Let be the set of positive integers for which is a product of three different primes. Compute the product of the five smallest elements of .
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If for a positive integer n the number n 2 − 1 is a product of three different primes, then (in view of 2 2 − 1 = 3 ) we have n > 2. Next, in view of the identity n 2 − 1 = ( n − 1 ) ( n + 1 ) , the number n must be even since otherwise the factors on the right-hand side would be even, and 2 2 ∣ n 2 − 1 .
Moreover, the numbers n -1 and n + 1 (which are both > 1 since n > 2) cannot be both composite since in this case n 2 − 1 could not be a product of three different primes. Thus, one of the numbers n -1 and n + 1 must be a prime, and the other one must be a product of two primes.
For n = 4, we get n -1 = 3, n + 1 = 5, and this condition is not satisfied. Similarly, for n = 6, we get n -1 = 5, n +1 = 7; for n = 8, we have n -1 = 7, n +1 = 9 = 3 2 . For n = 10, we have n -1 = 32, and for n = 12 we have n -1 = 11, n +1 = 13.
For n = 14, we have n -1 = 13, n +1 = 15 = 3· 5. Thus, the least positive integer n for which n 2 − 1 is a product of three different primes is n = 14, for which n 2 − 1 = 3 · 5 · 13. Since 1 6 2 − 1 = 3 · 5 ·17, we see that the next number which satisfies the required property is n = 16. Now, 1 8 2 − 1 = 17 .19, 2 0 2 − 1 = 19 .21 = 3· 7 ·19, and the third such number is n = 20. Next, 2 2 2 − 1 = 3 · 7· 23, and the fourth of the required numbers is n = 22. Continuing in this way we find easily the fifth such number to be n = 32, for which 3 2 2 − 1 = 3 · 11 · 31.
Thus, the first five integers n for which n 2 − 1 is a product of three different primes are 14, 16, 20, 22, and 32.
Thus 1 4 × 1 6 × 2 0 × 2 2 × 3 2 is 3153920.