Refining Lagrange's four-square theorem

From MaRDI portal




Abstract: Lagrange's four-square theorem asserts that any ninmathbbN=0,1,2,ldots can be written as the sum of four squares. This can be further refined in various ways. We show that any ninmathbbN can be written as x2+y2+z2+w2 with x,y,z,winmathbbZ such that x+y+z (or x+2y, x+y+2z) is a square (or a cube). We also prove that any ninmathbbN can be written as x2+y2+z2+w2 with x,y,z,winmathbbN such that P(x,y,z) is a square, whenever P(x,y,z) is among the polynomials �egin{gather*} x, 2x, x-y, 2x-2y, a(x^2-y^2) (a=1,2,3), x^2-3y^2, 3x^2-2y^2, \x^2+ky^2 (k=2,3,5,6,8,12), (x+4y+4z)^2+(9x+3y+3z)^2, \x^2y^2+y^2z^2+z^2x^2, x^4+8y^3z+8yz^3, x^4+16y^3z+64yz^3. end{gather*} We also pose some conjectures for further research; for example, our 1-3-5-Conjecture states that any ninmathbbN can be written as x2+y2+z2+w2 with x,y,z,winmathbbN such that x+3y+5z is a square.









This page was built for publication: Refining Lagrange's four-square theorem

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q512242)