Sum of the first few primes

Let S n S_n be the sum of the first n n prime numbers. For example S 3 = 2 + 3 + 5 = 10 S_3=2+3+5=10 . Is it possible that both of S m 1 , S m S_{m-1}, S_{m} are perfect squares?

Yes, it is possible. No, it is not possible.

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1 solution

Áron Bán-Szabó
Aug 27, 2017

Let p n p_n be the n n . prime number. Suppose S m 1 = k 2 S_{m-1}=k^2 and S m = l 2 S_m=l^2 , where m > 1 m>1 and both of k k and l l are positive integers.

We can assume that m > 4 m>4 . Since p m = S m S m 1 = ( l k ) ( l + k ) p_m=S_m-S_{m-1}=(l-k)(l+k) l k = 1 l-k=1 and k + k = p m k+k=p_m , and from that l = p m + 1 2 l=\dfrac{p_m+1}{2} , so S m = ( p m + 1 2 ) 2 = S m S_m=\left (\dfrac{p_m+1}{2}\right )^2=S_m .

However this is a contradiction, since there aren't only prime numbers in the sum, so S m ( 1 + 3 + 5 + + p m ) + 2 1 9 S_m\leq(1+3+5+\dots+p_m)+2-1-9

Therefore it si not possible.

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