Exercise · ZW-INFINITUDE-OF-PRIMES-010 · ★★★ Advanced

Suppose \(p_1,\dots,p_n\) are all the primes. Explain why \(N = p_1\cdots p_n + 1\) yields a contradiction using the fundamental theorem of arithmetic.

Choose one option.

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  • C. \(N\) has a prime factorization with some \(p_i\), but \(p_i\) leaves remainder 1 in \(N\)

Explanation

Since \(N > 1\), the fundamental theorem gives it a prime factorization; that prime must be in the list by hypothesis, yet it divides both \(N\) and \(N-1\), hence it divides 1. The option saying \(N\) is less than 1 is false, since \(N > 1\).

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Review the concept: Infinitude of primes

The infinitude of primes is Euclid's theorem stating that the set of prime numbers is infinite: given any finite list of primes \(p_1,\dots,p_n\), there is a prime not on it.

\[p\mid p_1p_2\cdots p_n+1\ \Longrightarrow\ p\neq p_i\ \text{for all } i\]

More practice problems: infinitude of primes

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