Find the sum of all primes of the form n^n+1 less than 10^19?
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Here are many solutions .
My approach
We notice that for n = 1 , 2 p = 2 , 5 which are obviously the prime numbers . Further we have that p < 1 0 1 9 ⟹ n n + 1 < 1 0 1 9 . Taking lo g on both sides we get that lo g ( 1 0 1 9 ) lo g ( n n + 1 ) > 1 for n = 1 6 and lo g ( 1 0 1 9 ) lo g ( n n + 1 ) < 1 for n = 1 5 . Thus, the range of n is 1 ≤ n < 1 6 . .
If n = k b where k is an odd number greater than 1. Then n n + 1 = ( n b ) k + 1 is divisible by n b + 1 ( by factorization ) of a n + b n . Hence we arrived that n must be an even number.
Let n = 2 l and primes number are expressed as 2 k 1 + 1 = n n + 1 ⟹ l = 2 2 l 2 k 1 . This must be in form power of 2 if not then n n + 1 is composite. Working out with 2 , 4 , 8 . Only n = 2 , 4 are possible values. Hence , the required primes we have 1 1 + 1 , 2 2 + 1 , 4 4 + 1 . Hence , the sum of primes we have is 2 + 5 + 2 5 7 = 2 6 4 .
Note 8 doesn't work since 8 8 has odd divisors in it power tower.