# Number Thry: Divisibilty, perfect square.

Here is the question:
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Show that a perfect square is never of the form 3k+2 for any k. Conclude that if p is prime and $p \geq 5$, then $p^2 + 2$ is always composite.
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We are at the very start of the book, so there is not very much available to use. We have defined a|b, primes, floor and ceiling (which I don't think will play a role here), and have the division theorem.

For the first part I think it is going to be proved by contradiction, so I have been trying to get some kind of parity going with both sides. I tried using $n^2 - 1 = 3k+1$ and then breaking into evens and odds, but that did not get anywhere. I was also trying to get a contradiction with $3k+2 \mid n$, but again was able to get nothing. Any ideas?

For the second part I was using the result of the first. Since a perfect square is not of the form 3k+2 it must be of the form 3k+1 of 3k, for the former it is easy to see that $p^2+2$ is composite. But for the latter I am stuck again. Any ideas here?

Thanks!

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Gokul43201
Staff Emeritus
Gold Member
Can you have a number 3k that is the square of a prime greater than 4?

Obviously not, otherwise the "prime" would be divisible by 3 That takes care of the second part, thanks!

Last edited:
1) look at things mod 3.
a can either be:
a=1,2,-1 mod 3 => a^2=1 mod 3

2) use mod 3 again.

Gib Z
Homework Helper
Induction? Prove its not true for n=1, then n=k+1.

Gokul43201
Staff Emeritus