Some historical remarks on number theory (Q1228599)

This article formed part of the Proceedings of the Workshop on the Evolution of Modern Mathematics held at the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (Boston, Mass.) in August 1974. It illustrates the kind of developments that are characteristic of number theory by describing progress since Euler on the well known conjecture of Catalan concerning the equation \(x^m-y^n=1\). (Added in 2016) From the comments: ``Finally Kahane commented that Baker's talk was a ``masterpiece'' of what Baker as a mathematician can do on the history of mathematics.'' Finally it should be remarked that the Catalan conjecture was proved by \textit{P. Mihăilescu} [J. Reine Angew. Math. 572, 167--195 (2004; Zbl 1067.11017) and J. Number Theory 99, No. 2, 225--231 (2003; Zbl 1049.11036)].