Where Fibonacci numbers surpass prime numbers

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between Fibonacci numbers and prime numbers, specifically exploring the conjecture that Fibonacci numbers may surpass prime numbers at a certain irrational value. Participants consider methods to determine this value and discuss the properties of both sequences.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that Fibonacci numbers might surpass prime numbers at an irrational value ns between 9 and 10, as n approaches infinity.
  • Another participant notes the lack of a continuous and nice extension for prime numbers compared to the closed-form expression available for Fibonacci numbers.
  • A different participant questions the initial conjecture, proposing that while the Fibonacci sequence follows a specific recurrence relation, a related Lucas sequence also exists, which has properties regarding primes that do not support the conjecture.
  • There is a suggestion to define the sequences as functions and explore how to extend them to real numbers.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the conjecture regarding Fibonacci numbers surpassing prime numbers, with some supporting the idea and others challenging it. The discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing perspectives.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention the need for mathematical background to fully engage with the concepts discussed, and there are references to specific sequences and their properties that may require further clarification.

Loren Booda
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The series of prime numbers pn=2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 27..., and Fibonacci numbers Fn=0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34..., suggest that Fn might be considered to surpass pn exactly at an irrational value ns such that 9<ns<10 and can be determined most exactly from both series as n-->infinity.

How would you determine ns?
 
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There's a nice closed-form for the Fibonacci numbers, but there's nothing so nice for the primes that extends them continuously and 'nicely' to the noninteger reals. So I wouldn't know of a good way to do this.
 
Thanks for your contribution, CRGreathouse. You seem to have addressed the heart of my problem.
 
It seems like you want to describe the primes and the fibonnaci numbers as some functions p(n) and f(n) and then extend those functions to the real numbers...how would you do this?
 
Hi!
I think your conjecture is wrong although to find a counterexample you need to go so so far away. The Fibonacci sequence satisfies the recurrence relation: $F_n=F_{n-1}+F_{n-2}$ with $F_1=1$ (or $0$ depends how you define it but it does not matter). Now, if you consider the recurrence relation: $L_n=L_{n-2}+L_{n-3}$ (looks like similar) with initial conditions $L_1=0$, $L_2=2$, $L_3=3$ it is 'simple' (you need some mathematic's background) to proof that if N is prime $L_N$ is also prime but the reverse is not true but to find a counterexample you need to go, as I said before, so far away, indeed it is possible to find a prime P such that $L_{P^2}$ is prime but this number is large but, of courseit , is possible to compute. By the way this last sequence I think is called Lucas sequence.
 

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