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Looking for a way to make $1 million? All you need to do is solve a math equation that has been boggling the minds of the world's greatest mathematicians for over 20 years.
Beal's Conjecture, represented by A^x + B^y = C^z, is named after Andrew Beal, the same man who is offering up the seven-figure reward for anyone who can prove that when A, B and C are positive integers, and x, y and z are positive integers greater than 2 - A, B and C must have a common factor.
The conjecture was first proposed in 1993 while Beal was working on
Fermat's Last Theorem. He noted that both equations are "easy to say, but extremely difficult to prove."
"Increasing the prize is a good way to draw attention to mathematics generally and the Beal Conjecture specifically,"
said Beal. "I hope many more young people will find themselves drawn into the wonderful world of mathematics."
Currently working as a banker in Dallas, Beal first offered up a $5,000 prize to anyone who could perform the proof back in 1997. He has increased the reward several times over the years without a solution being found. The $1 million prize is a ten-fold upgrade from Beal's last offer of $100,000.
"I was inspired by the prize offered for proving Fermat," said the self-taught mathematician who professes an affinity for number theory.
