Definition:Diophantine Equation
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Definition
A Diophantine equation is an indeterminate polynomial equation that allows the variables to take integer values only.
It defines an algebraic curve, algebraic surface, or more general object, and asks about the lattice points on it.
Linear Diophantine Equation
A linear Diophantine equation is a Diophantine equation in which all the arguments appear to no higher than the first degree.
For example:
- $ax + by + c = 0$
- $a_1 x_1 + a_2 x_2 + \cdots + a_n x_n = b$
The Fermat Connection
$x^n + y^n = z^n$ is a common example of a Diophantine equation, for which Fermat's Last Theorem was a conjecture regarding the existence or otherwise of its solutions.
Source of Name
This entry was named for Diophantus of Alexandria.
Sources
- George E. Andrews: Number Theory (1971): $\S 2.3$
