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Is it true that :

If $a^n+n^{a}$ is prime number and $a=3k-1$ then $n\equiv 0\pmod 3$

where $a>1,n>1 ; a,n,k \in \mathbb{Z^+}$

I have checked statement for many pairs $(a,n)$ and it seems to be true.

Small Maple code that prints $(a,n)$ pairs :

enter image description here

Any idea how to prove this statement ?

2 Answers 2

1

Since it is prime, we know that $a^n+n^a \equiv 1 \text{ or } 5 \mod 6$, and because $a \equiv 2 \mod 3$ we know that $a \equiv 2 \text{ or } 5 \mod 6.$

The case $a \equiv 2 \mod 6:$
Note that $n^2 \equiv n^8 \equiv n^{14} \dots \mod 6.$
When $n \equiv 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 \mod 6, n^2 \equiv 0, 1, 4, 3, 4, 1 \mod 6$ and $2^n \equiv 4, 2, 4, 2, 4, 2 \mod 6.$
Adding these gives $a^n+n^a \equiv 4, 3, 2, 5, 2, 3 \mod 6$. 1 does not appear at all and 5 appears only when $n \equiv 3 \mod 6,$ meaning that $n \equiv 0 \mod 3,$ as required.

The case $a \equiv 5 \mod 6:$
Note that $n^5 \equiv n^{11} \equiv n^{17} \dots \mod 6.$
When $n \equiv 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 \mod 6, n^5 \equiv 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 \mod 6$ and $5^n \equiv 1, 5, 1, 5, 1, 5 \mod 6.$
Adding these gives $a^n+n^a \equiv 1, 0, 3, 2, 5, 4 \mod 6$. 1 appears only when $n \equiv 0\mod 6$, implying that $n \equiv 0 \mod 3,$ as required.
However, 5 appears as well, when $n \equiv 4 \mod 6,$ suggesting the possibility of the result being false for these values of $a$ and $n$.

Edit
I have found that $a=215$ and $n=76$ is a counterexample. $a^n+n^a$ is prime, $a \equiv 2 \mod 3$ but $n\not\equiv 0 \mod 3$.

  • 0
    @pedja yes we can say that $n \not\equiv 2 \mod 3.$2011-11-17
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Assume $n$ ist not $\equiv 0 \mod 3$, which means $n=3l+1$ or $n=3l+2$. Now see if $n^a + a^n$ is divisibile by 3. If yes, you get a contradiction to $n^a + a^n$ being a prim.

So if $n \equiv 1$ you get (remember $a \equiv -1$) $a^n + n^a \equiv (-1)^{3l+1} + 1 \equiv 0 \mod 3$ and if $n \equiv 2$ you get $a^n + n^a \equiv (-1)^{3l+2} + (-1)^{3k-1} \equiv 1-1 = 0 \mod 3$

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    @MaoK: there are errors in your proof: $(-1)^{3l+1} = 1$ if $3l+1$ is even.2011-11-17