Ruth–Aaron pair

In mathematics, a Ruth–Aaron pair consists of two consecutive integers (e.g. 714 and 715) for which the sums of the prime factors of each integer are equal:

714 = 2 × 3 × 7 × 17

715 = 5 × 11 × 13

and

2 + 3 + 7 + 17 = 5 + 11 + 13 = 29

If only distinct prime factors are counted, the first few Ruth–Aaron pairs are:

(5, 6), (24, 25), (49, 50), (77, 78), (104, 105), (153, 154), (369, 370), (492, 493), (714, 715), (1682, 1683), (2107, 2108)

(The lesser of each pair is listed in (sequence A006145 in OEIS)).

Counting repeated prime factors (e.g. 8 = 2×2×2 and 9 = 3×3 with 2+2+2 = 3+3), the first few Ruth–Aaron pairs are:

(5, 6), (8, 9), (15, 16), (77, 78), (125, 126), (714, 715), (948, 949), (1330, 1331)

(The lesser of each pair is listed in  A039752).

The intersection of the two lists begins:

(5, 6), (77, 78), (714, 715), (5405, 5406)

(The lesser of each pair is listed in  A039753).

Any Ruth–Aaron pair of square-free integers belongs to both lists with the same sum of prime factors. The intersection also contains pairs that are not square-free, for example (7129199, 7129200) = (7×11²×19×443, 2⁴×3×5²×13×457). Here 7+11+19+443 = 2+3+5+13+457 = 480, and also 7+11+11+19+443 = 2+2+2+2+3+5+5+13+457 = 491.

The name was given by Carl Pomerance for Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron, as Ruth's career regular-season home run total was 714, a record which Aaron eclipsed on April 8, 1974, when he hit his 715th career home run. Pomerance was a mathematician at the University of Georgia at the time Aaron (a member of the nearby Atlanta Braves) broke Ruth's record, and the student of one of Pomerance's colleagues noticed that the sums of the prime factors of 714 and 715 were equal.

Ruth–Aaron triplets

Ruth–Aaron triplets (overlapping Ruth–Aaron pairs) also exist. The first and possibly the second when counting distinct prime factors:

89460294 = 2 × 3 × 7 × 11 × 23 × 8419

89460295 = 5 × 4201 × 4259

89460296 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 31 × 43 × 8389

and 2 + 3 + 7 + 11 + 23 + 8419 = 5 + 4201 + 4259 = 2 + 31 + 43 + 8389 = 8465

151165960539 = 3 × 11 × 11 × 83 × 2081 × 2411

151165960540 = 2 × 2 × 5 × 7 × 293 × 1193 × 3089

151165960541 = 23 × 29 × 157 × 359 × 4021

and 3 + 11 + 83 + 2081 + 2411 = 2 + 5 + 7 + 293 + 1193 + 3089 = 23 + 29 + 157 + 359 + 4021 = 4589

The first two Ruth–Aaron triplets when counting repeated prime factors:

417162 = 2 × 3 × 251 × 277

417163 = 17 × 53 × 463

417164 = 2 × 2 × 11 × 19 × 499

and 2 + 3 + 251 + 277 = 17 + 53 + 463 = 2 + 2 + 11 + 19 + 499 = 533

6913943284 = 2 × 2 × 37 × 89 × 101 × 5197

6913943285 = 5 × 283 × 1259 × 3881

6913943286 = 2 × 3 × 167 × 2549 × 2707

and 2 + 2 + 37 + 89 + 101 + 5197 = 5 + 283 + 1259 + 3881 = 2 + 3 + 167 + 2549 + 2707 = 5428

As of 2006 only the 4 above triplets are known.

References

• Hoffman, Paul (1998). The Man Who Loved Only Numbers. Hyperion. pp. 180–181. ISBN 0-7868-8406-1. 
• "Ruth–Aaron Triplets" and "Ruth–Aaron pairs revisited". The prime puzzles & problems connection. Retrieved November 9, 2006.