I've been going through Fermats proof that a rational square is never congruent. And I've stumbled upon something I can't see why is. Fermat says: ''If a square is made up of a square and the double of another square, its side is also made up of a square and the double of another square'' Im having difficulties understanding why this is. Can anyone help me understand this?



Fermats proof that a rational square is never congruent
In other words, Fermat is saying that if $x^2=y^2+2z^2$, then $x=c^2+2d^2$ for some $c$, $d$. I take it you know how to show that the solutions of $x^2+y^2=z^2$ are given by $x=2kmn$, $y=(m^2-n^2)k$, $z=(m^2+n^2)k$. Maybe if you subject $x^2=y^2+2z^2$ to the same kind of analysis, you get Fermat's claim. 


