What are the palindromic primes with an even number of digits?

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In summary, a palindromic prime is a number that is both a prime number and a palindrome. To determine if a number is a palindrome, you compare the digits on either side of the number. To find palindromic primes with an even number of digits, you can start with the smallest possible even-digit palindrome and increment by 11 until you find a prime number. There are an infinite number of palindromic primes with an even number of digits, and while it is possible for a palindromic prime to have an odd number of digits, it is rare. Most palindromic primes have an even number of digits as they are easier to generate and there are more possibilities.
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Ackbach
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Here is this week's POTW:

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A palindromic number is one that is the same when written backwards (base 10) like 197791. Find all the palindromic primes that have an even number of digits.

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Remember to read the http://www.mathhelpboards.com/showthread.php?772-Problem-of-the-Week-%28POTW%29-Procedure-and-Guidelines to find out how to http://www.mathhelpboards.com/forms.php?do=form&fid=2!
 
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Congratulations to johng, greg1313, Deveno, kaliprasad, and Kiwi for their correct solutions! It's always nice to see a great level of participation. There were a number of good solutions, but I'll just post greg1313's:

Claim: all palindromic numbers with an even number of digits are divisible by $11$, hence the only prime palindromic number with an even number of digits is $11$.

Proof:

$10^n\equiv10\pmod{11}$ if $n$ is odd and $10^n\equiv1\pmod{11}$ if $n$ is even.

$10^{n-1}\cdot a+10^{n-2}\cdot b+10^{n-3}\cdot c+\dots+10^2\cdot c+10\cdot b+ a\equiv x\pmod{11}$

$10a+b+10c+\dots+c+10b+a\equiv x\pmod{11}$

$10(a+b+c\dots)+(a+b+c\dots)\equiv x\pmod{11}$

$(10+1)(a+b+c\dots)\equiv x\pmod{11}$

$11(a+b+c\dots)\equiv0\pmod{11}$

$\text{Q.E.D.}$
 

FAQ: What are the palindromic primes with an even number of digits?

What is a palindromic prime?

A palindromic prime is a number that is both a prime number and a palindrome. A prime number is a positive integer that is only divisible by 1 and itself. A palindrome is a number that reads the same forward and backward, such as 121 or 555.

How do you determine if a number is a palindrome?

To determine if a number is a palindrome, you simply need to compare the digits on either side of the number. If they are the same, then the number is a palindrome. For example, the number 12321 is a palindrome because the first and last digits (1 and 1) are the same, as well as the middle digits (2 and 2).

How do you find palindromic primes with an even number of digits?

To find palindromic primes with an even number of digits, you can start by looking at the smallest possible even-digit palindrome, which is 11. Then, you can increment by 11 until you find a prime number. For example, 11, 22, 33, 44, etc. Once you find a prime number, you can check if it is a palindrome. If it is, then it is a palindromic prime with an even number of digits.

Are there an infinite number of palindromic primes with an even number of digits?

Yes, there are an infinite number of palindromic primes with an even number of digits. This is because there are an infinite number of prime numbers and an infinite number of palindromes, so the two sets will intersect and create an infinite number of palindromic primes.

Can a palindromic prime have an odd number of digits?

Yes, a palindromic prime can have an odd number of digits. However, it is rare for a palindromic prime to have an odd number of digits, as it would have to be a single-digit number (which is not considered a palindrome) or a palindrome with an odd number of digits (such as 12321 or 13531). Most palindromic primes have an even number of digits because they are easier to generate and there are more possibilities.

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