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Baltic Way 1992 · Problem 1

Number Theory

Let pp and qq be two consecutive odd prime numbers. Prove that p+qp+q is a product of at least three positive integers greater than 1 (not necessarily different).

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Topics

Divisibility and factorization · Primes

Solutions

Solution

Solution: Since q−p=2kq-p=2k is even, we have p+q=2(p+k)p+q=2(p+k). It is clear that p<p+k<p+2k=qp < p+k < p+2k = q. Therefore p+kp+k is not prime and, consequently, is a product of two positive integers greater than 1.

Contest context

Results from Baltic Way 1992

8 teams

Mean score
4.6 / 5
Scores of 4 or 5
7 / 8
Estonia
2 / 5

Score distribution

00
10
21
30
40
57
All team scores
TeamScore
Denmark5 / 5
St. Petersburg5 / 5
Poland5 / 5
Latvia5 / 5
Iceland5 / 5
Lithuania5 / 5
Estonia2 / 5
Sweden5 / 5