$a^n-a + 1 $ divisible by $n$












19












$begingroup$



Problem. Given $a$ is a positive integer greater than 3, are there infinitely many positive integers $n$ satisfying $a^n-a + 1 $
divisible by $n$?











share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$








  • 5




    $begingroup$
    Interesting question. Have you tried anything yet?
    $endgroup$
    – Mohammad Zuhair Khan
    Oct 24 '18 at 8:30






  • 3




    $begingroup$
    The case $a=2$ is popular, see here and the related links.
    $endgroup$
    – Dietrich Burde
    Oct 24 '18 at 8:48






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    $n$ is not a prime number. It also must be odd.
    $endgroup$
    – Oldboy
    Oct 24 '18 at 18:16






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    My original problem: Let $ainmathbb Z$ and $a>3$, prove that there exist infinitely many positive integers $n$ satisfying$$(n+a)mid left(a^n+1right).$$
    $endgroup$
    – Drona
    Oct 26 '18 at 19:54






  • 6




    $begingroup$
    @Drona I think that you are making a big mistake. The statement $(n+a)|(a^n+1)$ is not equivalent to $n|(a^n-a+1)$. It's like saying that $(4+3)|14$ is equivalent to $4|(14-3)$. You should post the original problem. If you don't want to do it, I would like to do it.
    $endgroup$
    – Oldboy
    Oct 27 '18 at 8:39


















19












$begingroup$



Problem. Given $a$ is a positive integer greater than 3, are there infinitely many positive integers $n$ satisfying $a^n-a + 1 $
divisible by $n$?











share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$








  • 5




    $begingroup$
    Interesting question. Have you tried anything yet?
    $endgroup$
    – Mohammad Zuhair Khan
    Oct 24 '18 at 8:30






  • 3




    $begingroup$
    The case $a=2$ is popular, see here and the related links.
    $endgroup$
    – Dietrich Burde
    Oct 24 '18 at 8:48






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    $n$ is not a prime number. It also must be odd.
    $endgroup$
    – Oldboy
    Oct 24 '18 at 18:16






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    My original problem: Let $ainmathbb Z$ and $a>3$, prove that there exist infinitely many positive integers $n$ satisfying$$(n+a)mid left(a^n+1right).$$
    $endgroup$
    – Drona
    Oct 26 '18 at 19:54






  • 6




    $begingroup$
    @Drona I think that you are making a big mistake. The statement $(n+a)|(a^n+1)$ is not equivalent to $n|(a^n-a+1)$. It's like saying that $(4+3)|14$ is equivalent to $4|(14-3)$. You should post the original problem. If you don't want to do it, I would like to do it.
    $endgroup$
    – Oldboy
    Oct 27 '18 at 8:39
















19












19








19


11



$begingroup$



Problem. Given $a$ is a positive integer greater than 3, are there infinitely many positive integers $n$ satisfying $a^n-a + 1 $
divisible by $n$?











share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$





Problem. Given $a$ is a positive integer greater than 3, are there infinitely many positive integers $n$ satisfying $a^n-a + 1 $
divisible by $n$?








number-theory elementary-number-theory divisibility






share|cite|improve this question















share|cite|improve this question













share|cite|improve this question




share|cite|improve this question








edited Dec 7 '18 at 16:57









Klangen

1,73711334




1,73711334










asked Oct 24 '18 at 8:10









DronaDrona

1627




1627








  • 5




    $begingroup$
    Interesting question. Have you tried anything yet?
    $endgroup$
    – Mohammad Zuhair Khan
    Oct 24 '18 at 8:30






  • 3




    $begingroup$
    The case $a=2$ is popular, see here and the related links.
    $endgroup$
    – Dietrich Burde
    Oct 24 '18 at 8:48






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    $n$ is not a prime number. It also must be odd.
    $endgroup$
    – Oldboy
    Oct 24 '18 at 18:16






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    My original problem: Let $ainmathbb Z$ and $a>3$, prove that there exist infinitely many positive integers $n$ satisfying$$(n+a)mid left(a^n+1right).$$
    $endgroup$
    – Drona
    Oct 26 '18 at 19:54






  • 6




    $begingroup$
    @Drona I think that you are making a big mistake. The statement $(n+a)|(a^n+1)$ is not equivalent to $n|(a^n-a+1)$. It's like saying that $(4+3)|14$ is equivalent to $4|(14-3)$. You should post the original problem. If you don't want to do it, I would like to do it.
    $endgroup$
    – Oldboy
    Oct 27 '18 at 8:39
















  • 5




    $begingroup$
    Interesting question. Have you tried anything yet?
    $endgroup$
    – Mohammad Zuhair Khan
    Oct 24 '18 at 8:30






  • 3




    $begingroup$
    The case $a=2$ is popular, see here and the related links.
    $endgroup$
    – Dietrich Burde
    Oct 24 '18 at 8:48






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    $n$ is not a prime number. It also must be odd.
    $endgroup$
    – Oldboy
    Oct 24 '18 at 18:16






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    My original problem: Let $ainmathbb Z$ and $a>3$, prove that there exist infinitely many positive integers $n$ satisfying$$(n+a)mid left(a^n+1right).$$
    $endgroup$
    – Drona
    Oct 26 '18 at 19:54






  • 6




    $begingroup$
    @Drona I think that you are making a big mistake. The statement $(n+a)|(a^n+1)$ is not equivalent to $n|(a^n-a+1)$. It's like saying that $(4+3)|14$ is equivalent to $4|(14-3)$. You should post the original problem. If you don't want to do it, I would like to do it.
    $endgroup$
    – Oldboy
    Oct 27 '18 at 8:39










5




5




$begingroup$
Interesting question. Have you tried anything yet?
$endgroup$
– Mohammad Zuhair Khan
Oct 24 '18 at 8:30




$begingroup$
Interesting question. Have you tried anything yet?
$endgroup$
– Mohammad Zuhair Khan
Oct 24 '18 at 8:30




3




3




$begingroup$
The case $a=2$ is popular, see here and the related links.
$endgroup$
– Dietrich Burde
Oct 24 '18 at 8:48




$begingroup$
The case $a=2$ is popular, see here and the related links.
$endgroup$
– Dietrich Burde
Oct 24 '18 at 8:48




1




1




$begingroup$
$n$ is not a prime number. It also must be odd.
$endgroup$
– Oldboy
Oct 24 '18 at 18:16




$begingroup$
$n$ is not a prime number. It also must be odd.
$endgroup$
– Oldboy
Oct 24 '18 at 18:16




2




2




$begingroup$
My original problem: Let $ainmathbb Z$ and $a>3$, prove that there exist infinitely many positive integers $n$ satisfying$$(n+a)mid left(a^n+1right).$$
$endgroup$
– Drona
Oct 26 '18 at 19:54




$begingroup$
My original problem: Let $ainmathbb Z$ and $a>3$, prove that there exist infinitely many positive integers $n$ satisfying$$(n+a)mid left(a^n+1right).$$
$endgroup$
– Drona
Oct 26 '18 at 19:54




6




6




$begingroup$
@Drona I think that you are making a big mistake. The statement $(n+a)|(a^n+1)$ is not equivalent to $n|(a^n-a+1)$. It's like saying that $(4+3)|14$ is equivalent to $4|(14-3)$. You should post the original problem. If you don't want to do it, I would like to do it.
$endgroup$
– Oldboy
Oct 27 '18 at 8:39






$begingroup$
@Drona I think that you are making a big mistake. The statement $(n+a)|(a^n+1)$ is not equivalent to $n|(a^n-a+1)$. It's like saying that $(4+3)|14$ is equivalent to $4|(14-3)$. You should post the original problem. If you don't want to do it, I would like to do it.
$endgroup$
– Oldboy
Oct 27 '18 at 8:39












1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes


















1












$begingroup$

$N=a^n-a+1$



$a^{p_1} ≡ a mod p_1$



$a^{p_2 } ≡a mod p_2$



$(a^{p_1})^{p_2} ≡ a^{p_2} mod p_1 ≡(a mod p_2) mod p_1= k_1 p_1 + k_2 p_2 + a$



$a^{p_1p_2}=k_1 p_1 + k_2 p_2 +a$



$a^{p_1p_2}-a+1=k_1p_1 +k_2p_2 +1$



If $n=p_1p_2 | a^n-a+1$ then we must have:



$p_1p_2 | k_1p_1 + k_2p_2+1$



So we have following linear equation:



$k_1p_1 + k_2 p_2 = m p_1p_2-1$



For certain value of $p_1$ and $p_2$ and m,there can be infinitely many solutions for $k_1$ and $k_2$. For example:



with $p_1=5$, $p_2=7$ and $m=3$ the equation has one solution like $k_1=11$ and $k_2=7$ and all other solutions can be found by:



$k_1= 7 t + 11$ and $k_2= -5 t+7$.



Now in first step problem reduces to:



Find n so that there exist a common divisor between $n$ and $N=a^n-a+1$.



For example for $a=3$, $p_1=5$ and $p_2=7$ we have:



$3^{35}-3+1=105$ and $(35, 105)=5$



In second step we must find m, $k_1$ and $k_2$ for certain amount of $p_1$ and $p_2$ so that $(n, N)=n$.



Relation $a^{p_1p_2}=k_1 p_1 + k_2 p_2 +a$ shows that $a|k_1 p_1 + k_2 p_2 $; if $k_1=u+1$ and $k_2=v-1$, $p_1= a .b+1$ and $p_2=a.c +1$, i.e. $p_1≡1mod a$ and $p_2≡1mod a$, then:



$k_1p_1+k_2p_2= M(a)$



Or: $a | k_1p_1+k_2p_2$



We can see this in solution $n=409times 9831853$ for $a=6$; $409=48times 6 +1$ and $9831853=1638642 times 6 +1$



This can help us in choosing a and primes $p_1$ and $p_2$



I see no reason for the lack of more solutions.






share|cite|improve this answer









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    1












    $begingroup$

    $N=a^n-a+1$



    $a^{p_1} ≡ a mod p_1$



    $a^{p_2 } ≡a mod p_2$



    $(a^{p_1})^{p_2} ≡ a^{p_2} mod p_1 ≡(a mod p_2) mod p_1= k_1 p_1 + k_2 p_2 + a$



    $a^{p_1p_2}=k_1 p_1 + k_2 p_2 +a$



    $a^{p_1p_2}-a+1=k_1p_1 +k_2p_2 +1$



    If $n=p_1p_2 | a^n-a+1$ then we must have:



    $p_1p_2 | k_1p_1 + k_2p_2+1$



    So we have following linear equation:



    $k_1p_1 + k_2 p_2 = m p_1p_2-1$



    For certain value of $p_1$ and $p_2$ and m,there can be infinitely many solutions for $k_1$ and $k_2$. For example:



    with $p_1=5$, $p_2=7$ and $m=3$ the equation has one solution like $k_1=11$ and $k_2=7$ and all other solutions can be found by:



    $k_1= 7 t + 11$ and $k_2= -5 t+7$.



    Now in first step problem reduces to:



    Find n so that there exist a common divisor between $n$ and $N=a^n-a+1$.



    For example for $a=3$, $p_1=5$ and $p_2=7$ we have:



    $3^{35}-3+1=105$ and $(35, 105)=5$



    In second step we must find m, $k_1$ and $k_2$ for certain amount of $p_1$ and $p_2$ so that $(n, N)=n$.



    Relation $a^{p_1p_2}=k_1 p_1 + k_2 p_2 +a$ shows that $a|k_1 p_1 + k_2 p_2 $; if $k_1=u+1$ and $k_2=v-1$, $p_1= a .b+1$ and $p_2=a.c +1$, i.e. $p_1≡1mod a$ and $p_2≡1mod a$, then:



    $k_1p_1+k_2p_2= M(a)$



    Or: $a | k_1p_1+k_2p_2$



    We can see this in solution $n=409times 9831853$ for $a=6$; $409=48times 6 +1$ and $9831853=1638642 times 6 +1$



    This can help us in choosing a and primes $p_1$ and $p_2$



    I see no reason for the lack of more solutions.






    share|cite|improve this answer









    $endgroup$


















      1












      $begingroup$

      $N=a^n-a+1$



      $a^{p_1} ≡ a mod p_1$



      $a^{p_2 } ≡a mod p_2$



      $(a^{p_1})^{p_2} ≡ a^{p_2} mod p_1 ≡(a mod p_2) mod p_1= k_1 p_1 + k_2 p_2 + a$



      $a^{p_1p_2}=k_1 p_1 + k_2 p_2 +a$



      $a^{p_1p_2}-a+1=k_1p_1 +k_2p_2 +1$



      If $n=p_1p_2 | a^n-a+1$ then we must have:



      $p_1p_2 | k_1p_1 + k_2p_2+1$



      So we have following linear equation:



      $k_1p_1 + k_2 p_2 = m p_1p_2-1$



      For certain value of $p_1$ and $p_2$ and m,there can be infinitely many solutions for $k_1$ and $k_2$. For example:



      with $p_1=5$, $p_2=7$ and $m=3$ the equation has one solution like $k_1=11$ and $k_2=7$ and all other solutions can be found by:



      $k_1= 7 t + 11$ and $k_2= -5 t+7$.



      Now in first step problem reduces to:



      Find n so that there exist a common divisor between $n$ and $N=a^n-a+1$.



      For example for $a=3$, $p_1=5$ and $p_2=7$ we have:



      $3^{35}-3+1=105$ and $(35, 105)=5$



      In second step we must find m, $k_1$ and $k_2$ for certain amount of $p_1$ and $p_2$ so that $(n, N)=n$.



      Relation $a^{p_1p_2}=k_1 p_1 + k_2 p_2 +a$ shows that $a|k_1 p_1 + k_2 p_2 $; if $k_1=u+1$ and $k_2=v-1$, $p_1= a .b+1$ and $p_2=a.c +1$, i.e. $p_1≡1mod a$ and $p_2≡1mod a$, then:



      $k_1p_1+k_2p_2= M(a)$



      Or: $a | k_1p_1+k_2p_2$



      We can see this in solution $n=409times 9831853$ for $a=6$; $409=48times 6 +1$ and $9831853=1638642 times 6 +1$



      This can help us in choosing a and primes $p_1$ and $p_2$



      I see no reason for the lack of more solutions.






      share|cite|improve this answer









      $endgroup$
















        1












        1








        1





        $begingroup$

        $N=a^n-a+1$



        $a^{p_1} ≡ a mod p_1$



        $a^{p_2 } ≡a mod p_2$



        $(a^{p_1})^{p_2} ≡ a^{p_2} mod p_1 ≡(a mod p_2) mod p_1= k_1 p_1 + k_2 p_2 + a$



        $a^{p_1p_2}=k_1 p_1 + k_2 p_2 +a$



        $a^{p_1p_2}-a+1=k_1p_1 +k_2p_2 +1$



        If $n=p_1p_2 | a^n-a+1$ then we must have:



        $p_1p_2 | k_1p_1 + k_2p_2+1$



        So we have following linear equation:



        $k_1p_1 + k_2 p_2 = m p_1p_2-1$



        For certain value of $p_1$ and $p_2$ and m,there can be infinitely many solutions for $k_1$ and $k_2$. For example:



        with $p_1=5$, $p_2=7$ and $m=3$ the equation has one solution like $k_1=11$ and $k_2=7$ and all other solutions can be found by:



        $k_1= 7 t + 11$ and $k_2= -5 t+7$.



        Now in first step problem reduces to:



        Find n so that there exist a common divisor between $n$ and $N=a^n-a+1$.



        For example for $a=3$, $p_1=5$ and $p_2=7$ we have:



        $3^{35}-3+1=105$ and $(35, 105)=5$



        In second step we must find m, $k_1$ and $k_2$ for certain amount of $p_1$ and $p_2$ so that $(n, N)=n$.



        Relation $a^{p_1p_2}=k_1 p_1 + k_2 p_2 +a$ shows that $a|k_1 p_1 + k_2 p_2 $; if $k_1=u+1$ and $k_2=v-1$, $p_1= a .b+1$ and $p_2=a.c +1$, i.e. $p_1≡1mod a$ and $p_2≡1mod a$, then:



        $k_1p_1+k_2p_2= M(a)$



        Or: $a | k_1p_1+k_2p_2$



        We can see this in solution $n=409times 9831853$ for $a=6$; $409=48times 6 +1$ and $9831853=1638642 times 6 +1$



        This can help us in choosing a and primes $p_1$ and $p_2$



        I see no reason for the lack of more solutions.






        share|cite|improve this answer









        $endgroup$



        $N=a^n-a+1$



        $a^{p_1} ≡ a mod p_1$



        $a^{p_2 } ≡a mod p_2$



        $(a^{p_1})^{p_2} ≡ a^{p_2} mod p_1 ≡(a mod p_2) mod p_1= k_1 p_1 + k_2 p_2 + a$



        $a^{p_1p_2}=k_1 p_1 + k_2 p_2 +a$



        $a^{p_1p_2}-a+1=k_1p_1 +k_2p_2 +1$



        If $n=p_1p_2 | a^n-a+1$ then we must have:



        $p_1p_2 | k_1p_1 + k_2p_2+1$



        So we have following linear equation:



        $k_1p_1 + k_2 p_2 = m p_1p_2-1$



        For certain value of $p_1$ and $p_2$ and m,there can be infinitely many solutions for $k_1$ and $k_2$. For example:



        with $p_1=5$, $p_2=7$ and $m=3$ the equation has one solution like $k_1=11$ and $k_2=7$ and all other solutions can be found by:



        $k_1= 7 t + 11$ and $k_2= -5 t+7$.



        Now in first step problem reduces to:



        Find n so that there exist a common divisor between $n$ and $N=a^n-a+1$.



        For example for $a=3$, $p_1=5$ and $p_2=7$ we have:



        $3^{35}-3+1=105$ and $(35, 105)=5$



        In second step we must find m, $k_1$ and $k_2$ for certain amount of $p_1$ and $p_2$ so that $(n, N)=n$.



        Relation $a^{p_1p_2}=k_1 p_1 + k_2 p_2 +a$ shows that $a|k_1 p_1 + k_2 p_2 $; if $k_1=u+1$ and $k_2=v-1$, $p_1= a .b+1$ and $p_2=a.c +1$, i.e. $p_1≡1mod a$ and $p_2≡1mod a$, then:



        $k_1p_1+k_2p_2= M(a)$



        Or: $a | k_1p_1+k_2p_2$



        We can see this in solution $n=409times 9831853$ for $a=6$; $409=48times 6 +1$ and $9831853=1638642 times 6 +1$



        This can help us in choosing a and primes $p_1$ and $p_2$



        I see no reason for the lack of more solutions.







        share|cite|improve this answer












        share|cite|improve this answer



        share|cite|improve this answer










        answered Feb 13 at 9:19









        siroussirous

        1,6851514




        1,6851514






























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