Prove that there exists only one prime number of the form $p^2−1$ where $p≥2$ is an integer












7












$begingroup$


By factoring $p^2 − 1$, we have $(p + 1)(p - 1)$.



I know that $p = 2$ which gives $3$ is the only solution.



However, how do I prove that $p = 2$ is the only integer which gives a prime?










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$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    Because of the $p-1$ factor...
    $endgroup$
    – abiessu
    Dec 3 '15 at 1:45










  • $begingroup$
    for any number>$2$, $p-1$ will give you a factor > $1$
    $endgroup$
    – Kushal Bhuyan
    Dec 3 '15 at 1:46












  • $begingroup$
    any other solution can't be prime because it can be decomposed as a product of two numbers, neither of which equals 1 by the work you've already shown
    $endgroup$
    – cnick
    Dec 3 '15 at 1:46
















7












$begingroup$


By factoring $p^2 − 1$, we have $(p + 1)(p - 1)$.



I know that $p = 2$ which gives $3$ is the only solution.



However, how do I prove that $p = 2$ is the only integer which gives a prime?










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    Because of the $p-1$ factor...
    $endgroup$
    – abiessu
    Dec 3 '15 at 1:45










  • $begingroup$
    for any number>$2$, $p-1$ will give you a factor > $1$
    $endgroup$
    – Kushal Bhuyan
    Dec 3 '15 at 1:46












  • $begingroup$
    any other solution can't be prime because it can be decomposed as a product of two numbers, neither of which equals 1 by the work you've already shown
    $endgroup$
    – cnick
    Dec 3 '15 at 1:46














7












7








7





$begingroup$


By factoring $p^2 − 1$, we have $(p + 1)(p - 1)$.



I know that $p = 2$ which gives $3$ is the only solution.



However, how do I prove that $p = 2$ is the only integer which gives a prime?










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$




By factoring $p^2 − 1$, we have $(p + 1)(p - 1)$.



I know that $p = 2$ which gives $3$ is the only solution.



However, how do I prove that $p = 2$ is the only integer which gives a prime?







elementary-number-theory discrete-mathematics proof-verification proof-writing






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edited Jul 1 '18 at 20:09









Robert Soupe

11.5k21951




11.5k21951










asked Dec 3 '15 at 1:44









Noah DengNoah Deng

8918




8918












  • $begingroup$
    Because of the $p-1$ factor...
    $endgroup$
    – abiessu
    Dec 3 '15 at 1:45










  • $begingroup$
    for any number>$2$, $p-1$ will give you a factor > $1$
    $endgroup$
    – Kushal Bhuyan
    Dec 3 '15 at 1:46












  • $begingroup$
    any other solution can't be prime because it can be decomposed as a product of two numbers, neither of which equals 1 by the work you've already shown
    $endgroup$
    – cnick
    Dec 3 '15 at 1:46


















  • $begingroup$
    Because of the $p-1$ factor...
    $endgroup$
    – abiessu
    Dec 3 '15 at 1:45










  • $begingroup$
    for any number>$2$, $p-1$ will give you a factor > $1$
    $endgroup$
    – Kushal Bhuyan
    Dec 3 '15 at 1:46












  • $begingroup$
    any other solution can't be prime because it can be decomposed as a product of two numbers, neither of which equals 1 by the work you've already shown
    $endgroup$
    – cnick
    Dec 3 '15 at 1:46
















$begingroup$
Because of the $p-1$ factor...
$endgroup$
– abiessu
Dec 3 '15 at 1:45




$begingroup$
Because of the $p-1$ factor...
$endgroup$
– abiessu
Dec 3 '15 at 1:45












$begingroup$
for any number>$2$, $p-1$ will give you a factor > $1$
$endgroup$
– Kushal Bhuyan
Dec 3 '15 at 1:46






$begingroup$
for any number>$2$, $p-1$ will give you a factor > $1$
$endgroup$
– Kushal Bhuyan
Dec 3 '15 at 1:46














$begingroup$
any other solution can't be prime because it can be decomposed as a product of two numbers, neither of which equals 1 by the work you've already shown
$endgroup$
– cnick
Dec 3 '15 at 1:46




$begingroup$
any other solution can't be prime because it can be decomposed as a product of two numbers, neither of which equals 1 by the work you've already shown
$endgroup$
– cnick
Dec 3 '15 at 1:46










2 Answers
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8












$begingroup$

If $p>2$, both $p+1$ and $p-1$ are $>1$, hence $p^2-1$ is composite.






share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$





















    0












    $begingroup$

    In $p^2-1=(p-1)(p+1)$ give a prime number only and only if p-1 is 1 so that p+1 will be the only prime factor. So n must be 2 and its the only one which can give us a prime(3).
    I better suggest you to think about $$n^2-m=p$$ where 'n' is an natural number and m<$n^2$ such that 'p' will be a prime number.






    share|cite|improve this answer









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      2 Answers
      2






      active

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      2 Answers
      2






      active

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      active

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      active

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      8












      $begingroup$

      If $p>2$, both $p+1$ and $p-1$ are $>1$, hence $p^2-1$ is composite.






      share|cite|improve this answer









      $endgroup$


















        8












        $begingroup$

        If $p>2$, both $p+1$ and $p-1$ are $>1$, hence $p^2-1$ is composite.






        share|cite|improve this answer









        $endgroup$
















          8












          8








          8





          $begingroup$

          If $p>2$, both $p+1$ and $p-1$ are $>1$, hence $p^2-1$ is composite.






          share|cite|improve this answer









          $endgroup$



          If $p>2$, both $p+1$ and $p-1$ are $>1$, hence $p^2-1$ is composite.







          share|cite|improve this answer












          share|cite|improve this answer



          share|cite|improve this answer










          answered Dec 3 '15 at 1:47









          BernardBernard

          124k742117




          124k742117























              0












              $begingroup$

              In $p^2-1=(p-1)(p+1)$ give a prime number only and only if p-1 is 1 so that p+1 will be the only prime factor. So n must be 2 and its the only one which can give us a prime(3).
              I better suggest you to think about $$n^2-m=p$$ where 'n' is an natural number and m<$n^2$ such that 'p' will be a prime number.






              share|cite|improve this answer









              $endgroup$


















                0












                $begingroup$

                In $p^2-1=(p-1)(p+1)$ give a prime number only and only if p-1 is 1 so that p+1 will be the only prime factor. So n must be 2 and its the only one which can give us a prime(3).
                I better suggest you to think about $$n^2-m=p$$ where 'n' is an natural number and m<$n^2$ such that 'p' will be a prime number.






                share|cite|improve this answer









                $endgroup$
















                  0












                  0








                  0





                  $begingroup$

                  In $p^2-1=(p-1)(p+1)$ give a prime number only and only if p-1 is 1 so that p+1 will be the only prime factor. So n must be 2 and its the only one which can give us a prime(3).
                  I better suggest you to think about $$n^2-m=p$$ where 'n' is an natural number and m<$n^2$ such that 'p' will be a prime number.






                  share|cite|improve this answer









                  $endgroup$



                  In $p^2-1=(p-1)(p+1)$ give a prime number only and only if p-1 is 1 so that p+1 will be the only prime factor. So n must be 2 and its the only one which can give us a prime(3).
                  I better suggest you to think about $$n^2-m=p$$ where 'n' is an natural number and m<$n^2$ such that 'p' will be a prime number.







                  share|cite|improve this answer












                  share|cite|improve this answer



                  share|cite|improve this answer










                  answered Dec 23 '18 at 13:22









                  DynamoDynamo

                  104517




                  104517






























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