Finding n?

( n , n + 1 , n + 3 , n + 5 n , n+1, n+3, n+5 ) are four consecutive prime numbers whose product is n 10 \overline{n10} .

What is the value of n n ?

Explanation: the product consists of three digits and only the hundred's digit is missing which is n n .


The answer is 2.

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4 solutions

Zach Abueg
Jun 15, 2017

Notice that n 10 910 \displaystyle \overline{n10} \leq 910 since it is a three digit number. Also notice that n 10 > n 4 \displaystyle \overline{n10} > n^4 since it equals n ( n + 1 ) ( n + 3 ) ( n + 5 ) n \cdot (n + 1) \cdot (n + 3) \cdot (n + 5) .

Thus,

n 4 910 n 910 4 n 5.492 n N n 5 \displaystyle \begin{aligned} n^4 & \leq 910 \\ n & \leq \sqrt[4]{910} \\ n & \leq 5.492 & \small \color{#3D99F6} n \in \mathbb{N} \\ n & \leq 5 \end{aligned}

The only prime numbers n 5 n \leq 5 are 2 2 , 3 3 , and 5 5 . Recall that if n n is prime, n + 1 n + 1 must also be prime, since it is one of the prime factors of n 10 \displaystyle \overline{n10} . Clearly, n 3 n \neq 3 and n 5 n \neq 5 since 4 4 and 6 6 are not prime.

Thus, n = 2 \displaystyle \boxed{n = 2} and the product is 210 210 . We see that 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 2, 3, 5, 7 are all prime and 2 3 5 7 = 210 2 \cdot 3 \cdot 5 \cdot 7 = 210 .

Nice solution, thank you for posting it.

Hana Wehbi - 3 years, 12 months ago

Since n and n+1 are both consecutive primes, 1 of them is even, so 2 is 1 of the prime factors. If n+1 would be 2(so n=1) the n+2 is 4, which is not prime. Hence n=2.

3 , 5 , 7 , 11 , 13 , 17 , 19 3, 5, 7, 11,13,17,19 are all consecutive primes, so we can't conclude that if we have consecutive primes, one should be even.

Hana Wehbi - 3 years, 12 months ago

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Problem states n, n+1,n+3,n+5. You example has n, n+2,n+4,n+6,n+8,n+10,n+14,n+16. That clearly doesn't fulfill the conditions of the problem.

Peter van der Linden - 3 years, 12 months ago

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What you said in your solution was correct since n , n + 1 n, n+1 are consecutive primes, one is even, l would say one should be 2 2 . I was trying if we can approach it differently, to avoid generalization. Thank you for the solution.

Hana Wehbi - 3 years, 12 months ago

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@Hana Wehbi Then we agree ;)

Peter van der Linden - 3 years, 12 months ago

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@Peter van der Linden Yes, also glad you are convinced now. I knew what you meant but sometimes the wording can put us in trouble.

Hana Wehbi - 3 years, 11 months ago
Chew-Seong Cheong
Jun 16, 2017

Other than the first prime 2, all larger primes are odd. If n + 1 n+1 , n + 3 n+3 , and n + 5 n+5 are primes, they must be odd. For three of them to be odd, n n must be even. Since n n is a prime and even, it must be 2 and the four primes are 2, 3, 5, and 7; and their product is 210. Therefore n = 2 n=\boxed{2} .

Thank you for the solution.

Hana Wehbi - 3 years, 11 months ago
Hana Wehbi
Jun 15, 2017

210 = 2 × 3 × 5 × 7 210= 2\times 3\times 5\times 7 , thus n = 2 n=2 .

Isn't the phrase "four consecutive prime numbers whose product has four unique prime factors" redundant? The product of n n distinct prime numbers would have n n distinct prime factors.

Calvin Lin Staff - 3 years, 11 months ago

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What do you suggest? I am open minded :)

Hana Wehbi - 3 years, 11 months ago

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Just say "... are four consecutive prime numbers. Their product is n10."

Calvin Lin Staff - 3 years, 11 months ago

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@Calvin Lin I fixed it.Thank you for the remark.

Hana Wehbi - 3 years, 11 months ago

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