Solution to Problem 151




Correct solutions were submitted by Lou Cairoli, Agustin Murillo, Ross Millikan.


Perhaps the simplest example is x2 + 2x y  + y2 - 2 = 0.  This has no rational points since the equation can be transformed to read (x + y)2 = 2, and any rational points would provide a rational square root of 2, which is impossible.

For a fun set of examples, first pick a positive integer, n > 2, then observe that any rational point solving the equation 

xn + yn = 1

would provide a counterexample to Fermat's Last Theorem!
 

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