Giuga number

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A Giuga number is a composite number n such that each of its distinct prime factors pi is a divisor of {n \over p_i} - 1. Another test is if the congruence nB_{\phi(n)} \equiv -1 \pmod n holds true, where B is a Bernoulli number. The Giuga numbers are named after the mathematician Giuseppe Giuga, and relate to his conjecture on primality.

The first few Giuga numbers are

30, 858, 1722, 66198, 2214408306, ... (sequence A007850 in OEIS)

For example, 30 is a Giuga number since its prime factors are 2, 3 and 5, and we can verify that

  • 30/2 - 1 = 14, which is divisible by 2,
  • 30/3 - 1 = 9, which is 3 squared, and
  • 30/5 - 1 = 5, the third prime factor itself

The prime factors need to be distinct. If we allow n = p2, it follows that {n \over p_i} - 1 = p - 1, which will clearly not divide p. Thus, no squareful number can be a Giuga number. For example, the factors of 60 are 2, 2, 3 and 5, and 60/2 - 1 = 29, which is obviously not divisible by 2. Suffice it to say that the other prime factors of 60 also fail the test.

This effectively rules out squares of primes, but semiprimes p1p2 can not be Giuga numbers either. Even if the smaller factor p1 passes the test (and it certainly will if it happens to be 2), the larger factor p2 will fail the test, since {n \over p_2} - 1 < p_2.

All known Giuga numbers are even. If an odd Giuga number exists, it must be the product of at least 14 primes. It is not known if there are infinitely many Giuga numbers.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  • Borwein, D.; Borwein, J. M.; Borwein, P. B.; and Girgensohn, R. "Giuga's Conjecture on Primality." American Mathematical Monthly 103, 40-50, 1996.
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