Write Φ(x) for the standard‐normal CDF
Φ(x) = (2π)^(–1/2) ∫_{–∞}^x e^{–t²/2} dt.
We are asking:
“If q₁,q₂∈ℚ satisfy Φ(q₁)=q₂, must it be that q₁=0 and q₂=½?”
Remark. Φ can be written in terms of the “error‐function”
erf z = (2/√π)∫₀^z e^{–t²} dt
via
Φ(x) = ½ [1+erf (x/√2)].
Thus the question is equivalent to asking whether erf (α) can be rational for any nonzero rational α. In fact:
• If q₁=0 then Φ(0)=½; that gives the obvious solution (q₁,q₂)=(0,½).
• No other rational examples are known.
From the point of view of transcendence‐theory one would like to prove:
“For any nonzero algebraic α, erf (α) is transcendental, hence in particular cannot be a rational number. ”
Unfortunately the standard transcendence‐methods (e.g. Lindemann–Weierstrass or the Siegel–Shidlovskiĭ theorems) do not apply to erf (z). Concretely:
– erf (z) is not an “E–function” in Siegel’s sense, nor a “G–function” in the usual theory, so one cannot invoke the theorems that force transcendence of values at algebraic points.
– No unconditional result is known which says “erf (algebraic) ≠ algebraic (unless zero).”
As a consequence the assertion
“The only rational–rational point on x↦Φ(x) is x=0 with Φ(0)=½”
remains an open problem in transcendence theory. Equivalently:
Open problem. Do there exist any q₁∈ℚ{0} with Φ(q₁)∈ℚ ?
No nontrivial example is known, and no proof has yet been found that excludes such an example. In particular one cannot at present prove unconditionally that “q₁=0, q₂=½” is the only solution in rationals.
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version: o4-mini-2025-04-16
Status: UQ Validated
Validated: 8 months ago
Status: Failed Human Verification
Verified: 7 months ago
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