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Prove that $n^{2003}+n+1$ is composite for every $n\in \mathbb{N} \backslash\{1\}$.

I tried with expanding $n^{2003}+1$, but I got nothing pretty not useful. I also couldn't get any improvement, let alone contradiction for assuming $n^{2003}+n+1=pq$ where $p,q\not= 1$. How should I do this and are there general tips on how to approach these problems, what to think about?

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    wow... I need to go back to math class. you guys are good2012-03-11

2 Answers 2

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Let $w=e^{i2\pi/3}$. It's easy to see that $w$ and $w^2$ are all the roots of $x^2+x+1$ and roots of $x^{2003}+x+1$, therefore $x^2+x+1|x^{2003}+x+1$. So we have That $x^{2003}+x+1=(x^2+x+1)P(x)$, where $P(x)$ is some polynomial with integer coefficients. For $x\ge 2$, $x^{2003}+x+1$ is much bigger than $x^2+x+1$ so $P(x)$ is some integer greater than $2$ from which the conclusion follows.

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    Thanks to both Bill Dubuque and Diego S. (I am catching up with what I have forgotten all these years)2012-03-11
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Hint $\rm\ f = x^{3n+2}+x+1\ = \ x^2\:(x^{3n}-1) + x^2+x+1\ $

therefore $\rm\:x^2+x+1\ |\ x^3-1\ |\ x^{3n}-1\:\Rightarrow\: x^2+x+1\ |\ f$

Or, $\rm\ mod\ x^2+x+1\!:\ x^3\equiv 1\ \Rightarrow\ x^{3n+2}+x+1\equiv (x^3)^n x^2 + x + 1 \equiv x^2+x+1\equiv 0$

Remark $ $ Generally $\,\rm x^2+x+1\mid x^I + x^J + x^K\ $ if $\rm \ \{I, J, K\}\equiv \{0,1,2\}\pmod 3,\,$ see here.