Composite/prime

Algebra Level 2

Fill in the blank:

5 125 1 5 25 1 \dfrac{5^{125}-1}{5^{25}-1} is a __________ \text{\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_} .

Prime number Composite number Neither

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2 solutions

Munem Shahriar
Oct 3, 2017

Suppose x = 5 25 x = 5^{25}

5 125 1 5^{125}-1

= x 5 1 =x^{5}-1

= ( x 1 ) ( x 4 + x 3 + x 2 + x + 1 ) =(x-1)(x^{4}+x^{3}+x^{2}+x+1)

= ( x 4 + 9 x 2 + 1 + 6 x 3 + 6 x + 2 x 2 5 x 3 10 x 2 5 x ) ( x 1 ) =(x^{4}+9x^{2}+1+6x^{3}+6x+2x^{2}-5x^{3}-10x^{2}-5x)(x-1)

= { ( x 2 + 3 x + 1 ) 2 5 x ( x + 1 ) 2 } ( x 1 ) =\{(x^{2}+3x+1)^{2}-5x(x+1)^{2}\}(x-1)

= ( x 2 + 3 x + 1 ) 2 { 5 13 ( x + 1 ) } 2 ( x 1 ) =(x^{2}+3x+1)^{2}-\{5^{13}(x+1)\}^{2}(x-1)

= { x 2 + 3 x + 1 + 5 13 ( x + 1 ) } { x 2 + 3 x + 1 5 13 ( x + 1 ) } ( x 1 ) =\{x^{2}+3x+1+5^{13}(x+1)\}\{x^{2}+3x+1-5^{13}(x+1)\}(x-1)

Hence 5 125 1 5 25 1 \dfrac{5^{125}-1}{5^{25}-1} is a composite number

A non-trivial factorization. I'm impressed! Of course you meant composite, instead of complex.

Factors you identified are thus: 88817842333810404837131501464843751 and 88817841606214643418788908691406251.

Both are composite numbers by the way. Thanks for the enlightenment!

Steven Perkins - 3 years, 8 months ago

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I have corrected it. Thanks

Munem Shahriar - 3 years, 8 months ago
Steven Perkins
Oct 3, 2017

The number in question is: 7888609052210118080587065254524747981434984467341564893722534179687501

It is in fact composite, but it's not trivial to determine that. For me it required a computer and specialized factoring software. The smallest factor is 3597751.

It's interesting to note that all of the factors are of the form 5^3 * n + 1. I'd be pleased if someone could enlighten me as to why that might be the case?

How did you compute 5 125 1 5 25 1 ? \dfrac{5^{125}-1}{5^{25}-1}?

Munem Shahriar - 3 years, 8 months ago

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I computed it using Python.

Steven Perkins - 3 years, 8 months ago

I have posted a solution. What is your opinion?

Munem Shahriar - 3 years, 8 months ago

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