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INTRODUCTION
In ordinary
and superior mathematics many advances have been conducted in the
domain of measurement and order, since the discovery and the "demonstration
of existence", by the greek mathematician Euclid (328-265 BC)
in Book IX of the Elements, of the elegant theorem which states
that "prime numbers are an infinite series".
New concepts,
methods and techniques let solve ancient and complex problems related
to the prime numbers, their formation and the criteria to decide
if any number is or is not a prime. But, the reciprocal is impossible,
i.e: nobody has yet shown a simple arithmetic formula to generate
prime numbers, although the modern theory of numbers has appealed
to radical means (see DECODING THE SECRETS OF THE LAW OF PRIMES
IN NUMBER THEORY, 10/XI/01, by the same author of this research).
THE
STRUCTURE OF ARITHMETIC
The advances
made by the greek mathematicians in relation to the decimal system
of numeration let them define the concept of a prime: "is the
number which is divisible by itself and 1". Eratosthenes (284-192
bC) built his famous sieve to, intuitively and later formally, systematize
a procedure which lets find all prime numbers, with the assumption
of devoting hard work and enough time, under a simple reasoning
and yielding an easy expression.
With the formula
n+1 all positive integers are listed in their natural order: 1,
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19,
20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25,
: then the multiples of the successive
numbers are eliminated by the proper divisors, except the two trivial
divisors "by itself and 1", hence obtaining the series
of prime numbers: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37, 41,
43, 47, 53, 59, 61, 67, 71, 73, 79, 83, 89, 97,
with this siege.
METHODOLOGY
OF THE PRESENT RESEARCH
A first conjecture
to show states that the prime series becomes scarce as it advances
in its development with larger gaps between successive primes, without
letting foresee any regularity in the decimal numerical field of
study.
It is a laborious
process. It has been estimated that over 300 hours of hard work
are needed to "sieve" all prime numbers comprised between
1 and 1.000.000, although, observing that they get scarce with larger
and larger gaps which, naturally, leads to the question or hypothesis:
Is there a maximum prime? or, Do twin primes exist no more somewhere
along the series? Indeed, a real challenge for professionals and
amateurs.
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