S = <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">{ a , a + d , a + 2 d

rigliztetbf

rigliztetbf

Answered question

2022-06-24

S = { a , a + d , a + 2 d , . . . }
where a,d are natural numbers. Show that there are infinitely many composite numbers in S.
It is easy to prove when a > 1. Each element in this set is of the form a + n d. Whenever n is a multiple of a, then n = a k, thus a + n d = a + a k = a ( 1 + k ). Thus n is composite. But the difficulty comes when a = 1. I cannot find a way. Any hint will be much appreciated.

Answer & Explanation

assumintdz

assumintdz

Beginner2022-06-25Added 22 answers

Step 1
For a 1 , d 1 let n = 1 + k ( a + d ), then a + n d = ( k d + 1 ) ( a + d ) ..
Notice that a + d 2.
Step 2
More generally, if you have a polynomial f(x) over integers and n = f ( m ) for integers n, m, then f ( m + k n ) is a multiple of n for any integer k (see Proving a polynomial f(x) composite for infinitely many x). In your case you have f ( x ) = d x + a, so we have f ( 1 ) = d + a and d + a f ( 1 + k ( d + a ) ).
flightwingsd2

flightwingsd2

Beginner2022-06-26Added 5 answers

Explanation:
Take n = k 2 d 2 k where k N . Then 1 + n d = 1 + k 2 d 2 2 k d = ( k d 1 ) 2 so there is also infinitely many squares in it.

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