Problem

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Tags: number theory, prime numbers, contests, Argentina



The sequence $a_n (n\geq 1)$ of natural numbers is defined as $a_{n+1}=a_n+b_n,$ where $b_n$ is the number that has the same digits as $a_n$ but in the opposite order ($b_n$ can start with $0$). For example, if $a_1=180,$ then $a_2=261, a_3=423.$ a) Decide if $a_1$ can be chosen so that $a_7$ is prime. b) Decide if $a_1$ can be chosen so that $a_5$ is prime.