- Differences between perfect powers: prime power gaps
- scientific article; zbMATH DE number 3433980
- Linear forms in Lucas numbers
- Compositum of two number fields of prime degree
- Groups of prime degree and the Bateman-Horn conjecture
- Conjugacy Classes ofP-Cycles of Type D in Alternating Groups
- Arithmetic of conjugacy of \(p\)-complements.
- Sylow-conjugate number fields
- Compositum of two number fields of prime power degree
- Integer polynomials expressible as sums of cubes
- Ernst G. Straus (1922-1983)
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