Hilbert-Waring Theorem/Particular Cases/4/Mistake

Source Work

1997: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers (2nd ed.):

The Dictionary

$53$

Mistake

Every positive integer is the sum of at most $53$ $4$th powers.

The number $53$ is the number as determined by Joseph Liouville.

Since then, it has been ascertained that the number is in fact $19$.

Sources

• 1997: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): $53$