Possible webpage title: Which Primes Make p!+p a Perfect Square?

  • MHB
  • Thread starter alexmahone
  • Start date
  • Tags
    Square
In summary, the conversation discusses finding prime numbers p for which p!+p is a perfect square. It is concluded that 2!+2 and 3!+3 are perfect squares, but for larger primes, p!+p can no longer be a perfect square. It is also mentioned that Wilson's theorem and some algebraic manipulations can be used to show that k must be a perfect square for p!+p to be a perfect square. However, the reason why m cannot be any other positive integer is still not clear.
  • #1
alexmahone
304
0
Find all prime numbers p for which p!+p is a perfect square.

My thoughts: 2!+2 and 3!+3 are perfect squares.
p!+p=p[(p-1)!+1]
By Wilson's theorem, (p-1)!+1 is divisible by p. Now I'm stuck.
 
Last edited:
Mathematics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Alexmahone said:
Find all prime numbers p for which p!+p is a perfect square. My thoughts: 2!+2 and 3!+3 are perfect squares. p!+p=p[(p-1)!+1] By Wilson's theorem, (p-1)!+1 is divisible by p. Now I'm stuck.
Well, you are almost done. (p - 1)! + 1 = kp p! + p = kp^2 so we see that k must be a perfect square to satisfy your condition. let k = m^2 p!+p = (mp)^2 also p!+p = c^2 c^2 = (mp)^2 p = c/m now if m = 1 then c = p and p!+p = p^2 that's only going to happen for 2!, 3! cause they have few products. As the primes get larger than 3 the p! has too many products destroying any possibility that p!+p = p^2 Now I'm stuck cause i can't think of a good reason why m can't be any other positive integer...

---------- Post added at 07:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:03 PM ----------

why are all the sentences getting bunched up??
 

FAQ: Possible webpage title: Which Primes Make p!+p a Perfect Square?

What is the definition of "P+p is a perfect square"?

When we say that "P+p is a perfect square," it means that the sum of two numbers, P and p, can be written as the square of another number.

How can I determine if P+p is a perfect square?

To determine if P+p is a perfect square, you can take the square root of the sum and see if it is a whole number. If it is, then P+p is a perfect square.

How can I find the value of P and p if I know that P+p is a perfect square?

If you know that P+p is a perfect square, you can use algebra to solve for the values of P and p. You can set up an equation such as (x+y)^2 = P+p and solve for x and y.

What is an example of P+p being a perfect square?

An example of P+p being a perfect square is when P=4 and p=9. The sum of these two numbers is 13, and the square root of 13 is approximately 3.61, which is a whole number. Therefore, 4+9=13 is a perfect square.

What is the significance of P+p being a perfect square?

P+p being a perfect square has various applications in mathematics and science. It can be used to solve equations, find the length of sides in geometric shapes, and even in cryptography. It is also a fundamental concept in number theory.

Similar threads

Replies
1
Views
589
Replies
1
Views
1K
Replies
3
Views
1K
Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
2K
Back
Top