On a conjecture concerning the number of solutions to a^x+b^y=c^z, II

arXiv2211.13378MaRDI QIDQ6418328FDOQ6418328

Authors: Le Maohua, Reese Scott, Robert Styer 

Publication date: 23 November 2022

Abstract: Let $a$, $b$, $c$ be distinct primes with $a<b$. Let $S(a,b,c)$ denote the number of positive integer solutions $(x,y,z)$ of the equation $a^x+b^y=c^z$. In a previous paper cite{LeSt} it was shown that if $(a,b,c)$ is a triple of distinct primes for which $S(a,b,c)>1$ and $(a,b,c)$ is not one of the six known such triples then $(a,b,c)$ must be one of three cases. In the present paper, we eliminate two of these cases (using the special properties of certain continued fractions for one of these cases, and using a result of Dirichlet on quartic residues for the other). Then we show that the single remaining case requires severe restrictions, including the following: $a=2$, $$, $cequiv17mod48$, $b>10^9$, $c>10^{18}$; at least one of the multiplicative orders $u_c(b)$ or $u_b(c)$ must be odd (where $u_p(n)$ is the least integer $t$ such that $$); 2 must be an octic residue modulo $c$ except for one specific case; $2mid{v}_2(b-1)le{v}_2(c-1)$ (where $v_2(n)$ satisfies $2^{v_2(n)}paralleln$); there must be exactly two solutions $(x_1,y_1,z_1)$ and $(x_2,y_2,z_2)$ with $1=z_1<z_2$ and either $x_{1}ge28$ or $x_{2}ge88$. These results support a conjecture put forward in cite{ScSt6} and improve results in cite{LeSt}.

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Exponential Diophantine equations (11D61)

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