Consider the sequence $(3^{2^n} + 1)_{n\geq 1}$. i) Prove there exist infinitely many primes, none dividing any term of the sequence. ii) Prove there exist infinitely many primes, each dividing some term of the sequence. (Dan Schwarz)
Problem
Source: Starts of Mathematics 2013 - Juniors - Problem 3
Tags: modular arithmetic, quadratics, number theory proposed, number theory
20.10.2013 13:59
1) . Let there be prime $p$ dividing $3^{2^n}+1 $ then we have $3^{2^{n+1}} \equiv 1 \pmod{p}$ Let $d$ denote $order_p(3)$ . Then $d$ mist divide $2^{n+1}$ . So $d$ is of form $2^k$ . But if $k<n+1$ then , we get $3^{2^n} \equiv 1 \pmod{p}$ which is contradiction . Thus $d=2^{n+1}$ . AQlso since $d$ is order , $d|p-1$ Thus $p=2^{n+1}\cdot k+1$ . So any prime other than this form doesnot divide any term of the sequence . Thus there exist infinitely many primes , none dividing any term of sequence $\Box$.
20.10.2013 16:20
1)$gcd(a_{n},a_{m})=2$ 2)$p\mid{3^{2^{n}}+1}\Longrightarrow{2^{n}\mid{p-1}}$ $2^{n}$ no divide $p-1$ and $p$ no divide $a_{i},i=1,2,...,n$ are infinitly
21.10.2013 20:41
I think it even holds for sequence $(3^{2n}+1)_{n\geq 1}$. I) There is infinitely many primes of form $p=4k-1$ and none of them can divide any of this numbers (because -1 is quadratic nonresidue modulo such $p$). II) Zsigmondy theorem : http://mathworld.wolfram.com/ZsigmondyTheorem.html Q.E.D.
21.10.2013 20:50
It even holds for $(a^n+1)_{n\geq 1}$, with arbitrary integer $a>1$ fixed; it was Problem 3 Seniors.
08.09.2014 06:23
08.09.2016 11:39
2)$n\ge 2$:By Zsigmondy's theorem, ∃$p$(prime) s.t. $p|3^{2^n}+1$ and $p\nmid 3^{2^m}+1(1\le m<n)$.Therefore the proof is completed.$\blacksquare$
08.09.2016 11:55
mavropnevma wrote: It even holds for $(a^n+1)_{n\geq 1}$, with arbitrary integer $a>1$ fixed; it was Problem 3 Seniors. (2) For $n\ge 4$:By Zsigmondy's theorem, ∃$p$(prime) s.t. $p|a^n+1$ and $p\nmid a^m+1(1\le m<n)$.Therefore the proof is completed.$\blacksquare$