Math Problem Statement
Find all positive integers $n$ such that $n$, $n+2$, and $n+4$ are all prime.
Solution
We are tasked with finding all positive integers such that , , and are all prime numbers. Let's analyze this step by step.
Step 1: Explore small values of
First, let's check small values of to see if we can find any primes that fit the condition.
- For :
- , , and . All three numbers are prime.
- Therefore, is a solution.
Step 2: General Analysis
Now let's see if there are any other solutions.
We are looking for three numbers , , and that are all prime. Consider the following points:
-
One of the numbers must be divisible by 3, since among any three consecutive numbers , , and , one of them must be divisible by 3. This follows from the fact that every third number is divisible by 3.
- If is divisible by 3, then (since any higher multiple of 3 is not prime).
- If is divisible by 3, then , which implies . However, is not prime, so this case is not possible.
- If is divisible by 3, then , which implies , but this is not a positive integer.
Thus, the only possibility for being divisible by 3 is when .
Step 3: Conclusion
The only solution is .
Thus, the only positive integer such that , , and are all prime is:
Would you like further details or clarifications?
Here are five related questions to explore further:
- What are the first 10 prime numbers?
- Can there be any sequence of 4 consecutive odd primes?
- What is the largest known prime number, and how is it discovered?
- Why is 2 the only even prime number?
- How can we prove that there are infinitely many prime numbers?
Tip: Prime numbers greater than 3 can be expressed in the form .
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Math Problem Analysis
Mathematical Concepts
Number Theory
Prime Numbers
Formulas
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Theorems
Prime Number Theorem
Divisibility Rule for 3
Suitable Grade Level
Grades 9-12