A prime number is a positive integer greater than whose only positive divisors are and itself. For example, is a prime number since it is greater than and its only positive divisors are and .
What is the product of the three smallest prime numbers?
There are two integers with for which is a prime number. What are these two possible values of the integer ?
Determine all integers with for which
is a prime number.
, 2026
Solution
The three smallest prime numbers are , and . Their product is . Each prime number is a positive integer, and so cannot be a prime number unless . The value of is an integer exactly when is divisible by . The values of for which and is divisible by are , , , and . When is equal to and , the values of are and , respectively. Each of these is not a prime number. When , the value of expression is , which is a prime number. When , the value of expression is , which is a prime number. Thus, the two possible values of the integer are and . Factoring the given expression, we get . For all integers , the value of is equal to an integer, and so is the product of two integers, and . A prime number is positive and cannot be written as a product of two integers both greater than , so . If , then , and so . The only integer with for which is a prime number is , and the prime number is . We can confirm that if , is negative and so is not prime. Further, if , and so is the product of two integers, both greater than , and thus is
also not prime.


