Problems & Puzzles: Problems

Problem 2.- Carl Pomerance Observation

N = prime = n - p for all n/2<p = prime < n, only for n = 210

Pomerance observed that 210 - p is prime for p =107, 109, 113, 127, 131, 137, 139, 149, 151, 157, 163, 167, 173, 179, 181, 191, 193, 197 & 199, being p all the primes such that n/2<p< n.

He asked for another number n greater than 210 with the same property but "With the help of Deshouillers, Granville & Narkiewicz, he later answered this negatively".

1. can you construct a similar interesting question like or related with this of Pomerance?.
2
. Has anything to do with the Pomerance observation, the peculiar fact that 210 = 2*3*5*7 ?

(Ref. 2, p. 43)

Solution

Question 2.- 

Dagfinn Nordås, from Norway (13/02/99) has an explanation to the last paragraph of this Problem. Here is his e-mail:

"In problem 2 you ask if Pomerance`s observation has anything to do with the "peculiar" fact that 210=2*3*5*7?

My answer: 210-p  (210-p<11^2, p is prime) will always be prime because since 2,3,5,7 goes up in 210 it can`t go up in 210 +/- p.

Since the biggest number here is 103 (210-107), it must have a prime factor lesser than 11, and since these primes are 2,3,5,7 which I have proven(hopefully) is not a factor,210-p (n/2<p<n) is prime." E-mail: dagfinnn@hotmail.com

Question 1.-

Said El Aidi ,from Morocco wrote (13/06/2000):

"In problem 1 you ask if we can construct a similar interesting question like or related with this of Pomerance". My answer is:

N=prime=n-p for all 13n/14<p=prime<n-1 ,only for n=2310

I verified that 2310-p is prime for p=2153,2161,2179, 2203, 2207 ,2213, 2221, 2237, 2239, 2243, 2251, 2267, 2269, 2273, 2281,2287,2293 & 2297, being p all the prime such that 13n/14<p<n-1.

This has nothing to do with the fact that n=2*3*5*7*11. My e.mail: Saidofski@hotmail.com "

***

Two days later, Said El Aidi wrote again the following:


"I found a generalization of Carl Pomerance Observation, answer
to the two questions at the same time.

This is my result :

For every integer n=>210.
N=prime =n-p for all n*[n/p²k+1]/([n/p²k+1]+1)<p =prime<n-1,
only for n =pk# =2*3*5*7*…*pk.
(Here [x] is the greatest integer <= x , usually called the "floor function"). 

Proof :

Let p be a prime such that n*[n/p²k+1]/([n/p²k+1]+1)<p<n-1
We have N=n-p< n/([n/p²k+1]+1) <p²k+1
Suppose N is composite.Then N must have a prime factor lesser 
than pk+1 (2,3,5,7,…,or pk).
As N and p are relatively prime (Because N=n-p<p),therefore
p=n -N is composite. This contradicts the fact that p is prime.
Then N must be prime.

Example:

1. For n =p4 # =210 , 210-p is prime for all the primes p 
such that n/2<p<n-1.
2. For n =p5 # =2310 , 2310-p is prime for all the primes p
such that 13n/14<p<n-1.
3. For n =p6 # =30030 , 30030-p is prime for all the primes p
such that 103n/104<p<n-1.
"

***

 

 


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