[Math] Proof of a special case of Fermat’s Last Theorem.

number theory

Here, I will try to prove a special case of Fermat's Last Theorem, namely when $a=b$ in this definition:

Fermat's Last Theorem

In number theory, Fermat's Last Theorem (sometimes called Fermat's conjecture, especially in older texts) states that no three positive integers a, b, and c can satisfy the equation $a^n + b^n = c^n$ for any integer value of $n$ greater than two.

Here's the proof:

Let's suppose the equation $x^n+x^n=y^n$ have one or more solutions where $n$ is an integer grater than $2$ and $x$ and $y$ are also integers. This means that $2x^n=y^n$, thus $\sqrt[n]{2}x=y$. But this is a contradiction since $\sqrt[n]{2}$ is irrational for every $n$ in $\Bbb N$, which implies that $y$ is irrational contradicting our second assumption. Therefore, the equation $x^n+x^n=y^n$ has no solution in $\Bbb N$.

Do you think it is right?

Thank you.

Best Answer

On the other hand, you can do the same by noting that $\sqrt[n]{2}$ is a root of

$$x^n - 2 = 0$$

and rational root theorem says that the only rational roots, if any, must be one of

$$\{-1, 1, -2, 2\}$$

none of which are proper candidates for $n > 1$, so $\sqrt[n]{2}$ is not rational.

Edit : Further, you can just use Gauss's lemma by noting that

$$x^n - 2$$

is irreducible over $\mathbb{Z}[x]$, as the sign changes occur in the interval $(2, 1)$ and the negative counterpart assuming for all $n > 1$, none of which contains integers, and thus by Gauss's lemma is also irreducible over $\mathbb{Q}[x]$.