Six exponentials theorem 2026-11-05
The six exponentials theorem states that if are complex numbers linearly independent over , and are also linearly independent over , then at least one of the six numbers
is a transcendental number. It does not require the inputs themselves to be algebraic. Both independence hypotheses are essential.[ref]
For an application, suppose a real makes all algebraic. If were irrational, choose and . The logarithms are rationally independent: clearing denominators and exponentiating would otherwise give a nontrivial integer relation , contradicting unique prime factorization. All six outputs would be algebraic, a contradiction. Hence must be rational.
With only two independent , the analogous assertion is the four exponentials conjecture, not this theorem.