A Theorem of Fermat on Congruent Number Curves

Abstract

A positive integer $A$ is called a \emph{congruent number} if $A$ is the area of a right-angled triangle with three rational sides. Equivalently, $A$ is a \emph{congruent number} if and only if the congruent number curve $y^2 = x^3 − A^2 x$ has a rational point $(x, y) \in {\mathbb{Q}}^2$ with $y \ne 0$. Using a theorem of Fermat, we give an elementary proof for the fact that congruent number curves do not contain rational points of finite order.