OFFSET
0,1
COMMENTS
The sequence is well-defined in that for each n the set of numbers with n nonprime substrings is not empty and finite. Proof of existence: Define m(n):=2*sum_{j=i..k} 6^j, where k:=floor((sqrt(8n+1)-1)/2), i:= n-(k(k+1)/2). For n=0,1,2,3,... the m(n) in base-6 representation are 2, 22, 20, 222, 220, 200, 2222, 2220, 2200, 2000, 22222, 22220, .... m(n) has k+1 digits and (k-i+1) 2’s. Thus, the number of nonprime substrings of m(n) is ((k+1)(k+2)/2)-k-1+i=(k(k+1)/2)+i=n. This proves the statement of existence. Proof of finiteness: Each 3-digit base-6 number has at least 1 nonprime substring. Hence, each 3(n+1)-digit number has at least n+1 nonprime substrings. Consequently, there is a boundary b < 6^(3n+2) such that all numbers > b have more than n nonprime substrings. It follows, that the set of numbers with n nonprime substrings is finite.
LINKS
Hieronymus Fischer, Table of n, a(n) for n = 0..55
FORMULA
EXAMPLE
(0) = 23, since 23 = 35_6 (base-6) is the greatest number with zero nonprime substrings in base-6 representation.
a(1) = 839 = 3515_6 has 1 nonprime substring in base-6 representation (= 1). All the other base-6 substrings (3, 5, 15_6=11, 35_6=23, 51_6=31, 351_6=139, 515_6=191 and 3515_6=839) are prime substrings. 839 is the greatest number with 1 nonprime substring.
a(2) = 5039 = 35155_6 has 2 nonprime substrings in base-6 representation (1 and 55_6=35), and there is no greater number with 2 nonprime substrings in base-6 representation.
a(5) = 42743 = 525515_6 has 5 nonprime substrings in base-6 representation, these are 1, 52_6=32, 55_6=35, 5515_6=1271 and 52551_6=7123, and there is no greater number with 5 nonprime substrings in base-6 representation.
CROSSREFS
KEYWORD
base,nonn
AUTHOR
Hieronymus Fischer, Dec 20 2012
STATUS
approved