This presentation describes some of the unsolved problems of Mathematics. These kinds of unsolved math problems create an interest among the learners to learn mathematics and its importance. It also promotes the creative abilities of the learners.
2. Catalan’s Conjecture
An integer is a perfect power if it is of the form m^n where m and n are
integers and n>1. It is conjectured that 8=2^3 and 9=3^2 are the only
consecutive integers that are perfect powers. The conjecture was finally proved
by Preda Mihailescu in a manuscript privately circulated on April 18, 2002.
Are 8 and 9 the only consecutive perfect powers?
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3. Twin Primes Conjecture
A prime number is an integer larger than 1 that has no divisors other than
1 and itself. Twin primes are two prime numbers that differ by 2.
For example, 17 and 19 are twin primes.
Are there an infinite number of twin primes?
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4. Goldbach’s Conjecture
Is every even integer larger than
2 the sum of two primes? A prime number is an
integer larger than 1 whose
only positive divisors are 1
and itself. For example, the
even integer 50 is the sum of
the two primes 3 and 47.
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5. Odd Perfect Numbers
A perfect number is a positive
integer that is equal to the sum of
all its positive divisors, other than
itself. For example, 28 is perfect
because 28=1+2+4+7+14.
Are there any odd perfect numbers?
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6. The Collatz Conjecture
Start with any positive integer.
Halve it if it is even; triple it and
add 1 if it is odd. If you keep
repeating this procedure, must you
eventually reach the number 1?
For example, starting with the
number 6, we get: 6, 3, 10, 5, 16, 8,
4, 2, 1.
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7. Expressing 3 as the Sum of Three Cubes
The number 3 can be written as
1^3+1^3+1^3
and also as
4^3+4^3+(-5)^3.
Is there any other way of
expressing 3 as the sum of three
(positive or negative) cubes?
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8. Diophantine Equation of Degree Five
Are there distinct positive integers,
a, b, c, and, d such that
a^5+b^5=c^5+d^5?
It is known that
1^3+12^3=9^3+10^3 and
133^4+134^4=59^4+158^4,
but no similar relation is known for fifth powers.
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