On the equation $a^p + 2^α b^p + c^p = 0$
Volume 79 / 1997
Acta Arithmetica 79 (1997), 7-16
DOI: 10.4064/aa-79-1-7-16
Abstract
We discuss the equation $a^p + 2^α b^p + c^p = 0$ in which a, b, and c are non-zero relatively prime integers, p is an odd prime number, and α is a positive integer. The technique used to prove Fermat's Last Theorem shows that the equation has no solutions with α < 1 or b even. When α=1 and b is odd, there are the two trivial solutions (±1, ∓ 1, ±1). In 1952, Dénes conjectured that these are the only ones. Using methods of Darmon, we prove this conjecture for p≡ 1 mod 4.