Prime Triplet

Let n > 1 n>1 be an integer such that the triplet ( n , n + 2 , n + 4 ) (n, n+2, n+4) are all prime numbers.

The number of such triplets is __________ . \text{\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_}.

1 2 more than one but finite infinite

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3 solutions

Taisanul Haque
Oct 28, 2018

Answer would be 1. As n n , n + 2 n+2 , n + 4 n+4 are all prime so these numbers are are divisible by 1 1 and itself. Now consider the product of all these numbers i.e n n + 2 n + 4 n*n+2*n+4 \equiv n n + 1 n + 2 n*n+1*n+2 ( m o d 3 mod 3 ) \equiv 0 0 ( m o d 3 mod 3 ) \implies 3 divides the product which forces n to be 3 3 otherwise product would have factors 2 , 3 , 6 2,3,6 which contradicts that product has only n , n + 2 , n + 4 n,n+2,n+4 as factors.

Jerin J Titus
Oct 29, 2018

All prime numbers (greater than or equal to 5 5 ) are of the form 6 q + 1 6q +1 or 6 q + 5 6q + 5 , where q q is greater or equal than 1 1 .
{Since 6 q + 1 6q +1 and 6 q + 5 6q + 5 both are only divisible by 1 and the number itself)}
Let n n be a prime number greater or equal to 5 5 { q q greater than or equal to 1 1 }.
C a s e 1 : Case 1 :
n = 6 q + 1 n = 6q + 1 (a prime number);
n + 2 = 6 q + 3 n + 2 = 6q + 3 ( can never be a prime number);
n + 4 = 6 q + 5 n + 4 = 6q + 5 ( can be a prime number);
C a s e 2 : Case 2 :
n = 6 q + 5 n = 6q + 5 ( a prime number);
n + 2 = 6 q + 7 = 6 ( q + 1 ) + 1 n + 2 = 6q + 7 = 6(q + 1) + 1 ( can be a prime number);
n + 4 = 6 q + 9 n + 4 = 6q + 9 (not a prime number as it is divisible by 3 3 );


Therefore for all cases n n greater than 7 7 no such triple exists. So the only possible solution is ( 3 , 5 , 7 ) (3,5,7) . Answer is 1 \boxed{1} .

Q . E . D Q.E.D

One of the numbers n, n+2, n+4 is divisible by 3 for all integer n. (since n has to be of the form 3m or 3m-1 or 3m+1 for integer m) . Therefore the only possibility is the triplet 3, 5, 7

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