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I have a pretty difficult math question that I have no idea even how to begin. Here it goes:

Find the nonzero integers $a$, $b$, $c$ such that $a^3 + b^3 + c^3 = 2$?

I would assume that at least one of the integers would be negative. Also, I got as far as $(a+b+c)^3 = 2^3$ but I'm not sure what good this will do.

(So, not to cower in shame I made a mistake above seeing as how $(a+b+c)^3 \ne 2^3$. I admit I failed there. But how to work this equation?)

Bart Michels
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GreeNs
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1 Answers1

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In $1908$, A.S. Werebrusov found the following parametrization of $x$, $y$, and $z$ for the sum of three cubes $x^3+y^3+z^3$ equal to $2$: $$ (1 + 6t^3)^3 + (1 − 6t^3)^3 + (−6t^2)^3 = 2. $$ A further references here is L.J. Mordell, On Sums of Three Cubes, Journal of the London Mathematical Society $17$ (1942), 139–144. There are several discussions about the sum of three integer cubes, see here and the references given therein.

Dietrich Burde
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