English Title
On forms of the type mxx+nyy for exploring prime numbers by idoneals of them with remarkable properties
Enestrom Number
708
Fuss Index
32
Original Language
Latin
Content Summary
"If m and n are positive numbers and if N is contained in two different manners in the form mxx+nyy, so that N = maa+nbb and N = mcc+ndd, in reducing the fraction (a±c)/(b±d) to its lowest terms, then the fraction (mpp)/(nqq) = r/s; in the case r+s is an odd number, it will be a factor of the number N; if it is even, then its half, (r+s)/2 will be a factor of that number N. From this, it follows that any number contained in more than one fashion in the form mxx+nyy will be a composite, or non-prime number." Euler goes on to define "congruent" numbers, describe their properties, and then give the famous list of the 65 congruent numbers, all less than 10,000. Feuter warns that the proofs of Theorems 6, 8, and 9 are "not rigorous."
Published as
Journal article
Published Date
1801
Written Date
1778
Original Source Citation
Nova Acta Academiae Scientiarum Imperialis Petropolitanae, Volume 12, pp. 22-46.
Opera Omnia Citation
Series 1, Volume 4, pp.269-289.
Record Created
2018-09-25
