Mathematics Atlas

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Andrew Beal

Also Known As Andy Beal · Daniel Andrew Beal
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Andrew Beal is an American banker and amateur mathematician, the founder and chairman of Beal Bank and Beal Bank USA. In 1993, while investigating generalizations of Fermat's Last Theorem, he formulated the Beal Conjecture, which proposes that if A to the x plus B to the y equals C to the z, with x, y and z all greater than two, then A, B and C must share a common prime factor. He has personally funded the conjecture's prize since 1997, raising it from an initial 5,000 dollars to 1,000,000 dollars; the American Mathematical Society holds the prize in trust and supervises a committee that judges submissions.

Facts
Birth Date
1952-11-29 1
Birth Year
1952 1
Birthplace
Lansing, Michigan, United States 1
Nationality / Culture
American 2
Sourced to the subject's own accountInferred from his role as founder and chairman of the US-based Beal Bank and Beal Bank USA; no source consulted states his nationality in so many words.
Defining Contribution
Formulated the Beal Conjecture in 1993, a generalization of Fermat's Last Theorem, while investigating which integer equations of the form A^x + B^y = C^z (x, y, z > 2) admit solutions. 3
Defining ContributionSourced to the subject's own account
Founded Beal Aerospace, a company that built rockets with the goal of placing communications satellites into orbit, and has donated, along with his banks, to colleges and to prizes for science and math education. 4
Defining Contribution
Has personally funded the Beal Conjecture prize since 1997, raising it from an initial 5,000 dollars to 50,000 dollars over a decade and, since, to 1,000,000 dollars, held in trust by the American Mathematical Society. 3
Notable Work
Formulated the Beal conjecture, a generalization of Fermat's Last Theorem, and endowed a standing $1 million prize for its proof or disproof. 1
Cross-Tradition Connections

Conjectures Posed

Beal formulated the conjecture in 1993 and has personally funded its prize since 1997.

Sources
1. Andrew Beal (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundationopening paragraph
Quote, opening paragraph
Daniel Andrew Beal (born November 29, 1952) is an American banker, businessman, investor, and amateur mathematician.
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1. Andrew Beal (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationBeal conjecture section
Quote, Beal conjecture section
Beal funded a standing prize of $1 million for its proof or disproof.
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2. Andrew Beal, Founder Biography (Beal Bank USA)
Beal Bank USAFounder page
Quote, Founder page
Andy Beal is the founder and chairman of Beal Bank and Beal Bank USA as well as other affiliated companies.
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3. Beal Conjecture (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationIntroduction and Prize sections
Quote, Introduction and Prize sections
The conjecture was formulated in 1993 by Andrew Beal, a banker and amateur mathematician, while investigating generalizations
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3. Beal Conjecture (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationPrize section
Quote, Prize section
For a published proof or counterexample, banker Andrew Beal initially offered a prize of US $5,000 in 1997, raising it to $50,000
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3. Beal Conjecture (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationConjectures Posed: Beal Conjecture, Introduction section
Quote, Conjectures Posed: Beal Conjecture, Introduction section
The conjecture was formulated in 1993 by Andrew Beal, a banker and amateur mathematician, while investigating generalizations
View the Source
4. Andrew Beal (andrewbeal.com)
Andrew Beal (self-published)Beal Aerospace and About Andy Beal sections
Quote, Beal Aerospace and About Andy Beal sections
Andy Beal started an aerospace company to build rockets with the goal of placing communications satellites in orbit
View the Source
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