Beal's theorem

Equation [math]\displaystyle{ a^m + b^n = c^k }[/math] where [math]\displaystyle{ a, b, c \in \mathbb{N}^{*} }[/math] and [math]\displaystyle{ k, m, n \in \mathbb{N}_{\ge 3} }[/math] implies gcd[math]\displaystyle{ (a, b, c) \gt 1. }[/math]

Proof: For [math]\displaystyle{ b^n = (c^{kq}-a^{mr})\left(\tilde{c}^{k\acute{q}} + \tilde{a}^{m\acute{r}}\right) = c^k - a^m + c^{kq} \tilde{a}^{m\acute{r}} - \tilde{c}^{k\acute{q}} a^{mr} }[/math], the function [math]\displaystyle{ f(q,r) := c^{k(\hat{q}-1)} - a^{m(\hat{r}-1)} = 0 }[/math] is continuous in [math]\displaystyle{ q, r \in {}^{\omega} \mathbb{R}_{\gt 0} }[/math] and [math]\displaystyle{ (q_0, r_0) = \left(\check{1}, \check{1}\right) }[/math] solves the equation. Every further solution in fractions yields after exponentiation gcd[math]\displaystyle{ (a, c) \gt 1 }[/math] and thus proves the claim.[math]\displaystyle{ \square }[/math]

Conclusion: The Fermat-Catalan conjecture can be proven analogously and an infinite descent implies because of gcd[math]\displaystyle{ (a, b, c) \gt 1 }[/math] that no [math]\displaystyle{ n \in {}^{\omega}\mathbb{N}_{\ge 3} }[/math] satisfies [math]\displaystyle{ a^n + b^n = c^n }[/math] for arbitrary [math]\displaystyle{ a, b, c \in {}^{\omega}\mathbb{N}^{*}.\square }[/math]

See also

• List of mathematical symbols
• Beal conjecture