Exercise 2.3

Use the formula for ϕ ( n ) to give a proof that there are infinitely many primes.

[Hint: If p 1 , p 2 , … , p t were all the primes, then ϕ ( n ) = 1 , where n = p 1 p 1 ⋯ p t .]

Answers

Proof. Let { p 1 , ⋯ , p t } the finite set of primes,with p 1 < p 2 < ⋯ < p t , and n = p 1 ⋯ p t . By definition, ϕ ( n ) is the number of integers k , 1 ≤ k ≤ n , such that k ∧ n = 1 . From the existence of decomposition in primes, if k ≥ 1 , k = p 1 k 1 ⋯ p t k t , where k i ≥ 0 , i = 1 , … , t . So k ∧ n = 1 if and only if k = 1 . Thus ϕ ( n ) = 1 The formula for ϕ ( n ) gives ϕ ( n ) = ( p 1 − 1 ) ⋯ ( p t − 1 ) = 1 . As p i ≥ 2 , this equation implies that p 1 = p 2 = ⋯ = p t = 2 , so t = 1 , and the only prime number is 2. But 3 is also a prime number : this is a contradiction.

Conclusion : there are infinitely many prime numbers. □

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2022-07-19 00:00
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