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A Fundamental Study of Composite Numbers as a Different Perspective on Problems Related to Prime Numbers

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02 March 2023

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Abstract
Prime number-related issues can be viewed from drastically different perspectives by examining the close connections between prime numbers and composite numbers. We think that multiple perspectives are the pillars on the path to solutions so we have created this study. As a result of the study, we proposed two new formulas by presenting three theorems and one proof for each theorem, a total of three proofs. We proved that the formula p · n + p returns a composite number in the first of the theorems, which is the preliminary theorem. Our first theorem except the preliminary theorem is that the formula p · n + p returns all composite numbers, and we proved that too. Finally, we created Theorem II using Theorem I to use in our other work and proved that the formula 2 · n · p + p returns all odd composite numbers, which is Theorem II. Afterward, we presented the similarities of the 2 · n · p + p formula we put forth with another known formula.
Keywords: 
Subject: Computer Science and Mathematics  -   Algebra and Number Theory

1. Introduction

Studying prime numbers can be crucial because, among intelligent beings, prime numbers will always have a distinct and unmistakable meaning, regardless of the choice of counting basis and independent of mathematical notation. The riddle surrounding prime numbers, specifically their distribution, has eluded many bright and inquisitive researchers despite their best efforts [1]. So, the mystery surrounding the prime numbers continues to grab people’s attention.
Composite numbers can be defined as non-prime numbers when evaluated within integers other than 0. So, of course, it is possible to say that there is an impressive interplay between prime numbers and composite numbers and to find incredible correlations between prime numbers and composite numbers.
In this study, basic formulas for composite numbers have been developed so that composite numbers can be used frequently in prime numbers interpretation studies.
At the beginning of the study, it will be useful to give a few definitions, and more:
Preliminary Information I: Book VII - proposition 30 of Euclid’s Elements is the key in the proof of the fundamental theorem of arithmetic [2].
Preliminary Information II:Let x and y be any integer. According to the definition of even numbers, every even number is expressed as 2 x , and according to the definition of odd numbers, every odd number is expressed as 2 y + 1 .
Def. I: Prime numbers are numbers greater than 1 that do not have a factor other than themselves and 1 by the fundamental theorem of arithmetic [3,4].
Def. II: Composite numbers are numbers greater than 1 that do have a factor other than themselves and 1 by the fundamental theorem of arithmetic [3,5].
Basis I: Each composite number is expressed as the unique product of more than one prime number by the fundamental theorem of arithmetic and Book VII - proposition 31 & Book IX - proposition 14 of Euclid’s Elements [2,6].
Basis II: Every positive integer is either a prime number or a composite number by Def. I & II, Basis I and Book VII - proposition 32 of Euclid’s Elements [2].
NOTATIONS
P the set of all prime numbers
C the set of all composite numbers
E the set of all even numbers
O the set of all odd numbers
N + the set of all positive natural numbers
a K the element sign: a is an e l e m e n t of the set K
p q the and sign: A conjunction of propositions read as “p  a n d  q
Table 1. Truth table of conjunction
Table 1. Truth table of conjunction
p q p q
1 1 1
1 0 0
0 1 0
0 0 0
p q the xor sign: An exclusive disjunction of propositions read as “p or ( x o r )  q
Table 2. Truth table of exclusive or
Table 2. Truth table of exclusive or
p q p q
1 1 0
1 0 1
0 1 1
0 0 0
the if sign: A conditional statement read as “ i f  p, then q
Table 3. Truth table of implication
Table 3. Truth table of implication
p q p q
1 1 1
1 0 0
0 1 1
0 0 1
the if and only if sign: A biconditional statement read as “p  i f   a n d   o n l y   i f  q
Table 4. Truth table of biconditional
Table 4. Truth table of biconditional
p q p q
1 1 0
1 0 1
0 1 1
0 0 0
{ x P | x 2 } the given that sign: This set consists of x 2 values, w h e r e  x is a prime number
a|b the divides sign: a  d i v i d e s  b without a remainder
a K the therefore sign:  T h e r e f o r e , a is an element of the set K
a  R  ba|b the relation sign: a  r e l a t e d with b if and only if a divides b
a ( a + 1 > 0 ) the universal quantifier:  F o r   e v e r y  a  n u m b e r , a + 1 is greater than 2
a b   K the sequence sign: A s e q u e n c e of numbers from the set K , a 1 = x , ..., a b = z

2. Theorems and Proofs

Preliminary Theorem: For all distinct prime numbers p and for all distinct positive natural numbers n, then p · n + p is a composite number.
p P
n N +
( p ) ( n ) ( p · n + p ) C
Preliminary Proof: The expression p· n + p can be written as p· ( n + 1 ) by distributive property1.
p · n + p = p · ( n + 1 )   by   distributive   property
If n is any positive natural number and 1 is a positive natural number, then n + 1 equals to be a positive natural number by the closure property of positive natural numbers under addition2. (n N + ∧ 1 ∈ N + ) ( n + 1 N + )  by closure property of positive natural numbers under addition
If n is any positive natural number, then n + 1 equals to be either the composite number or the prime number, depending on Basis II.
      ( n + 1 N + ) ( ( n + 1 P ) ( n + 1 C ) )  by Basis II.
Let q x be a prime number and c x be a composite number. If n + 1 is a prime number, then p · ( n + 1 ) equals to be p · q x . If n + 1 is a composite number, then p · ( n + 1 ) equals to be p · c x .
q x P
c x C
    ( n + 1 P ) ( p · ( n + 1 ) = p · q x ) ( n + 1 C ) ( p · ( n + 1 ) = p · c x )
The result of the expression p · q x has divisors p and q x besides itself and 1. So the expression p · q x is a composite number according to Def. II. The result of the expression p · c x has divisors p and c x besides itself and 1. So the expression p · c x is a composite number according to Def. II. Therefore, for all distinct prime numbers p and for all distinct positive natural numbers n, then p · ( n + 1 ) , that is, p · n + p equals a composite number.
a  R  p· q x  ⇔ a|p· q x
( a =   q x )  ⇒  R   = { 1 ,  p· q x , p, q x }
( a =   c x )  ⇒  R   = { 1 ,  p· c x , p, c x }
( p ) ( n ) ( p · ( n + 1 ) = p · n + p ) C by Def. II
Theorem I: Let p be a prime number and n be a positive natural number. Then the formula p · n + p returns all composite numbers .
C = { p P , n N + |p· n + p }
Proof I: As a result of the work on the proof of the preliminary theorem, the following can be said: with p prime, n + 1 either prime or composite, this operation can be expressed as: “prime × (either prime or composite)”. So there are two possibilities:
Possibilites I) If n + 1 is a composite number, then p · ( n + 1 ) can be expressed as “prime × composite”. Adhering to Basis I, this expression can be written as “prime × (prime  × ×  prime)”.
c C
( n + 1 C ) ( p · ( n + 1 ) = p · c )
sec.3Basis I:
j, k N +
t j , q k P
a =   t 1 · t 2 · · t j
b =   q 1 · q 2 · · q k
c = a · b
p · c = p · a · b = p · ( t 1 · t 2 · · t j ) · ( q 1 · q 2 · · q k )
Possibilities II) If n + 1 is a prime number, then p · ( n + 1 ) can be expressed as “prime× (prime)”.
x N +
p x P
( n + 1 P ) ( p · ( n + 1 ) = p · p x )
As a result, there are two potential outcomes, “prime × (prime  × ×  prime)” and “prime × (prime)”. Since these two results are potentially the product of all prime numbers; so it can be said, adhering to Basis I, that this formula p · n + p returns all composite numbers.
( n + 1 C ) ( p · ( n + 1 ) = p · ( t 1 · t 2 · · t j ) · ( q 1 · q 2 · · q k ) ) ( n + 1 P )
( p · ( n + 1 ) = p · p x )
sec.Basis I:
C = { p P , n N + | p · n + p }
Since there are no even prime numbers except for two, the following theorem can be established to obtain only odd composite numbers:
Theorem II: Let p be a prime number and n be a positive natural number. Then the formula 2 · n · p + p returns all odd composite numbers.
Proof II: The formula p · n + p obtained in Theorem I has 4 possibilities arising from the fact that p can be even/odd and n can be even/odd:
Table 5. Table of all possibilities
Table 5. Table of all possibilities
Options p n p · ( n + 1 )
Option I even even even· (even + 1)
Option II even odd even· (odd + 1)
Option III odd even odd· (even + 1)
Option IV odd odd odd· (odd + 1)
Option I) Let k, t, z, and m be positive natural numbers. If p is an even number and n is an even number, then let p and n be equal to 2 k and 2 t , respectively, according to the definition of even numbers mentioned in Preliminary Information II. If p is 2 k and n is 2 t , then p · ( n + 1 ) equals to be 2 k · ( 2 t + 1 ) . Let 2 t + 1 be equal to z. If 2 t + 1 is z, then 2 k · ( 2 t + 1 ) equals to be 2 k z . Let k z be equal to m. If k is m, then 2 k z equals to be 2 m , which is an even number by the definition of even numbers. Therefore, if p is 2 k and n is 2 t , then p · ( n + 1 ) is an even number.
k , t , z , m N +
( p E ) ( p = 2 k ) by def. of even numbers
( n E ) ( n = 2 t ) by def. of even numbers
( ( p = 2 k ) ( n = 2 t ) ) ( p · ( n + 1 ) = 2 k · ( 2 t + 1 ) )
( 2 t + 1 = z ) ( 2 k · ( 2 t + 1 ) = 2 k z )
( k z = m ) ( 2 k z = 2 m E ) by def. of even numbers
( ( p = 2 k ) ( n = 2 t ) ) ( p · ( n + 1 ) E )
Option II) If p is an even number, then let p be equal to 2 k , and if n is an odd number, then let n be equal to 2 t + 1 according to the definition of even numbers and odd numbers mentioned in Preliminary Information II. If p is 2 k and n is 2 t + 1 , then p · ( n + 1 ) equals to be 2 k · ( 2 t + 1 + 1 ) equals to be 2 k · ( 2 t + 2 ) . Let 2 t + 2 be equal to z. If 2 t + 2 is z, then 2 k · ( 2 t + 2 ) equals to be 2 k z . Let k z be equal to m. If k z is m, then 2 k z equals to be 2 m , which is an even number by the definition of even numbers. Therefore, if p is 2 k and n is 2 t + 1 , then p · ( n + 1 ) is an even number.
( p E ) ( p = 2 k ) by def. of even numbers
( n O ) ( n = 2 t + 1 ) by def. of odd numbers
( ( p = 2 k ) ( n = 2 t + 1 ) ) ( p · ( n + 1 ) = 2 k · ( 2 t + 1 + 1 ) = 2 k · ( 2 t + 2 ) )
( 2 t + 2 = z ) ( 2 k · ( 2 t + 2 ) = 2 k z )
( k z = m ) ( 2 k z = 2 m E ) by def. of even numbers
( ( p = 2 k ) ( n = 2 t + 1 ) ) ( p · ( n + 1 ) E )
Option III) If p is an odd number, then let p be equal to 2 k + 1 , and if n is an even number, then let n be equal to 2 t according to the definition of odd numbers and even numbers mentioned in Preliminary Information II. If p is 2 k + 1 and n is 2 t , then p · ( n + 1 ) equals to be ( 2 k + 1 ) · ( 2 t + 1 ) equals to be ( 2 k + 1 ) · ( 2 t + 1 ) equals to be 4 k t + 2 k + 2 t + 1 equals to be 2 · ( 2 k t ) + 2 · ( k + t ) + 1 . Let 2 k t and k + t be equal to z and m, respectively. If 2 k t is z and k + t is m, then 2 · ( 2 k t ) + 2 · ( k + t ) + 1 equals to be 2 z + 2 m + 1 equals to be 2 · ( z + m ) + 1 . Let z + m be equal to a. If z + m is a, then 2 · ( z + m ) + 1 equals to be 2 a + 1 , which is an odd number by the definition of odd numbers. Therefore, if p is 2 k + 1 and n is 2 t , then p · ( n + 1 ) is an odd number.
a N +
( p O ) ( p = 2 k + 1 ) by def. of odd numbers
( n E ) ( n = 2 t ) by def. of even numbers
( ( p = 2 k + 1 ) ( n = 2 t ) )
( p · ( n + 1 ) = ( 2 k + 1 ) · ( 2 t + 1 ) = 4 k t + 2 k + 2 t + 1 = 2 · ( 2 k t ) + 2 · ( k + t ) + 1 )
( ( 2 k t = z ) ( k + t = m ) ) ( 2 · ( 2 k t ) + 2 · ( k + t ) + 1 = 2 z + 2 m + 1 = 2 · ( z + m ) + 1 )
( z + m = a ) ( 2 · ( z + m ) = 2 a + 1 O ) by def. of odd numbers
( ( p = 2 k + 1 ) ( n = 2 t ) ) ( p · ( n + 1 ) O )
Option IV) Let a be a positive natural number. If p is an odd number and n is an odd number, then let p and n be equal to 2 k + 1 and 2 t + 1 , respectively, according to the definition of odd numbers mentioned in Preliminary Information II. If p is 2 k + 1 and n is 2 t + 1 , then p · ( n + 1 ) equals to be ( 2 k + 1 ) · ( 2 t + 1 + 1 ) equals to be ( 2 k + 1 ) · ( 2 t + 2 ) equals to be 4 k t + 4 k + 2 t + 2 equals to be 2 · ( 2 k t ) + 2 · ( 2 k ) + 2 t + 2 . Let 2 k t and 2 k be equal to z and m, respectively. If 2 k t is z and 2 k is m, then 2 · ( 2 k t ) + 2 · ( 2 k ) + 2 t + 2 equals to be 2 z + 2 m + 2 t + 2 equals to be 2 · ( z + m + t + 1 ) . Let z + m + t + 1 be equal to a. If z + m + t + 1 is a, then 2 · ( z + m + t + 1 ) equals to be 2 a , which is an even number by the definition of even numbers. Therefore, if p is 2 k + 1 and n is 2 t + 1 , then p · ( n + 1 ) is an even number.
( p O ) ( p = 2 k + 1 ) by def. of odd numbers
( n O ) ( n = 2 t + 1 ) by def. of odd numbers
( ( p = 2 k + 1 ) ( n = 2 t + 1 ) )
( p · ( n + 1 ) = ( 2 k + 1 ) · ( 2 t + 1 + 1 ) = ( 2 k + 1 ) · ( 2 t + 2 ) = 4 k t + 4 k + 2 t + 2 = ( 2 k t ) + 2 · ( 2 k ) + 2 t + 2 )
( ( 2 k t = z ) ( 2 k = m ) ) ( 2 · ( 2 k t ) + 2 · ( 2 k ) + 2 t + 2 = 2 z + 2 m + 2 t = 2 · ( z + m + t + 1 ) )
( z + m + t + 1 = a ) ( 2 · ( z + m + t + 1 ) = 2 a E ) by def. of even numbers
( ( p = 2 k + 1 ) ( n = 2 t + 1 ) ) ( p · ( n + 1 ) E )
As a result, a table like this can be created:
Table 6. Table of results of all possibilities
Table 6. Table of results of all possibilities
Options p n p · ( n + 1 )
Option I even even even
Option II even odd even
Option III odd even odd
Option IV odd odd even
The third option is the only way to return an odd number from the formula that gives all composite numbers. In this case, a formula that satisfies the requirements of the third option returns all odd composite numbers. Because the third option is derived from the formula that gives all composite numbers, and a result is always an odd number. The requirements of the third option are that the prime number p is an odd prime number and the positive natural number n is a positive even natural number in the formula p · ( n + 1 ) . In this context, the number n + 1 is also odd. Let p be an odd number to generate the formula that returns only odd composite numbers. Provided that p is constant, one composite number must be obtained for each natural number. That’s why we need to manipulate the n + 1 value in the formula p · ( n + 1 ) so that it is always an odd number. So if we multiply n by 2 for satisfying the requirements of the third option, we get p · ( 2 n + 1 ) , where 2 n + 1 is an odd number according to the definition of odd numbers in Preliminary Information II. For all distinct prime numbers p, as proved above, the formula p · ( n + 1 ) returns all odd composite numbers as long as n is any positive even natural number; if we want the formula to return all odd composite numbers for each positive natural number, that is, to be more optimized, the formula p · ( 2 n + 1 ) derived from the formula p · ( n + 1 ) gives all odd composite numbers as long as n is any positive natural numbers.

Appendix

By far, the most familiar and most optimized formula for returns odd composite numbers is the 2 · n · p + p 2 formula developed by Marouane Rhafli. This formula returns all odd composites where p is any odd prime and n is any natural number [7].
The 2 · n · p + p formula we developed returns all composite numbers where p is any odd prime and n is any positive natural number.
The formula we developed will be used in our next study to offer another perspective on the twin prime conjecture.
Finally, we can attribute the similarity of the two formulas developed to the waggish of mathematics.

3. Results

For the potential of the relationship between composite numbers and prime numbers to provide solutions to mathematical problems related to prime numbers, we have presented three theorems, one of which is a preliminary theorem, and one proof for each theorem, a total of three proofs.
As a result, we proved that formula n · p + p returns all composite numbers, and the formula 2 · n · p + p returns all odd composite numbers.
In addition, we explained the similarities and differences between the formula we developed with the previously known formulas.

References

  1. Goldstein, L.J. A history of the prime number theorem. The American Mathematical Monthly 1973, 80, 599–615. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  2. Euclid.; Heath, T.L. Euclid.; Heath, T.L. The Thirteen Books of the Elements, Vol. 2: Books 3-9, 1956. [Google Scholar]
  3. Ingham, A.E. The distribution of prime numbers; Number 30, Cambridge University Press, 1990.
  4. Selberg, A. An elementary proof of the prime-number theorem. Annals of Mathematics.
  5. Novikas, A. Composite numbers in the sequences of integers 2012.
  6. Ağargün, A.G.; Özkan, E.M. A historical survey of the fundamental theorem of arithmetic. Historia Mathematica 2001, 28, 207–214. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  7. Rhafli, M. SUBLINEAR SEGMENTED PRIME SIEVE. Far East Journal of Mathematical Sciences 2019, 120, 147–159. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  8. Rosen, K. Discrete Mathematics and Its Applications; McGraw Hill, 1995.
  9. Bloch, E.D. Proofs and fundamentals: a first course in abstract mathematics; 1956.
1
The distributive property states that A · (B ± C) can be expressed such that A · (B ± C) = A·B ± A·C, and both operations will give the same result. This means that the value A to be multiplied is distributed separately to the other two values and then added or subtracted with each other in the order in which they are given. As can be seen in the definition, it has the property of distribution according to multiplication, addition, and subtraction.
2
The closure property is defined as the closure of a set of numbers using arithmetic operations. In other words, if the result obtained when an operation is performed on any two numbers from the set is always a number from that set, that set of numbers is closed.
Natural numbers have the closure property under addition and multiplication. If two natural numbers are added or multiplied, then the result equals always a natural number. Natural numbers don’t have the closure property under subtraction and division. If two natural numbers are subtracted or divided, then the result is equal to not always a natural number.
Based on the fact that natural numbers have the closure property under addition, It can be said that two positive natural numbers have the closure property under addition because the set of positive natural numbers is a subset of the set of natural numbers. This is true for any positive natural numbers pair. To sum up, every pair of positive natural numbers have the closure property under addition.
3
The abbreviation “sec.” comes from the Latin word “secundum” and it denotes “following” or “in accordance with”. It is used in the context of “sec. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk”, which means “according to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk”.
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