Difference between revisions of "Twin Prime Conjecture"

(Using an infinite series)
(Using an infinite series)
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of the [[reciprocal]]s of twin primes [[diverge]]s, this would imply that there are infinitely many twin primes.  Unfortunately, it has been shown that this sum converges to a constant <math>B</math>, known as [[Brun's constant]].  This could mean either that there are [[finite]]ly many twin prime pairs or that they are spaced "too far apart" for that [[series]] to diverge.
 
of the [[reciprocal]]s of twin primes [[diverge]]s, this would imply that there are infinitely many twin primes.  Unfortunately, it has been shown that this sum converges to a constant <math>B</math>, known as [[Brun's constant]].  This could mean either that there are [[finite]]ly many twin prime pairs or that they are spaced "too far apart" for that [[series]] to diverge.
  
== A weaker version of twin prime conjecture is proved by Yitang Zhang in 2013
+
===Yitang Zhang approach ===
 +
A weaker version of twin prime conjecture is proved by Yitang Zhang in 2013
 
This version stated that there are infinitely many pairs of primes that differ by a finite number. Yitang's number is 7,000,000.  Terence Tao and other people has reduced that boundary to 246  
 
This version stated that there are infinitely many pairs of primes that differ by a finite number. Yitang's number is 7,000,000.  Terence Tao and other people has reduced that boundary to 246  
 
{{stub}}
 
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[[Category:Conjectures]]
 
[[Category:Conjectures]]
 
[[Category:Number theory]]
 
[[Category:Number theory]]

Revision as of 22:57, 4 June 2015

The Twin Prime Conjecture is a conjecture (i.e., not a theorem) that states that there are infinitely many pairs of twin primes, i.e. pairs of primes that differ by $2$.

Failed Proofs

Using an infinite series

One possible strategy to prove the infinitude of twin primes is an idea adopted from the proof of Dirichlet's Theorem. If one can show that the sum

$B=\frac{1}{3}+\frac{1}{5}+\frac{1}{5}+\frac{1}{7}+\frac{1}{11}+\frac{1}{13}+\frac{1}{17}+\frac{1}{19}+\cdots$

of the reciprocals of twin primes diverges, this would imply that there are infinitely many twin primes. Unfortunately, it has been shown that this sum converges to a constant $B$, known as Brun's constant. This could mean either that there are finitely many twin prime pairs or that they are spaced "too far apart" for that series to diverge.

Yitang Zhang approach

A weaker version of twin prime conjecture is proved by Yitang Zhang in 2013 This version stated that there are infinitely many pairs of primes that differ by a finite number. Yitang's number is 7,000,000. Terence Tao and other people has reduced that boundary to 246 This article is a stub. Help us out by expanding it.