MHB Does this imply infinite twins?

  • Thread starter Thread starter e2theipi2026
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Infinite
AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the formulation of the twin prime counting function, expressed as π₂(n) = f(n) + π(n) + π(n+2) - n - 1. The argument posits that if the twin prime counting function becomes constant, it leads to a contradiction regarding the parity of the left and right sides of the equation. Specifically, the left side can vary in parity while the right side remains constant, suggesting that the twin prime counting function cannot be constant. This implies the existence of infinitely many twin primes. The conversation also seeks clarification on the function f(n), which counts twin composites, and its role in proving the Twin Prime Conjecture.
e2theipi2026
Messages
8
Reaction score
1
I can prove the twin prime counting function has this form:

\pi_2(n)=f(n)+\pi(n)+\pi(n+2)-n-1,

where \pi_2(n) is the twin prime counting function, f(n) is the number of twin composites less than or equal to n and \pi(n) is the prime counting function.

At n=p_n, this becomes

\pi_2(p_n) = f(p_n) + \pi(p_n) + \pi(p_n + 2) - p_n - 1.

With this form, can I make the following argument?: Assume the twin prime counting function becomes a constant c, then I can change the twin prime counting function to c in the equation. The prime counting function \pi(n) at the prime sequence p_n is just n, so I can change that to n. Because I'm assuming no more twin primes, p_n+2 is not a prime so \pi(p_n+2) will also become n, the equation directly above this paragraph can therefore be simplified to:

c = f(p_n) + 2n - p_n - 1.

Adding 1 to both sides of this and rearranging it gives,

p_n - f(p_n) = 2n - b, where b=c+1.

The right side of p_n - f(p_n) = 2n - b

has only one possible parity, either odd or even because it is an even number 2n minus a constant b.

But, the left side can be both odd and even many times over because f(p_n) can be odd or even and is subtracted from p_n which is odd for p>2.

So, the left side will change parity for different values of n, while the right side of the equation will remain one parity. Therefore, the two sides cannot be equal for all n.

This seems to show the twin prime counting function cannot become constant and therefore, there are infinite twin primes. Now assuming I can prove the form of the twin prime counting function given at the beginning of this question, does that argument hold water?
 
Mathematics news on Phys.org
What is the function $f(n)$?
 
Amer said:
What is the function $f(n)$?

f(n) was defined at the beginning of the post. If you mean more detail, it is counting the number of "smaller" twin composites \le n. So, it is counting all composite k\le n such that k+2 is also composite.
It would seem what I have shown is that the Twin Prime Conjecture is equivalent to proving that f(p_n) changes parity an infinite number of times. Any ideas? :)
 
Last edited:
Thread 'Video on imaginary numbers and some queries'
Hi, I was watching the following video. I found some points confusing. Could you please help me to understand the gaps? Thanks, in advance! Question 1: Around 4:22, the video says the following. So for those mathematicians, negative numbers didn't exist. You could subtract, that is find the difference between two positive quantities, but you couldn't have a negative answer or negative coefficients. Mathematicians were so averse to negative numbers that there was no single quadratic...
Insights auto threads is broken atm, so I'm manually creating these for new Insight articles. In Dirac’s Principles of Quantum Mechanics published in 1930 he introduced a “convenient notation” he referred to as a “delta function” which he treated as a continuum analog to the discrete Kronecker delta. The Kronecker delta is simply the indexed components of the identity operator in matrix algebra Source: https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/what-exactly-is-diracs-delta-function/ by...
Thread 'Unit Circle Double Angle Derivations'
Here I made a terrible mistake of assuming this to be an equilateral triangle and set 2sinx=1 => x=pi/6. Although this did derive the double angle formulas it also led into a terrible mess trying to find all the combinations of sides. I must have been tired and just assumed 6x=180 and 2sinx=1. By that time, I was so mindset that I nearly scolded a person for even saying 90-x. I wonder if this is a case of biased observation that seeks to dis credit me like Jesus of Nazareth since in reality...
Back
Top