Prove that there exists infinitely many prime numbers of the form 4k+3 for some integer k.

Kathryn Sanchez

Kathryn Sanchez

Answered question

2022-09-05

Prove that there exists infinitely many prime numbers of the form 4 k + 3 for some integer k.
We shall prove this theorem by contradiction. Assume p n is the largest prime number of the form 4 k n +3 for some n N. Consider an odd value of n. Even if n is even, we could miss one of the prime numbers to get an odd n. Now, consider
N = 2 ( 4 k 1 + 3 ) ( 4 k 2 + 3 ) ( 4 k 3 + 3 ) . . . ( 4 k n + 3 ) + 1 = 4 m + 2 3 n + 1 = 4 m + 2 ( 4 1 ) n + 1 = 4 m + 2 4 a 2 + 1 = 4 m + 2 4 a 1 = 4 m + 3
for some m,a N
Two cases are possible. N is definitely not divisible by 4 k i +3 i [1,n].
- All numbers between 4 k n +3 and N are composite they are formed from a unique prime factorisation of the finite set of prime numbers. Then N is prime. so contradiction.
- There is a new prime between 4 k n +3 and N of the form 4 k + 3 so N is a multiple of that prime(Note that N cannot be a multiple of 4 k + 1 since we have 2 occurring only once in our expression for N 1), which any way is again a contradiction.
My prof said that this proof misses some cases but I am unable to figure out which case. Please help. I feel pretty confident of my proof.

Answer & Explanation

nizkem0c

nizkem0c

Beginner2022-09-06Added 13 answers

Step 1
We shall prove this theorem by contradiction. Assume p n is the largest prime number of the form 4 k n + 3 for some n N. Now, consider
N = 4 ( 4 k 1 + 3 ) ( 4 k 2 + 3 ) ( 4 k 3 + 3 ) . . . ( 4 k n + 3 ) 1 = 4 m + 3
for some m N
N is definitely not divisible by any of 4 k i + 3 i [ 1 , n ] ..
Step 2
Now either N is prime or N has at least one prime factor of the form 4 k + 3 apart from itself, not in this list since if N had all prime factors of the form 4 k + 1, then N would have been of the form ( 4 u 1 + 1 ) ( 4 u 2 + 1 ) ( 4 u 3 + 1 ) . . . ( 4 u n + 1 ) = 4 l + 1 only. so a contradiction. Hence proved.
I accommodated some of Peter's changes, hope this proof is correct.
Azul Lang

Azul Lang

Beginner2022-09-07Added 20 answers

Step 1
Asssume that there are finitely many primes of the form 4 k + 3 ;; let them be p 1 , p 2 , , p n ..
Let N = 4 p 1 p 2 p n 1 = 4 ( p 1 p 2 p n 1 ) + 3.. Since N is odd, each of its prime divisors must be of the form 4 k + 1 or 4 k + 3.
The identity
( 4 r + 1 ) ( 4 s + 1 ) = 4 ( 4 r s + r + s ) + 1
shows that products of numbers of the form 4 k + 1 are of the same form. Thus, since N is not of this form, it has a prime divisor not of this form.
Step 2
Hence, N has a prime divisor q of the form 4 k + 3 , which is one of p 1 , p 2 , , p n . Therefore,
q N and q p 1 p 2 p n q ( 4 p 1 p 2 p n N ) q 1 ,
i.e., q is not prime. Since this is a contradiction, our assumption is false; thus, there are infinitely many primes of the form 4 k + 3.

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