Simultaneous primality and Dirichlet's Theorem on Arthm. Progressions?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between Dirichlet's theorem on arithmetic progressions and the simultaneous primality of two linear forms, specifically ax+b and cx+d, where a, b, c, and d are coprime. The scope includes theoretical exploration and mathematical reasoning.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether there exists a theorem that guarantees ax+b and cx+d are simultaneously prime infinitely often when a, b, c, and d are coprime.
  • The same participant proposes a personal reasoning approach involving the sum ax+b+cx+d and its relation to primes, suggesting that if this sum can be expressed as p+q (where p and q are primes) infinitely often, then ax+b and cx+d may also be prime infinitely often.
  • Another participant notes that proving this would imply a proof of the twin primes conjecture as a special case, indicating the significance of the inquiry.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the existence of a theorem addressing simultaneous primality, and the discussion remains unresolved regarding the validity of the proposed reasoning and its implications.

Contextual Notes

The discussion lacks formal proofs and relies on personal reasoning, with no established mathematical consensus on the claims made.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in number theory, particularly those exploring prime numbers and their properties in arithmetic progressions.

tuttlerice
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Hi. I'm a music theorist writing a music-related paper that is math heavy and I'm a little in over my head.

I know that according to Dirichlet's theorem on arithmetic progressions, there are infinitely many primes in the form ax+b when a and b are coprime. What I am wondering is if there is a theorem that says given ax+b and cx+d where a,b are coprime and c,d are coprime, ax+b and cx+d are simultaneously prime infinitely often?

The best I could come up with trying to prove it myself is this, and I don't claim this is a valid proof:

ax+b and cx+d are both prime infinitely often if it is the case that ax+b+cx+d equals some p+q, where p, q are prime, infinitely often. For the purposes of my paper I can also stipulate that a and c are both even and b and d are both odd.

ax+b+cx+d = x(a+c)+b+d = x(a+c)-1 + b+d+1.

The expression x(a+c)-1 yields primes infinitely often per Dirichlet because a+c is coprime with 1 (as all numbers are coprime with 1). The expression b+d+1 yields primes infinitely often because b+d is even, and even numbers are 1 less than a prime infinitely often. Therefore, ax+b+cx+d = primes p + q infinitely often.

At least that's my train of thought. But I would dearly love for there to be an existing theorem that covers this. And please forgive me if my own "proof" is faulty and naive--- I'm just a music theorist, not a math professor!Robert Gross
 
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I also apologize if this is the wrong forum. I thought this was the general number theory forum.
 
If you get the proof right, you will have also proved the twin primes conjecture as a special case. Best of luck!
 
Wow, you're right!
 

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