Difference between revisions of "Fermat prime"
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
==Definition== | ==Definition== | ||
| − | A '''Fermat prime''' is a [[Fermat number]] that is also a [[prime number]]. In other words, it is a prime number of the form <math>F_k = 2^{2^k} + 1</math>, where <math>k</math> is a nonnegative integer. | + | A '''Fermat prime''' is a [[defining ingredient::Fermat number]] that is also a [[prime number]]. In other words, it is a prime number of the form <math>F_k = 2^{2^k} + 1</math>, where <math>k</math> is a nonnegative integer. |
It turns out that if <math>2^n + 1</math> is prime for <math>n</math> a natural number, then <math>n = 2^k</math> for some nonnegative integer <math>k</math>. Thus, a Fermat prime can also be defined as a prime of the form <math>2^n + 1</math> for some natural number <math>n</math>. | It turns out that if <math>2^n + 1</math> is prime for <math>n</math> a natural number, then <math>n = 2^k</math> for some nonnegative integer <math>k</math>. Thus, a Fermat prime can also be defined as a prime of the form <math>2^n + 1</math> for some natural number <math>n</math>. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Occurrence== | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Finitude conjecture=== | ||
| + | |||
| + | {{further|[[Finitude conjecture for Fermat primes]]}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | The only known Fermat primes are the Fermat primes for <math>k = 0,1,2,3,4</math>, namely, the primes <math>3,5,17,65537</math>. For all <math>k \ge 5</math>, either the [[Fermat prime]] <math>F_k</math> is known to be composite or its primality is open. The [[prime number theorem]] suggests that there are likely to be only finitely many Fermat primes, and it is conjectured that there are no Fermat primes other than the five known ones. | ||
==Relation with other properties== | ==Relation with other properties== | ||
| Line 13: | Line 21: | ||
* [[Stronger than::Proth prime]] | * [[Stronger than::Proth prime]] | ||
| + | ===Complementary properties=== | ||
| + | |||
| + | * [[Composite Fermat number]] | ||
==Testing== | ==Testing== | ||
{{oeis|A019434}} | {{oeis|A019434}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | {{test|Pepin's test}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pepin's test is a deterministic primality test for Fermat numbers. It relies on [[Proth's theorem]], and the observation that <math>3</math> is a [[quadratic nonresidue]] for any Fermat prime greater than <math>3</math> itself. | ||
Revision as of 19:56, 20 April 2009
This article defines a property that can be evaluated for a prime number. In other words, every prime number either satisfies this property or does not satisfy this property.
View other properties of prime numbers | View other properties of natural numbers
Contents
Definition
A Fermat prime is a Fermat number that is also a prime number. In other words, it is a prime number of the form 
, where 
is a nonnegative integer.
It turns out that if 
is prime for 
a natural number, then 
for some nonnegative integer . Thus, a Fermat prime can also be defined as a prime of the form for some natural number .
Occurrence
Finitude conjecture
Further information: Finitude conjecture for Fermat primes
The only known Fermat primes are the Fermat primes for 
, namely, the primes 
. For all 
, either the Fermat prime 
is known to be composite or its primality is open. The prime number theorem suggests that there are likely to be only finitely many Fermat primes, and it is conjectured that there are no Fermat primes other than the five known ones.
Relation with other properties
Weaker properties
Complementary properties
Testing
The ID of the sequence in the Online Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences is A019434
Test for this property
The test used to determine whether a natural number has this property is: Pepin's test
Pepin's test is a deterministic primality test for Fermat numbers. It relies on Proth's theorem, and the observation that 
is a quadratic nonresidue for any Fermat prime greater than itself.
