When Does the Prime Ratio of Spiral Diagonals Drop Below 10%?

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The forum discussion focuses on the mathematical problem of determining when the ratio of prime numbers in the diagonals of a spiral drops below 10%. The user implements a Python solution using functions to identify prime numbers and calculate the diagonal values. The key variable, J, represents the side length of the square, and the user finds that at J=13120, the ratio of primes falls below 10%. The discussion highlights the inefficiency of trial and error methods and suggests optimizing the algorithm to improve performance.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of prime number algorithms in Python
  • Familiarity with mathematical sequences and series
  • Knowledge of Python programming, specifically functions and loops
  • Basic concepts of computational complexity and algorithm optimization
NEXT STEPS
  • Optimize the prime number checking algorithm using the Sieve of Eratosthenes
  • Explore mathematical properties of spiral primes and their distributions
  • Learn about Python's time complexity analysis to improve algorithm efficiency
  • Investigate alternative methods for generating spiral diagonal numbers
USEFUL FOR

Mathematicians, computer scientists, and programmers interested in number theory, algorithm optimization, and Python programming techniques for solving mathematical problems.

Arman777
Insights Author
Gold Member
Messages
2,163
Reaction score
191

Homework Statement


https://projecteuler.net/problem=58

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution



Python:
def prime(N):
    if N == 1:
        return False
    y = int(N**0.5)
    for i in range(2,y+1):
        if N%i == 0:
            return False
    return True

def finder(N):
    L = len(N)
    count = 0
    for i in N:
        if prime(i) == True:
            count += 1
    return countJ = 13296
D1 = [(2*n+1)**2 for n in range(1,J)]    #diagonal 1
D2 = [4*n**2+1 for n in range(1,J)]       #diagonal 2
D3 = [4*n**2+2*n+1 for n in range(1,J)]    #diagonal 3
D4 = [(4*n**2)-(2*n)+1 for n in range(1,J)]   #diagonal 4
f = finder(D1) + finder(D2) + finder(D3) + finder(D4)    #sum of primes in the diagonals
d = f/((J-1)*4+1)     #sum of primes divided by length of the diagonals
if d < 0.10:   #percent thing
    print(d)     #the percantage
    print((J-1)*2+1)   #side length of the square

Well I know this is not a great solution because I tried to find it with trial and error method.

At trial 13296 I should have the correct result but it seems wrong I don't know why
İf you put J = 4 you ll get the result as the question does
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
Where does 13296 come from? That gives you a side length of 13296*2-1.
 
mfb said:
Where does 13296 come from?
By trial and error. It wasnt so hard to find that if you put one lower number its more then 0.1 and one less number well that's not the answer.
Side length shold be 25691 from my calculations.
mfb said:
That gives you a side length of 13296*2-1.
I don't think so.

I think it should be like ((J-1)*2+1)
 
((J-1)*2+1) = J*2-1.

You simply missed an earlier place where it drops below 10%.
Code:
def findprimes(N):
...   count=0
...   if prime(4*N*N+4*N+1):
...     count+=1
...   if prime(4*N*N+1):
...     count+=1
...   if prime(4*N*N+2*N+1):
...     count+=1
...   if prime(4*N*N-2*N+1):
...     count+=1
...   return count

>>> J=1
>>> primes=3
>>> while primes*1./(4*J+1)>0.1:
...   J+=1
...   primes+=findprimes(J)
...
>>> J
13120
>>> primes
5248
Note that I defined J a bit different.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Arman777
whats j or primes in here ?

At first my code was something like
Python:
def prime(N):
    if N == 1:
        return False
    y = int(N**0.5)
    for i in range(2,y+1):
        if N%i == 0:
            return False
    return True

def finder(N):
    L = len(N)
    count = 0
    for i in N:
        if prime(i) == True:
            count += 1
    return countfor J in range(2,30000):
    D1 = [(2*n+1)**2 for n in range(1,J)]
    D2 = [4*n**2+1 for n in range(1,J)]
    D3 = [4*n**2+2*n+1 for n in range(1,J)]
    D4 = [(4*n**2)-(2*n)+1 for n in range(1,J)]
    f = finder(D1) + finder(D2) + finder(D3) + finder(D4)
    d = f/((J-1)*4+1)
    if d < 0.10:
        print(d)
        print((J-1)*2+1)
or this was my idea but then it just don't work fast enough

I guess you are checking for each number rather then putting them into the array and check them one by one. Definitly much faster algorithm
 
My J is the length of a diagonal half without the center, primes is the number of primes corresponding to it. My code adds another side everywhere step by step and checks the 10% condition each time, keeping track of the primes found so far.

Checking each J without remembering the previous result runs in O(J2), or ~150 million steps to reach 13,000. That takes a long time.
The code I posted takes a few seconds.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Arman777

Similar threads

  • · Replies 80 ·
3
Replies
80
Views
10K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
  • · Replies 97 ·
4
Replies
97
Views
9K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
5K
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
706
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K