A note on the diophantine equation \((m^3-3m)^x+(3m^2-1)^y=(m^2+1)^z\) (Q1387935)

This paper deals with the following conjecture: If \(a\), \(b\), \(c\), \(p\), \(q\), \(r\) are fixed positive rational integers such that \(a^p+b^q=c^r\), with \(p\), \(q\), \(r\geq 2\) and \(a\) and \(b\) coprime, then the diophantine equation \[ a^x+b^y=c^z \] has only the positive integral solution \((x,y,z)=(p,q,r)\). Here the author considers the special case \(p=q=2\) and \(r\) odd \({}\geq 3\), when \(a\), \(b\) and \(c\) are given by \(a=m^3-3m\), \(b=3m^2\) and \(c=m^2+1\), where \(m\) is an even integer. He proves that the conjecture holds in this case when \(b\) is an odd prime. The proof is elementary and uses a reduction of the Jacobi symbol (somewhat similar to Ko Chao's in his proof of the special case \(x^2-1=y^p\) of Catalan's equation) and results of C. Størmer [S. M. F. Bull. 27, 160-170 (1899; JFM 30.0188.01)] and \textit{D. H. Lehmer} [Bull. Am. Math. Soc. 36, 847-850 (1930; JFM 56.0875.05)].