English

A Theorem of Fermat on Congruent Number Curves

Number Theory 2018-03-28 v1

Abstract

A positive integer AA is called a congruent number if AA is the area of a right-angled triangle with three rational sides. Equivalently, AA is a congruent number if and only if the congruent number curve y2=x3A2xy^2=x^3-A^2x has a rational point (x,y)Q2(x,y)\in\mathbb Q^2 with y0y\neq 0. Using a theorem of Fermat, we give an elementary proof for the fact that congruent number curves do not contain rational points of finite order.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1803.09604,
  title  = {A Theorem of Fermat on Congruent Number Curves},
  author = {Lorenz Halbeisen and Norbert Hungerbühler},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1803.09604},
  year   = {2018}
}

Comments

8 pages, one figure