Error in Twin Prime ConjectureCan the twin prime conjecture be solved in this way?What is wrong with this proposed proof of the twin prime conjecture?How to pigeonhole the primes between $p_n$ and $p_n+1^2$ for twin prime conjecture?Possible method to prove infinite twin prime conjectureTwin prime conjecture proof errorWould Brun's constant being transcendental prove the twin prime conjecture?Can't understand the logical structure of Euclid's infinitely many primes proof in Rosen's book.A twin prime theorem, and a reformulation of the twin prime conjectureTwin prime conjecture and gaps between primesIterated Twin Prime conjecture
How do I hide Chekhov's Gun?
Why did it take so long to abandon sail after steamships were demonstrated?
Do I need life insurance if I can cover my own funeral costs?
Employee lack of ownership
Most cost effective thermostat setting: consistent temperature vs. lowest temperature possible
Is there a data structure that only stores hash codes and not the actual objects?
Should we release the security issues we found in our product as CVE or we can just update those on weekly release notes?
How to terminate ping <dest> &
My Graph Theory Students
What are substitutions for coconut in curry?
Define, (actually define) the "stability" and "energy" of a compound
Are there verbs that are neither telic, or atelic?
Life insurance that covers only simultaneous/dual deaths
Can a druid choose the size of its wild shape beast?
Welcoming 2019 Pi day: How to draw the letter π?
Error in Twin Prime Conjecture
A Cautionary Suggestion
Is this a real picture of Jordan Peterson in New Zealand with a fan wearing a shirt that says "I'm a Proud Islamaphobe"?
Interplanetary conflict, some disease destroys the ability to understand or appreciate music
Are all passive ability checks floors for active ability checks?
Official degrees of earth’s rotation per day
How to create the Curved texte?
Existence of subset with given Hausdorff dimension
How do anti-virus programs start at Windows boot?
Error in Twin Prime Conjecture
Can the twin prime conjecture be solved in this way?What is wrong with this proposed proof of the twin prime conjecture?How to pigeonhole the primes between $p_n$ and $p_n+1^2$ for twin prime conjecture?Possible method to prove infinite twin prime conjectureTwin prime conjecture proof errorWould Brun's constant being transcendental prove the twin prime conjecture?Can't understand the logical structure of Euclid's infinitely many primes proof in Rosen's book.A twin prime theorem, and a reformulation of the twin prime conjectureTwin prime conjecture and gaps between primesIterated Twin Prime conjecture
$begingroup$
Euclid's theorem states:
Consider any finite list of prime numbers $p_1, p_2, ..., p_n$. It will be shown that at least one additional prime number not in this list exists. Let $P$ be the product of all the prime numbers in the list: $P = p_1p_2...p_n$. Let $q = P + 1$. Then $q$ is either prime or not.
If $q$ is prime, then there is at least one more prime that is not in the list. If $q$ is not prime, then some prime factor $p$ divides $q$. If this factor $p$ were in our list, then it would divide $P$ (since $P$ is the product of every number in the list); but $p$ divides $P + 1 = q$. If $p$ divides $P$ and $q$, then $p$ would have to divide the difference of the two numbers, which is $(P + 1) − P$ or just $1$. Since no prime number divides $1$, $p$ cannot be on the list. This means that at least one more prime number exists beyond those in the list. This proves that for every finite list of prime numbers there is a prime number not in the list, and therefore there must be infinitely many prime numbers.
My question:
Does this theorem also hold if you let $q = P - 1$?
Wouldn't $P-1$ also be necessarily a new prime number? And if so, it and $P+1$ would be a set of twin primes.
So the proof would be:
Assume there are a finite number of twin primes such that $p_n+1 - p_n = 2$.
Then, from the final set of twin primes, choose the larger of these two primes $p_n+1$. Calculate $S=p_1p_2...p_n+1$. So you now have a product of all primes up to $p_n+1$. Call this $S$. $S + 1$ is a prime number and so is $S - 1$. This is a new set of twin primes not in our original list, thus there cannot be a finite list of twin primes.
Of course, if $S - 1$ is not prime, then this falls apart.
proof-verification prime-numbers prime-twins
edited 52 mins ago
David G. Stork
11.1k41432
asked 4 hours ago
Jeffrey ScottJeffrey Scott
161
New contributor
Jeffrey Scott is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Euclid's theorem states:
Consider any finite list of prime numbers $p_1, p_2, ..., p_n$. It will be shown that at least one additional prime number not in this list exists. Let $P$ be the product of all the prime numbers in the list: $P = p_1p_2...p_n$. Let $q = P + 1$. Then $q$ is either prime or not.
If $q$ is prime, then there is at least one more prime that is not in the list. If $q$ is not prime, then some prime factor $p$ divides $q$. If this factor $p$ were in our list, then it would divide $P$ (since $P$ is the product of every number in the list); but $p$ divides $P + 1 = q$. If $p$ divides $P$ and $q$, then $p$ would have to divide the difference of the two numbers, which is $(P + 1) − P$ or just $1$. Since no prime number divides $1$, $p$ cannot be on the list. This means that at least one more prime number exists beyond those in the list. This proves that for every finite list of prime numbers there is a prime number not in the list, and therefore there must be infinitely many prime numbers.
My question:
Does this theorem also hold if you let $q = P - 1$?
Wouldn't $P-1$ also be necessarily a new prime number? And if so, it and $P+1$ would be a set of twin primes.
So the proof would be:
Assume there are a finite number of twin primes such that $p_n+1 - p_n = 2$.
Then, from the final set of twin primes, choose the larger of these two primes $p_n+1$. Calculate $S=p_1p_2...p_n+1$. So you now have a product of all primes up to $p_n+1$. Call this $S$. $S + 1$ is a prime number and so is $S - 1$. This is a new set of twin primes not in our original list, thus there cannot be a finite list of twin primes.
Of course, if $S - 1$ is not prime, then this falls apart.
proof-verification prime-numbers prime-twins
edited 52 mins ago
David G. Stork
11.1k41432
asked 4 hours ago
Jeffrey ScottJeffrey Scott
161
New contributor
Jeffrey Scott is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
6
$begingroup$
There’s absolutely no reason why S+1 or S-1 should be a prime number though, it merely has an unlisted prime factor.
$endgroup$
– Noe Blassel
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
By the way, take a look at the edits. It's a courtesy to other contributors to use MathJax to format your posts. If you're not familiar with it, it's not hard to learn -- I've been on this site for less than two months and it has become second nature.
$endgroup$
– Robert Shore
4 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Euclid's theorem states:
Consider any finite list of prime numbers $p_1, p_2, ..., p_n$. It will be shown that at least one additional prime number not in this list exists. Let $P$ be the product of all the prime numbers in the list: $P = p_1p_2...p_n$. Let $q = P + 1$. Then $q$ is either prime or not.
If $q$ is prime, then there is at least one more prime that is not in the list. If $q$ is not prime, then some prime factor $p$ divides $q$. If this factor $p$ were in our list, then it would divide $P$ (since $P$ is the product of every number in the list); but $p$ divides $P + 1 = q$. If $p$ divides $P$ and $q$, then $p$ would have to divide the difference of the two numbers, which is $(P + 1) − P$ or just $1$. Since no prime number divides $1$, $p$ cannot be on the list. This means that at least one more prime number exists beyond those in the list. This proves that for every finite list of prime numbers there is a prime number not in the list, and therefore there must be infinitely many prime numbers.
My question:
Does this theorem also hold if you let $q = P - 1$?
Wouldn't $P-1$ also be necessarily a new prime number? And if so, it and $P+1$ would be a set of twin primes.
So the proof would be:
Assume there are a finite number of twin primes such that $p_n+1 - p_n = 2$.
Then, from the final set of twin primes, choose the larger of these two primes $p_n+1$. Calculate $S=p_1p_2...p_n+1$. So you now have a product of all primes up to $p_n+1$. Call this $S$. $S + 1$ is a prime number and so is $S - 1$. This is a new set of twin primes not in our original list, thus there cannot be a finite list of twin primes.
Of course, if $S - 1$ is not prime, then this falls apart.
proof-verification prime-numbers prime-twins
edited 52 mins ago
David G. Stork
11.1k41432
asked 4 hours ago
Jeffrey ScottJeffrey Scott
161
New contributor
Jeffrey Scott is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
Euclid's theorem states:
Consider any finite list of prime numbers $p_1, p_2, ..., p_n$. It will be shown that at least one additional prime number not in this list exists. Let $P$ be the product of all the prime numbers in the list: $P = p_1p_2...p_n$. Let $q = P + 1$. Then $q$ is either prime or not.
If $q$ is prime, then there is at least one more prime that is not in the list. If $q$ is not prime, then some prime factor $p$ divides $q$. If this factor $p$ were in our list, then it would divide $P$ (since $P$ is the product of every number in the list); but $p$ divides $P + 1 = q$. If $p$ divides $P$ and $q$, then $p$ would have to divide the difference of the two numbers, which is $(P + 1) − P$ or just $1$. Since no prime number divides $1$, $p$ cannot be on the list. This means that at least one more prime number exists beyond those in the list. This proves that for every finite list of prime numbers there is a prime number not in the list, and therefore there must be infinitely many prime numbers.
My question:
Does this theorem also hold if you let $q = P - 1$?
Wouldn't $P-1$ also be necessarily a new prime number? And if so, it and $P+1$ would be a set of twin primes.
So the proof would be:
Assume there are a finite number of twin primes such that $p_n+1 - p_n = 2$.
Then, from the final set of twin primes, choose the larger of these two primes $p_n+1$. Calculate $S=p_1p_2...p_n+1$. So you now have a product of all primes up to $p_n+1$. Call this $S$. $S + 1$ is a prime number and so is $S - 1$. This is a new set of twin primes not in our original list, thus there cannot be a finite list of twin primes.
Of course, if $S - 1$ is not prime, then this falls apart.
proof-verification prime-numbers prime-twins
proof-verification prime-numbers prime-twins
edited 52 mins ago
David G. Stork
11.1k41432
asked 4 hours ago
Jeffrey ScottJeffrey Scott
161
New contributor
Jeffrey Scott is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 52 mins ago
David G. Stork
11.1k41432
asked 4 hours ago
Jeffrey ScottJeffrey Scott
161
New contributor
Jeffrey Scott is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 52 mins ago
David G. Stork
11.1k41432
edited 52 mins ago
David G. Stork
11.1k41432
edited 52 mins ago
David G. Stork
11.1k41432
11.1k41432
asked 4 hours ago
Jeffrey ScottJeffrey Scott
161
New contributor
Jeffrey Scott is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 4 hours ago
Jeffrey ScottJeffrey Scott
161
asked 4 hours ago
Jeffrey ScottJeffrey Scott
161
161
New contributor
Jeffrey Scott is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Jeffrey Scott is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Jeffrey Scott is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
6
$begingroup$
There’s absolutely no reason why S+1 or S-1 should be a prime number though, it merely has an unlisted prime factor.
$endgroup$
– Noe Blassel
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
By the way, take a look at the edits. It's a courtesy to other contributors to use MathJax to format your posts. If you're not familiar with it, it's not hard to learn -- I've been on this site for less than two months and it has become second nature.
$endgroup$
– Robert Shore
4 hours ago
add a comment |
6
$begingroup$
There’s absolutely no reason why S+1 or S-1 should be a prime number though, it merely has an unlisted prime factor.
$endgroup$
– Noe Blassel
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
By the way, take a look at the edits. It's a courtesy to other contributors to use MathJax to format your posts. If you're not familiar with it, it's not hard to learn -- I've been on this site for less than two months and it has become second nature.
$endgroup$
– Robert Shore
4 hours ago
6
6
$begingroup$
There’s absolutely no reason why S+1 or S-1 should be a prime number though, it merely has an unlisted prime factor.
$endgroup$
– Noe Blassel
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
There’s absolutely no reason why S+1 or S-1 should be a prime number though, it merely has an unlisted prime factor.
$endgroup$
– Noe Blassel
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
By the way, take a look at the edits. It's a courtesy to other contributors to use MathJax to format your posts. If you're not familiar with it, it's not hard to learn -- I've been on this site for less than two months and it has become second nature.
$endgroup$
– Robert Shore
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
By the way, take a look at the edits. It's a courtesy to other contributors to use MathJax to format your posts. If you're not familiar with it, it's not hard to learn -- I've been on this site for less than two months and it has become second nature.
$endgroup$
– Robert Shore
4 hours ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
Remember, your original argument doesn't show that $P+1$ is itself prime. It shows that $P+1$ has a prime factor that you haven't already accounted for. So while you could make the same argument for $P-1$, you'd also reach the same conclusion, not that $P-1$ is itself necessarily prime, but only that it has some prime factor not in your original list. So that's of no help in proving the Twin Prime Conjecture.
Similarly, you don't know that $S+1$ or $S-1$ is prime. You just know that they have prime factors that aren't on your original list of twin primes, but that doesn't help you.
answered 4 hours ago
Robert ShoreRobert Shore
2,980219
$endgroup$
3
$begingroup$
Ah you're right. 2 * 3 * 5 * 7 = 210. But 209 is not prime.
$endgroup$
– Jeffrey Scott
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
Glad I could help. Acceptances of answers that you find useful are always welcome.
$endgroup$
– Robert Shore
3 hours ago
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function ()
return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function ()
StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix)
StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["$", "$"], ["\\(","\\)"]]);
);
);
, "mathjax-editing");
StackExchange.ready(function()
var channelOptions =
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "69"
;
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function()
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled)
StackExchange.using("snippets", function()
createEditor();
);
else
createEditor();
);
function createEditor()
StackExchange.prepareEditor(
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: true,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: 10,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader:
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
,
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
);
);
Jeffrey Scott is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function ()
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f3149966%2ferror-in-twin-prime-conjecture%23new-answer', 'question_page');
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
Remember, your original argument doesn't show that $P+1$ is itself prime. It shows that $P+1$ has a prime factor that you haven't already accounted for. So while you could make the same argument for $P-1$, you'd also reach the same conclusion, not that $P-1$ is itself necessarily prime, but only that it has some prime factor not in your original list. So that's of no help in proving the Twin Prime Conjecture.
Similarly, you don't know that $S+1$ or $S-1$ is prime. You just know that they have prime factors that aren't on your original list of twin primes, but that doesn't help you.
answered 4 hours ago
Robert ShoreRobert Shore
2,980219
$endgroup$
3
$begingroup$
Ah you're right. 2 * 3 * 5 * 7 = 210. But 209 is not prime.
$endgroup$
– Jeffrey Scott
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
Glad I could help. Acceptances of answers that you find useful are always welcome.
$endgroup$
– Robert Shore
3 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Remember, your original argument doesn't show that $P+1$ is itself prime. It shows that $P+1$ has a prime factor that you haven't already accounted for. So while you could make the same argument for $P-1$, you'd also reach the same conclusion, not that $P-1$ is itself necessarily prime, but only that it has some prime factor not in your original list. So that's of no help in proving the Twin Prime Conjecture.
Similarly, you don't know that $S+1$ or $S-1$ is prime. You just know that they have prime factors that aren't on your original list of twin primes, but that doesn't help you.
answered 4 hours ago
Robert ShoreRobert Shore
2,980219
$endgroup$
3
$begingroup$
Ah you're right. 2 * 3 * 5 * 7 = 210. But 209 is not prime.
$endgroup$
– Jeffrey Scott
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
Glad I could help. Acceptances of answers that you find useful are always welcome.
$endgroup$
– Robert Shore
3 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Remember, your original argument doesn't show that $P+1$ is itself prime. It shows that $P+1$ has a prime factor that you haven't already accounted for. So while you could make the same argument for $P-1$, you'd also reach the same conclusion, not that $P-1$ is itself necessarily prime, but only that it has some prime factor not in your original list. So that's of no help in proving the Twin Prime Conjecture.
Similarly, you don't know that $S+1$ or $S-1$ is prime. You just know that they have prime factors that aren't on your original list of twin primes, but that doesn't help you.
answered 4 hours ago
Robert ShoreRobert Shore
2,980219
$endgroup$
Remember, your original argument doesn't show that $P+1$ is itself prime. It shows that $P+1$ has a prime factor that you haven't already accounted for. So while you could make the same argument for $P-1$, you'd also reach the same conclusion, not that $P-1$ is itself necessarily prime, but only that it has some prime factor not in your original list. So that's of no help in proving the Twin Prime Conjecture.
Similarly, you don't know that $S+1$ or $S-1$ is prime. You just know that they have prime factors that aren't on your original list of twin primes, but that doesn't help you.
answered 4 hours ago
Robert ShoreRobert Shore
2,980219
answered 4 hours ago
Robert ShoreRobert Shore
2,980219
answered 4 hours ago
Robert ShoreRobert Shore
2,980219
answered 4 hours ago
Robert ShoreRobert Shore
2,980219
2,980219
3
$begingroup$
Ah you're right. 2 * 3 * 5 * 7 = 210. But 209 is not prime.
$endgroup$
– Jeffrey Scott
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
Glad I could help. Acceptances of answers that you find useful are always welcome.
$endgroup$
– Robert Shore
3 hours ago
add a comment |
3
$begingroup$
Ah you're right. 2 * 3 * 5 * 7 = 210. But 209 is not prime.
$endgroup$
– Jeffrey Scott
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
Glad I could help. Acceptances of answers that you find useful are always welcome.
$endgroup$
– Robert Shore
3 hours ago
3
3
$begingroup$
Ah you're right. 2 * 3 * 5 * 7 = 210. But 209 is not prime.
$endgroup$
– Jeffrey Scott
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
Ah you're right. 2 * 3 * 5 * 7 = 210. But 209 is not prime.
$endgroup$
– Jeffrey Scott
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
Glad I could help. Acceptances of answers that you find useful are always welcome.
$endgroup$
– Robert Shore
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Glad I could help. Acceptances of answers that you find useful are always welcome.
$endgroup$
– Robert Shore
3 hours ago
add a comment |
Jeffrey Scott is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Jeffrey Scott is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Jeffrey Scott is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Jeffrey Scott is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Thanks for contributing an answer to Mathematics Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
Use MathJax to format equations. MathJax reference.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function ()
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f3149966%2ferror-in-twin-prime-conjecture%23new-answer', 'question_page');
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
6
$begingroup$
There’s absolutely no reason why S+1 or S-1 should be a prime number though, it merely has an unlisted prime factor.
$endgroup$
– Noe Blassel
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
By the way, take a look at the edits. It's a courtesy to other contributors to use MathJax to format your posts. If you're not familiar with it, it's not hard to learn -- I've been on this site for less than two months and it has become second nature.
$endgroup$
– Robert Shore
4 hours ago