# Equation xʸ=yˣ

Graph of xy = yx.

In general, exponentiation fails to be commutative. However, the equation ${\displaystyle x^{y}=y^{x}}$ holds in special cases, such as ${\displaystyle x=2,\ \ y=4.}$[1]

## History

The equation ${\displaystyle x^{y}=y^{x}}$ is mentioned in a letter of Bernoulli to Goldbach (29 June 1728[2]). The letter contains a statement that when ${\displaystyle x\neq y,}$ the only solutions in natural numbers are ${\displaystyle (2,4)}$ and ${\displaystyle (4,2),}$ although there are infinitely many solutions in rational numbers.[3][4] The reply by Goldbach (31 January 1729[2]) contains general solution of the equation obtained by substituting ${\displaystyle y=vx.}$[3] A similar solution was found by Euler.[4]

J. van Hengel pointed out that if ${\displaystyle r,n}$ are positive integers with ${\displaystyle r\geq 3}$ then ${\displaystyle r^{r+n}>(r+n)^{r};}$ therefore it is enough to consider possibilities ${\displaystyle x=1}$ and ${\displaystyle x=2}$ in order to find solutions in natural numbers.[4][5]

The problem was discussed in a number of publications.[2][3][4] In 1960, the equation was among the questions on the William Lowell Putnam Competition[6][7] which prompted Alvin Hausner to extend results to algebraic number fields.[3][8]

## Positive real solutions

Main source:[1]

An infinite set of trivial solutions in positive real numbers is given by ${\displaystyle x=y.}$

Nontrivial solutions can be found by assuming ${\displaystyle x\neq y}$ and letting ${\displaystyle y=vx.}$ Then

${\displaystyle (vx)^{x}=x^{vx}=(x^{v})^{x}.}$

Raising both sides to the power ${\displaystyle {\tfrac {1}{x}}}$ and dividing by ${\displaystyle x,}$

${\displaystyle v=x^{v-1}.}$

Then nontrivial solutions in positive real numbers are expressed as

${\displaystyle x=v^{\frac {1}{v-1}},}$
${\displaystyle y=v^{\frac {v}{v-1}}.}$

Setting ${\displaystyle v=2}$ or ${\displaystyle v={\tfrac {1}{2}}}$ generates the nontrivial solution in positive integers, ${\displaystyle 4^{2}=2^{4}.}$

Other pairs consisting of algebraic numbers exist, such as ${\displaystyle {\sqrt {3}}}$ and ${\displaystyle 3{\sqrt {3}}}$, as well as ${\displaystyle {\sqrt[{3}]{4}}}$ and ${\displaystyle 4{\sqrt[{3}]{4}}}$.

The trivial and non-trivial solutions intersect when ${\displaystyle v=1}$. The equations above cannot be evaluated directly, but we can take the limit as ${\displaystyle v\to 1}$. This is most conveniently done by substituting ${\displaystyle v=1+1/n}$ and letting ${\displaystyle n\to \infty }$, so

${\displaystyle x=\lim _{v\to 1}v^{\frac {1}{v-1}}=\lim _{n\to \infty }\left(1+{\frac {1}{n}}\right)^{n}=e.}$

Thus, the line ${\displaystyle y=x}$ and the curve for ${\displaystyle x^{y}-y^{x}=0,\,\,y\neq x}$ intersect at x = y = e.

## Similar graphs

The equation ${\displaystyle {\sqrt[{x}]{y}}={\sqrt[{y}]{x}}}$ produces a graph where the line and curve intersect at ${\displaystyle 1/e}$. The curve also terminates at (0,1) and (1,0), instead of continuing on for infinity.

The equation ${\displaystyle \log _{x}(y)=\log _{y}(x)}$ produces a graph where the curve and line intersect at (1,1). The curve (which is actually the positive section of y=1/x) becomes asymptotic to 0, as opposed to 1.

## References

1. ^ a b Lóczi, Lajos. "On commutative and associative powers". KöMaL. Archived from the original on 2002-10-15. Translation of: "Mikor kommutatív, illetve asszociatív a hatványozás?" (in Hungarian). Archived from the original on 2016-05-06.
2. ^ a b c Singmaster, David. "Sources in recreational mathematics: an annotated bibliography. 8th preliminary edition". Archived from the original on April 16, 2004.
3. ^ a b c d Sved, Marta (1990). "On the Rational Solutions of xy = yx" (PDF). Mathematics Magazine. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04.
4. ^ a b c d Dickson, Leonard Eugene (1920), "Rational solutions of xy = yx", History of the Theory of Numbers, II, Washington, p. 687
5. ^
6. ^ Gleason, A. M.; Greenwood, R. E.; Kelly, L. M. (1980), "The twenty-first William Lowell Putnam mathematical competition (December 3, 1960), afternoon session, problem 1", The William Lowell Putnam mathematical competition problems and solutions: 1938-1964, MAA, p. 59, ISBN 0-88385-428-7
7. ^ "21st Putnam 1960. Problem B1". 20 Oct 1999. Archived from the original on 2008-03-30.
8. ^ Hausner, Alvin (November 1961). "Algebraic Number Fields and the Diophantine Equation mn = nm". The American Mathematical Monthly. 68 (9): 856–861. doi:10.1080/00029890.1961.11989781. ISSN 0002-9890.