Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Seraj, Samer
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.06056
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1866915657676750848
author Seraj, Samer
author_facet Seraj, Samer
contents The arithmetic-digital anomaly of $5÷2 = 2.5$ has been observed several times in the past. We generalize it to an exponential Diophantine equation and inequality in the general number base, which is the object of our analysis. First, we produce a near-parametrization of all solutions using a modification of the standard parametrization of Pythagorean triples. We use this parametrized function to find all solutions where the numerator and denominator are coprime, and we construct infinite families where they are not coprime. Next, we use a variant of Baker's theorem from transcendental number theory to prove that each number base admits only finitely many solutions. Lastly, we use the $abc$ conjecture to conditionally show that only finitely many solutions have a numerator with $k$ digits, for each $k\ge 3$. A conjecture is offered for $k=2$.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2512_06056
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Diophantine Analysis of a Digital Anomaly
Seraj, Samer
History and Overview
11D61, 11J86, 11D09, 11A63
The arithmetic-digital anomaly of $5÷2 = 2.5$ has been observed several times in the past. We generalize it to an exponential Diophantine equation and inequality in the general number base, which is the object of our analysis. First, we produce a near-parametrization of all solutions using a modification of the standard parametrization of Pythagorean triples. We use this parametrized function to find all solutions where the numerator and denominator are coprime, and we construct infinite families where they are not coprime. Next, we use a variant of Baker's theorem from transcendental number theory to prove that each number base admits only finitely many solutions. Lastly, we use the $abc$ conjecture to conditionally show that only finitely many solutions have a numerator with $k$ digits, for each $k\ge 3$. A conjecture is offered for $k=2$.
title Diophantine Analysis of a Digital Anomaly
topic History and Overview
11D61, 11J86, 11D09, 11A63
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.06056