Math Is Fun Forum

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Prime sum of three term arithmetic progression?

Here is a problem I found on brilliant.org

Consider all 3-term geometric sequences with first term 1 and with common ratio the square of an integer between 1 and 1000 (inclusive). How many of these 1000 geometric sequences have the property that the sum of the 3 terms is prime?

I wrote this M code to do it:

Select[Table[1+q^2+q^4,{q,1,Floor[Sqrt[1000]]}],PrimeQ[#]&]//Length

but I am suspecting there is a better way to do it. Does anyone know of a better and/or shorter way to do it?

Last edited by anonimnystefy (2013-04-30 03:49:56)

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“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Prime sum of three term arithmetic progression?

Hi;

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: Prime sum of three term arithmetic progression?

I haven't noticed that at all. I was focused on finding an M only solution.

---

“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Prime sum of three term arithmetic progression?

Hi;

The M solution is fine. There might be a faster way but in this case the CSBFC  principle applies.

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: Prime sum of three term arithmetic progression?

Csbfc?

---

“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Prime sum of three term arithmetic progression?

Nope, CSBFC.

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: Prime sum of three term arithmetic progression?

That is what I wrote, but the forum tirns it lower case automatically. What does that acronym mean?

---

“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Prime sum of three term arithmetic progression?

CommonSense, Brute Force and the Computer.

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: Prime sum of three term arithmetic progression?

Sound like a good name for a book.

---

“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Prime sum of three term arithmetic progression?

Not a book, a dynamite article though.

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: Prime sum of three term arithmetic progression?

Sure. Why not!

By the way, I like your new avatar.

---

“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Prime sum of three term arithmetic progression?

It already happened and I was the only person who read it.

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: Prime sum of three term arithmetic progression?

The only mention of that article on the Internet is on this forum by you. I am guessing you are the guy who never got it published?

---

“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Prime sum of three term arithmetic progression?

Hmmmm, it appears you did not read everything I said about that article.

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: Prime sum of three term arithmetic progression?

Yes, I did.

---

“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Prime sum of three term arithmetic progression?

A brilliant guy I knew wrote an article for a famous computer journal called
"Common Sense, Brute Force and the Computer." It did not get published and it
was a really great article.

We have already established in the other thread that though I may look brilliant and smell brilliant, I am not brilliant,

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: Prime sum of three term arithmetic progression?

We established exactly the opposite.

---

“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Prime sum of three term arithmetic progression?

I am afraid that it is difficult to establish assertions that are untrue.

The author was brilliant, I am not, therefore I am not the author.

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

pgoh63

Member

Registered: 2013-05-02

Posts: 2

Re: Prime sum of three term arithmetic progression?

I need help to find the nth for this sequence :

1, 1, 3/4, 1/2, 5/16

Pls help.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Prime sum of three term arithmetic progression?

Hi pgoh63;

Where does the sequences come from? There are a lot of possible fits for it.

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: Prime sum of three term arithmetic progression?

Hi pgoh63

I am getting 3/16 as the next term.

---

“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

pgoh63

Member

Registered: 2013-05-02

Posts: 2

Re: Prime sum of three term arithmetic progression?

I got this from my girl's school homework.  Not sure if there is any typo errors....I also suspect the fifth term might be wrong.  Will check with the school teacher.

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: Prime sum of three term arithmetic progression?

Hi pgoh63

Have you seen my answer?

---

“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Prime sum of three term arithmetic progression?

Is it the same answer if the fifth term is wrong?

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: Prime sum of three term arithmetic progression?

Maybe and maybe not. Until he posts the correct fifth term we cannot know.

But it seems he got that idea because you said there were many possible fits.

---

“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.