Can the sum of two primes be prime if both primes are odd?

In summary: If the sum of two primes is prime, then one of the primes must be 2.The Attempt at a Solution Proof: Since all primes bigger than 2 are odd the only way to get a sum of two primes to be odd is to add an odd prime with an even prime. Let y be an odd prime such that there exists and integer q so that y=2q+1, and then we will add this to 2 giving us a new number k such that k=2+(2q+1)=2q+3 which is not divisible by 2 therefore it is odd. Suppose for
  • #1
cragar
2,552
3

Homework Statement



If the sum of two primes is prime, then one of the primes must be 2.

The Attempt at a Solution


Proof:
Since all primes bigger than 2 are odd the only way to get a sum of two primes to be odd is to add an odd prime with an even prime.
Let y be an odd prime such that there exists and integer q so that y=2q+1, and then we will add this to 2 giving us a new number k such that k=2+(2q+1)=2q+3 which is not divisible by 2 therefore it is odd. Suppose for the sake of contradiction that both of the primes were odd and when added together were prime.
Let integers T and P be given that are odd primes. And T=2s+1 , where s is an integer. And P=2d+1. Now if we add T+P , we get that T+P= (2s+1)+(2d+1)=2s+2d+2=2(s+d+1) , which is divisible by 2 and is not prime by definition and is a contradiction.
My proof is kinda choppy and i kinda used 2 methods in the proof. Which would be better, to do a proof by contradiction of a direct proof?
 
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  • #2
I'm a little confused. You start by quoting a perfectly good proof idea:

Since all primes bigger than 2 are odd the only way to get a sum of two primes to be odd is to add an odd prime with an even prime.

(in fact, I would have accepted this sentence as a proof! But maybe you're still at the stage where you need to flesh out the details)

but then the rest of your proof doesn't seem to have anything to do with the proof idea.
 
  • #3
ya the second part doesn't really relate to the first part. But you said the first part is fine. So ill just stick with it.
 

Related to Can the sum of two primes be prime if both primes are odd?

1. What is a prime number?

A prime number is a positive integer that can only be divided by 1 and itself, without resulting in any remainder. For example, 2, 3, 5, and 7 are prime numbers, while 4 and 6 are not prime numbers as they can be divided by other numbers.

2. How can we prove that adding two prime numbers always results in an even number?

This can be proven using mathematical induction. We can start by assuming that the statement is true for a particular prime number, and then prove that it is also true for the next prime number. This process can be repeated, and since there are an infinite number of prime numbers, we can conclude that adding any two prime numbers will always result in an even number.

3. Are there any exceptions to the proof about adding primes?

No, there are no exceptions to this proof. It is a fundamental property of prime numbers that adding any two of them will always result in an even number.

4. Can this proof be applied to other types of numbers?

Yes, this proof can be extended to other types of numbers, such as odd numbers or composite numbers. However, the result will be different depending on the type of numbers being added. For example, adding two odd numbers will always result in an even number, while adding two composite numbers may result in an even or odd number.

5. Why is the proof about adding primes important in mathematics?

The proof about adding primes is important because it is a fundamental property of prime numbers that helps us better understand their behavior. It also has many real-world applications, such as in cryptography and number theory. Additionally, this proof can serve as a basis for further mathematical concepts and theories.

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