Thursday, May 26, 2005

Fermat's Last Theorem: n = 3: Step 3

Today's blog continues the proof for Fermat's Last Theorem n=3 that I began in a previous blog.

With this step, we enter the heart of the proof for Fermat's Last Theorem n=3. This step is a bit complicated so I will only be able to provide an outline at this point. Later on, I will update this blog and insert all the details.

Lemma: Given the following conditions:

(a) x,y,z is a solution to x3 + y3 = z3
(b) two values of x,y,z are derived from p+q,p-q
(c) p,q coprime
(d) p,q opposite parity
(e) p,q positive
(f) 2p*(p2 + 3q2) is a cube.
(g) gcd(2p,p2 + 3q2) = 1

Then:
There exists a smaller solution A,B,C such that A3 = B3 + C3.


(1) 2p and p2 + 3q2 are cubes. [From Relatively Prime Divisors Lemma]

(2) First, we show that there exists two values a,b such that: [See here for the lemma.]
p = a3 - 9ab2, q = 3a2b - 3b3, gcd(a,b)=1, a,b opposite parity

(3) This gives us that:
2p =2a3 - 18ab2 =(2a)(a - 3b)(a + 3b)

(4) 2a, a - 3b,a + 3b are all coprime.

(a) First, 2a is coprime with a - 3b and a + 3b. Both a - 3b and a + 3b are odd since a,b have opposite parity. If a had a common factor with either, then this factor would also divide b which goes against our assumption.

(b) If any odd prime greater than 3 divides a - 3b and a + 3b, then it must divide a since 2a = a - 3b + a + 3b and it must divide b since 6b
= a + 3b - (a - 3b). But this is impossible.

(c) We already showed that 2 can't divide a - 3b, a + 3b. So all we need to prove is that 3 also can't divide both. If 3 divides both then it divides a since 2a = a - 3b + a + 3b, then it also divides p since p = a3 - 9ab2. But it can't divide p since gcd(2p,p2 + 3q2)=1. So, 3 can't divide both.


(5) So, once again, all three are cubes. [By Relatively Prime Divisors Lemma] so that we have A,B,C such that:

2a = A3
a - 3b = B3
a + 3b = C3


(6) But this gives us another solution to Fermat's Last Theorem: n=3 since:

A3 = 2a = a - 3b + a + 3b = B3 + C3

(7) Now, this solution is necessarily smaller than x,y,z since:

(A3)(B3)(C3) = (2a)(a - 3b)(a + 3b) = 2p

And from our previous work, either:

x3 = (2p)*(p2 + 3q2) or
z3 = (2p)*(p2 + 3q2)

QED

7 comments:

  1. You wrote, in step 5: a + 3b = B**3, when obviously you mean a + 3b = C**3.

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  2. Hi Mschmahl,

    Thanks very much for posting the comment! :-) I've fixed the typo.

    Cheers,

    -Larry

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  3. Perhaps you should put (4a) after (4c) because in (4a) a could be 3 which gives a common divisor of 3 for the three terms.

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  4. I don't think you have explicitly proved that a and b are of opposite parity in the Step (2) Lemma.

    (Although it is comparatively simple compared to the rest of the business occurring.)

    :-)

    Rob

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  5. Hi Scouse Rob,

    You are right. I've added the proof for a,b have opposite parity to the lemma referenced.

    Thanks for noticing the omission! :-)

    Cheers,

    -Larry

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  6. Could you please explain what a smaller solution is..? Does it mean x' < x, y' < y and z' < z..?
    Jijo.S

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  7. Hi Larry,

    I am unable to follow your step 4b) If any odd prime greater than 3 divides a - 3b and a + 3b, then it must divide a since 2a = a - 3b + a + 3b and it must divide b since 6b
    = a + 3b - (a - 3b). But this is impossible.

    How did you get 2a= a-3b+a+3b and 6b=a+3b-(a-3b)?

    It isn't clear.

    Thank you,

    Yogesh

    ReplyDelete