# Question concerning a two-variable diophantine equation and exponentiation

(Sorry if the title isn't clear. I couldn't think of a good title for this question.)

Edit: @mathlove pointed out some mistakes in my original question. We can easily see anything that are in the criterion of Fermat's last theorem can be disproved (for m=n$\geq$3.) what about for those which doesn't satisfy the criteria in Fermat? e.g. $a^{128}+b^2$?

This is a question concerning the properties of exponentiation. Say a certain constant, $C$ is a part of a diophantine equation, e.g. $a^2+b^2=C$ that (we are sure) has integer roots $a$, $b$. We then take the constant $C$ to the exponent of itself, $C^C$. Will the new value, $C^C$ have the an integer solution to the same equation? (while the actual integer root values might change, I'm simply concerned with thether I can have an integer solution).

The question can be shortened into this form: given $C$ and a random diophantine equation of two variables, which, on the right hand side has $C$ as a constant and on the left hand side the general form of $a^n+b^m$. Assume we know there exists integer solutions $a$, $b$ to the diophantine equation, can we conclude that an integer solution also exists for the same diophantine equation with $C$ replaced as $C^C$?

• This is equal to asking whether if $(a^m+b^n)^{(a^m+b^n)}$ can be written in terms of $(p^j+q^k)$, where $p,q,j,k$ are integers. – BearAqua Mar 28 '17 at 14:52
• $a^4+b^4=2$ holds for $a=b=1$, but there are no integers $a,b$ such that $a^4+b^4=2^2$. And note that $13^{13}\not=169$. – mathlove Mar 28 '17 at 15:10
• No, there is no immediate reason for this to hold and I guess that it only holds exceptionally. (Equations with $n=1$ or $m=1$ are ruled out as they always have integer solutions.) – Yves Daoust Mar 28 '17 at 15:26
• @mathlove Thanks for pointing out. I 've revised it a bit. I guess I'm really concerned with cases that do not satisfy $m=n\geq3$. – BearAqua Mar 28 '17 at 15:31
• And, additionally, for my comment on top, it should satisfy $j=m$ and $k=n$ – BearAqua Mar 28 '17 at 15:37

1. $$𝑎^4+𝑏^4=2$$ holds for $$𝑎=𝑏=1$$, but there are no integers $$𝑎,𝑏$$ such that $$𝑎^4+𝑏^4=22$$.
2. $$𝑎^{128}+𝑏^2=5$$ holds for $$𝑎=1,𝑏=2$$, but there are no integers $$𝑎,𝑏$$ such that $$𝑎^{128}+𝑏^2=55$$.