ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Abc conjecture

Okay kiddo, imagine you have three numbers: A, B, and C. The ABC conjecture is a big math problem that tries to explain how these three numbers are related to each other.

So, let's say that A, B, and C are special numbers that are related in a really specific way. Mathematicians all around the world have been trying to figure out what that way is for a very long time.

The ABC conjecture says that if you multiply together A, B, and C, and add them up, that number will always have at least one really big prime number in it.

Now, what's a prime number? It's like a special number that can only be divided by 1 and itself. For example, 2 is a prime number because it can only be divided by 1 and 2.

So, the ABC conjecture is saying that if you add up these special numbers and multiply them together, you'll always end up with a really big number that has at least one really special prime number in it.

But math is really hard, so even though lots of smart people have been working on this problem for a long time, they still haven't figured out if it's actually true.

Does that make sense, kiddo?