Can the sum of two primes be prime if both primes are odd?

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SUMMARY

The sum of two prime numbers cannot be prime if both primes are odd. This conclusion is established through a proof by contradiction, demonstrating that the sum of two odd primes results in an even number, which cannot be prime except for the number 2. The proof utilizes the definitions of odd primes and their mathematical representations, confirming that the only even prime is 2. Therefore, if the sum of two primes is prime, one of the primes must be 2.

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Homework Statement



If the sum of two primes is prime, then one of the primes must be 2.

The Attempt at a Solution


Proof:
Since all primes bigger than 2 are odd the only way to get a sum of two primes to be odd is to add an odd prime with an even prime.
Let y be an odd prime such that there exists and integer q so that y=2q+1, and then we will add this to 2 giving us a new number k such that k=2+(2q+1)=2q+3 which is not divisible by 2 therefore it is odd. Suppose for the sake of contradiction that both of the primes were odd and when added together were prime.
Let integers T and P be given that are odd primes. And T=2s+1 , where s is an integer. And P=2d+1. Now if we add T+P , we get that T+P= (2s+1)+(2d+1)=2s+2d+2=2(s+d+1) , which is divisible by 2 and is not prime by definition and is a contradiction.
My proof is kinda choppy and i kinda used 2 methods in the proof. Which would be better, to do a proof by contradiction of a direct proof?
 
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I'm a little confused. You start by quoting a perfectly good proof idea:

Since all primes bigger than 2 are odd the only way to get a sum of two primes to be odd is to add an odd prime with an even prime.

(in fact, I would have accepted this sentence as a proof! But maybe you're still at the stage where you need to flesh out the details)

but then the rest of your proof doesn't seem to have anything to do with the proof idea.
 
ya the second part doesn't really relate to the first part. But you said the first part is fine. So ill just stick with it.
 

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