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1 vote
0 answers
127 views

Some property of the greatest prime factor

Let $n$ be a positive integer $\geq 2$ et denote by $ P^{+}(n)$ the greatest prime factor of $n$ my question is as follows: If $a$ and $b$ are two numbers, is there any method to express or to bound $...
3 votes
0 answers
1k views

Formula for $\pi$ involving exponents of Mersenne primes

Can someone provide a proof for the following claim? $$\pi=\dfrac{S_0S_2}{M_3M_5} \cdot\left(\displaystyle\prod_{p \equiv 1 \pmod{4} } \frac{p}{p-1}\right) \cdot \left(\displaystyle\prod_{p \equiv 3 \...
1 vote
0 answers
118 views

A primality criterion for specific class of $N=4kp^n+1$

Can you provide a proof for the following claim: Let $P_m(x)=2^{-m}\cdot \left(\left(x-\sqrt{x^2-4})^m+(x+\sqrt{x^2-4}\right)^m\right)$ . Let $N= 4kp^n+1 $ such that $p$ is a prime number greater ...
3 votes
0 answers
266 views

Conjectured primality test for numbers of the form $N=4 \cdot 3^n-1$

This is a repost of this question. Can you provide proof or counterexample for the claim given below? Inspired by Lucas-Lehmer primality test I have formulated the following claim: Let $P_m(x)=2^{-m}\...
20 votes
3 answers
3k views

What is the simplest proof that the density of coprime pairs does not go to zero?

By density of coprime pairs, I mean the proportion of pairs integers between $1$ and $x$ which are coprime. This is known to be asymptotically $1/\zeta(2)$. I want something much weaker, namely that ...
6 votes
0 answers
381 views

A possible variant of Zagier's one-sentence proof for Fermat's sum of two squares theorem?

Is it possible to modify Zagier's one-sentence proof of Fermat's sum of two squares theorem (see here) to prove certain non-trivial cases of Jacobi's four-square theorem (see here)? Let $p$ be a prime ...
13 votes
3 answers
1k views

At what point would an elementary generalization of Bertrand's Postulate be interesting?

I know that in 1952 Jitsuro Nagura was able to show that there is always a prime between $k$ and $\frac{6k}{5}$ for $k > 24$. At what point would an improvement on Nagura's result be interesting? ...
-3 votes
1 answer
381 views

Is it true that there are infinite palindromic primes that when squared give palindromic number? [closed]

Can you prove that there are infinite palindromic primes that when squared give a palindromic number?
65 votes
6 answers
14k views

What is the simplest proof that the density of primes goes to zero?

By density of primes, I mean the proportion of integers between $1$ and $x$ which are prime. The prime number theorem says that this is asymptotically $1/\log(x)$. I want something much weaker, namely ...
13 votes
2 answers
2k views

Is Gauss's generalization of Wilson's theorem non-superficially related to the classification of moduli for which primitive roots exist?

Wilson's theorem (actually proven by Lagrange) from elementary number theory states that: If $n\ge 2$ is an integer, then $$ (n-1)! \equiv \begin{cases} \hfill -1 \pmod {n} &\text{ if } n \...
66 votes
3 answers
6k views

Chebyshev polynomials of the first kind and primality testing

Can you provide a proof or a counterexample for the claim given below ? Inspired by Agrawal's conjecture in this paper and by Theorem 4 in this paper I have formulated the following claim : Let $...
11 votes
2 answers
911 views

Primality test for specific class of Proth numbers

Can you provide a proof or a counterexample for the following claim : Let $P_m(x)=2^{-m}\cdot \left(\left(x-\sqrt{x^2-4}\right)^{m}+\left(x+\sqrt{x^2-4}\right)^{m}\right)$ Let $N=k\cdot 2^n+1$ such ...
17 votes
2 answers
1k views

Are [Wieferich] primes the only solutions to the equation $2^{k-1} \equiv 1 \pmod{k^2}$?

While studying a certain Diophantine equation in the squarefree integer $k \ge 2$, I believe I have proven the necessary restriction $$2^{k-1} \equiv 1\!\!\pmod{k^2}. \qquad(\star)$$ Based on what ...
10 votes
0 answers
633 views

Primality testing using Chebyshev polynomials

Can you provide a proof or a counterexample for the claim given below? Inspired by an alternative definition of the Frobenius primality test which is given in this paper I have formulated the ...
4 votes
1 answer
441 views

Two conjectural infinite series for $\pi$

I am looking for a proofs of the following two claims: Claim 1. $$\frac{2\pi}{\sqrt{3}}=\displaystyle\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{(-1)^{\Omega_1(n)}}{n}$$ where $\Omega_1(n)$ is the number of prime ...
14 votes
1 answer
1k views

Nonstandard proofs of the fundamental theorem of arithmetic

Thirty or so years ago, someone showed me a clever proof of the Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic that did not make use of the lemma "If $p\mid ab$ then $p\mid a$ or $p\mid b$". I'm unable ...
1 vote
1 answer
362 views

Primality test for numbers of the form $4k+3$

Can you prove or disprove the following claim: Let $n$ be a natural number of the form $4k+3$ , and let $c$ be the smallest odd prime such that $\binom{c}{n}=-1$ , where $\binom{}{}$ denotes a Jacobi ...
7 votes
2 answers
636 views

How to use the Prime Number Theorem in order to prove Selberg's Formula?

I`m reading Melvin B. Nathanson's "Elementary Methods in Number Theory" and I can't think of a way of deducing Selberg's formula (9.3) from the prime number theorem. This is one of the tasks ...
4 votes
1 answer
182 views

Primality test for specific class of $N=8k \cdot 3^n-1$

This question is related to my previous question. Can you prove or disprove the following claim: Let $P_m(x)=2^{-m}\cdot \left(\left(x-\sqrt{x^2-4}\right)^{m}+\left(x+\sqrt{x^2-4}\right)^{m}\right)$ ...
1 vote
0 answers
93 views

Primality test for specific class of $N=12k \cdot 5^n-1$

Can you provide a proof for the following claim: Let $P_m(x)=2^{-m}\cdot \left(\left(x-\sqrt{x^2-4})^m+(x+\sqrt{x^2-4}\right)^m\right)$ . Let $N= 12k \cdot 5^{n} - 1 $ where $n\ge3$ , $12k <5^n$ ...
0 votes
0 answers
123 views

Testing the primality of Mersenne and Fermat numbers using third order recurrence relation

Can you prove or disprove the claims given below? Inspired by generalization of Lucas-Lehmer test I have formulated the following claims: Claim 1 Let $M_p=2^p-1$ where $p$ is an odd prime number , ...
5 votes
0 answers
586 views

Primality test for specific class of generalized Fermat numbers

Can you provide a proof or a counterexample for the following claim : Let $P_m(x)=2^{-m}\cdot((x-\sqrt{x^2-4})^m+(x+\sqrt{x^2-4})^m)$ . Let $F_{p,n}= (2p)^{2^n}+1 $ where $p$ is a prime number ...
4 votes
1 answer
321 views

Primality test for $N=2^mp^n +1$

This question is related to my previous question. Can you prove or disprove the following claim: Let $N=2^mp^n+1$ , $m>0 , n>0$ and $p$ is an odd prime . If there exists an integer $a$ such ...
7 votes
1 answer
462 views

Primality test for $N=2^a3^b+1$

Can you prove or disprove the following claim: Let $N=2^a3^b+1$ , $a>0 , b>0$ . If there exists an integer $c$ such that $$c^{(N-1)/3}-c^{(N-1)/6} \equiv -1 \pmod{N}$$ then $N$ is a prime. You ...
2 votes
1 answer
365 views

Primality test for specific class of $N=8kp^n-1$

My following question is related to my question here Can you provide a proof or a counterexample for the following claim : Let $P_m(x)=2^{-m}\cdot \left(\left(x-\sqrt{x^2-4}\right)^{m}+\left(x+\...
5 votes
1 answer
332 views

Conjectured primality test for specific class of $N=k \cdot 6^n+1$

Can you provide a proof or a counterexample for the claim given below? Inspired by Theorem 5 in this paper I have formulated the following claim: Let $N=k \cdot 6^n+1$ , $k<6^n$ and $\operatorname{...
2 votes
1 answer
839 views

Primality test for generalized Fermat numbers

This question is successor of Primality test for specific class of generalized Fermat numbers . Can you provide a proof or a counterexample for the claim given below? Inspired by Lucas–Lehmer–Riesel ...
3 votes
0 answers
372 views

How to prove there is infinite prime numbers of form $5n+3$ without Dirichlet theorem? [closed]

Is there a nice elementary way to prove there is infinite prime numbers of form $5n+3$ (also for $5n+2$) with $n\in \mathbb{N}$? I know how to do it for primes of form $pn+1$ for any prime $p\geq 3$ ...
5 votes
1 answer
375 views

What was the first elementary proof that $\pi(x)=o(x)$?

Denote by $\pi(x)$ the number of primes $\leq x$. I'm interested in knowing who came up with the first elementary proof that $\pi(x)=o(x)$. I know that Chebyshev demonstrated elementarily before ...
12 votes
1 answer
391 views

A set of prime numbers

Consider a non-empty set $S$ of primes, with the property that, for every finite subset $S'\subset S$, all the primes dividing $\left(\prod_{k\in S'}k\right)+1$ are in $S$. For instance, it can ...
3 votes
1 answer
383 views

Primality test for specific class of $N=k \cdot b^n-1$

This question is successor of Compositeness test for specific class of $N=k \cdot b^n-1$ . Can you provide a proof or a counterexample to the following claim : Let $P_m(x)=2^{-m}\cdot \left(\left(...
2 votes
0 answers
306 views

Conjectured initial values of Inkeri's primality test for Fermat numbers

This is a repost of this question . Can you provide a proof or a counterexample to the claim given below ? First , we shall give a definition of the Inkeri's primality test for Fermat numbers : ...
1 vote
1 answer
252 views

Another question on strengthening the Sylvester-Schur Theorem

I've found an argument that if valid suggests that there is always a prime $p > n$ that divides ${{x+n} \choose n}$ when $x > \pi(n)$. As a math amateur, I am always doubtful about my results ...
6 votes
1 answer
826 views

Going beyond the Sylvester and Schur theorem with regard to $x,x+1,\dots,x+n-1$

I was recent reading through Paul Erdos's classic elementary proof of Sylvester-Schur. It occurred me that there is a simple argument that when $x$ is sufficiently large and if $p_i$ represents the $...
32 votes
3 answers
8k views

Ideas in the elementary proof of the prime number theorem (Selberg / Erdős)

I'm reading the elementary proof of prime number theorem (Selberg / Erdős, around 1949). One key step is to prove that, with $\vartheta(x) = \sum_{p\leq x} \log p$, $$(1) \qquad\qquad \vartheta(x) \...
17 votes
0 answers
891 views

An elementary proof that, for every fixed $n \in \mathbf N^+$, there are infinitely many primes $\equiv -1 \bmod n$

This morning, I made a comment to a comment to a question of Ayman Moussa, only to point out that, among many others, there is an elementary proof of Dirichlet's theorem on the existence of infinitely ...
2 votes
2 answers
707 views

Are simplified elementary proofs if valid interesting to the professional mathematical community [closed]

For the last 10+ years, as a math amateur, I worked nightly on understanding the distribution of primes and the classic results in the history of Fermat's Last Theorem. I have made numerous mistakes ...
0 votes
1 answer
374 views

Are there infinitely many $k$ for which $\frac{\sigma(k)}{k}=n^p$ and $p$ is an odd prime? [closed]

I would like to know if there are infinitely many $k$ for which $$\sigma(k)/k=n^p$$ such that $m=k{n}^{p-1}$ with $m,n>0$ and $p$ is an odd prime? Note: $\sigma(\frac{m}{{n}^{p-1}})$ is the sum of ...