CHAPTER 10

On the history of determining "k-th"
 prime number by bounds for ""


(determining lower and upper bounds for"")

 


10.1. Determining the bounds for "Pk "
(the" k-th "term of the sequence of prime numbers)

One of the important problems related to the prime numbers, is their distribution among the natural numbers that has a lot of unsolved problems. This theorem reveals the dispersion of prime numbers and shows that they are dispersed in natural numbers set like some individual oasis in a very expand desert.

10.1.1. Theorem

In natural numbers sequence, there are some intervals, with no prime numbers, that are as expanded as can be imagined.

First proof. If "n" is an arbitrary natural number, between "n" successive natural numbers:

The first one is divisible by 2, the second one by 3 and …. The nth number is divisible by "".

Second proof. Suppose that "p" is a prime number, as big as we want and "a" is the multiplication of all prime numbers from "2" to "p".

It is clear that all these successive natural numbers will be composite:

10.1.2. Remark

In contrast with these theorems, this theorem is established that if "", then there will be at least one prime number between "n" and "". This theorem was stated by Bertrand in 1845 and was proved by Chebyshev in 1850 for the first time.

Another theorem has been proved in higher level that Serpinski published it in his book (pp. 284-296).

10.1.3. Theorem

 If "" (natural number), there are at least two different prime numbers between "n" and "".

 

 

10.1.4. Result

If "" is a natural number between, there is at least one prime number "n" and "".

Proof: According to Chebyshev's theorem, this assertion is true for natural number greater than "3". It’s also true for "2" and "3", because there is "3" (as a prime number) between "2" and "4" and there is "5" (as a prime number) between "3" and "6".

10.1.5. Result

For "" (natural number), if "" is as symbol for kth prime number, it’s possible to write "" and "". It for the natural number "k", the inequality "" is true. According to result (10.1.4), there is at least one prime number between the numbers and that is more then "".

Therefore inequality is true as a mathematical induction.

10.2. Bounds for Pk from below and above

I.  Lower limit of:

 

                  (1)

                (2)

            (3)

 

II. Upper limit of:

    (4)

(The first inequality is strict for k>1)

                                 :                                         (5)

One of the inequalities that are extractable by primary methods is show in the theorem below. The demonstration of this theorem shows that in number theory, it is possible to extract interesting results from a few preliminary acknowledgements.

10.3. Bonse's theorem (1907)

In prime number sequence, always:

10.3.1. Note

Bonze’s inequality, as we have mentioned about other preliminary inequalities concerned to prime numbers, is too weak. For example its information about "" is:

  ,   although

10.3.2. Remark

If "", then:

10.4. Theorems concerning consecutive prime numbers

10.4.1. Theorem

If "", then:

 

Proof. Suppose that "" then.

According to theorem the proved is at least two prime numbers between and . Therefore, since the prime number immediately after  is  and after  is then necessarily  therefore, always.

10.4.2. Theorem (Ishikawa, 1934)

If "", then:

10.4.3. Remark

 Prove that if "" then in canonical factorization of "n!" there is at least one prime factor with exponent "1". Consequently, if "m" is an arbitrary natural number except of "1", for "", "n!" will never be a perfect m-th power.

10.4.4. Theorem

If "n" is a natural number greater than "5", there will be at least two prime numbers greater than "n" and smaller than "2n".

10.5. Theorems of Chebyshev (1850)

10.5.1. Theorem

If "", then there is at least one prime number like "p" so that .

Proof (Ardoosh, 1932). For "n=4" and "n=5" validity of assertion is obvious by testing. So, we suppose that "". According to the previous theorem, there is at least, two prime numbers like "p" and "q" () so that

.

Now if "" then, because "" is a composite number and "", then "". But if, then: .

10.5.2.Theorem

If, then:

10.5.3. Remark

 If we choose one of or  instead of, the relative error can be restricted as follow:

,

So, for every positive number "" after an order:

 

 

10.6. Theorems of Ishikawa (1934)

10.6.1. Theorem

If, and, then ():

10.6.2. Remark

Hardy and Littlewood have guessed (1923) that for every two natural numbers "m" and "n" which are non-one:

But this assertion neither has been proved nor disproved.

10.6.3. Remark

If "" is the n-th prime number, since, then:

10.6.4. Theorem

For every two natural numbers "n" and "m":

 

 

Proof. For "" the assertion is clear and for "" the assertion is proved by using below inequality and according to theorem (10.6.1), and :

   ; 

Here it is proved with using presented theorems and lemmas:

 

10.6.5. If  then:

10.6.6. If  then:

10.6.7. If  then:

10.6.8. If  then: