Problem:
Let , , , be distinct primes such that is divisible by . Find the minimum possible value of .
, 2013
Solution
Solution:
Answer:
The key is to realize none of the primes can be , , or , or else we would have to use one of them twice. Hence , , , must lie among , , , , , , , These options give remainders of (obviously), , , , , , , , modulo , and , , , , , , , modulo .
We automatically have , and we have if and only if , i.e. there are an even number of 's among , , , .
If , then we cannot have , or else is a quadratic residue. Our next smallest choice (in terms of ) is , which works: . This gives an answer of .
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