OFFSET
2,3
COMMENTS
Conjecture: a(n) < 2n. Note that the truth of this conjecture implies that for any pair of positive even numbers e1 < e2 <= 2n, there is a positive odd number d < 2n such that e1+d and e2+d are primes. Note that this conjecture can also be stated with odd and even swapped: for any pair of positive odd numbers d1 < d2 < 2n, there is a positive even number e <= 2n such that e+d1 and e+d2 are primes. Also note that proving this conjecture would prove the twin primes conjecture.
This is equivalent to a conjecture by Erdos mentioned by R. K. Guy at the end of section C1 of his book. The conjecture has been verified for n < 10^5. - T. D. Noe, Nov 04 2007
REFERENCES
R. K. Guy, Unsolved Problems in Number Theory, Third Ed., Springer, 2004.
LINKS
T. D. Noe, Table of n, a(n) for n=2..10000
EXAMPLE
a(4) = 5 because d(1)=3 and d(2)=3 and d(3)=5.
MATHEMATICA
maxN=200; lst={}; For[n=2, n<=maxN, n++, For[soln={}; j=1, j<n, j++, k=1; While[k<2n&&!(PrimeQ[k+2n]&&PrimeQ[k+2j]), k=k+2]; AppendTo[soln, k]; If[k>2n, Print["Failure at n = ", n]]]; AppendTo[lst, Max[soln]]]; lst
CROSSREFS
KEYWORD
easy,nonn
AUTHOR
T. D. Noe, Aug 02 2002
STATUS
approved