I want to prove that none of the numbers 1(9),11(9),111(9),1111(9)⋯ are prime where x(9) means, the number x is in base 9. My first attempt was to try mathematical induction. V(0) works because 1 is not a prime. But then i couldn't prove the induction step anyhow.
1+9+81+...+9n is not prime⇒1+9+81+...+9n+1 is not prime
My next try was to prove it with geometric series.
Let sn=n∑k=19n
We are proving ∀n∈N:sn is not prime.
using the sum of geometric seriessn=9n−18 But here I am stuck again and have no idea how to show that this can't be prime for any n∈N.
Answer
Hint
9n−1=(3n)2−1=(3n−1)(3n+1)
Now, 3n−1,3n+1 are two consecutive even numbers, thus one is divisible by 4 and the other by 2. Consider the two cases (when 4|3n−1 and 4|3n+1) and write 9n−18 as a product of two integers. Explain why neither can be 1.
No comments:
Post a Comment