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Additive structure of Z(.) mod mk (squarefree) and Goldbach's Conjecture

N. F. Benschop

math.GMarXiv:math/0103091

Abstract

The product mk of the first k primes (2..pk) has neighbours mk +/- 1 with all prime divisors beyond pk, implying there are infinitely many primes [Euclid]. All primes between pk and mk are in the group G1 of units in semigroup Zmk(.) of mutiplication mod mk. Due to the squarefree modulus Zmk is a disjoint union of 2k groups, with as many idempotents - one per divisor of mk, which form a Boolean lattice BL. The generators of Zmk and the additive properties of its lattice are studied. It is shown that each complementary pair in BL adds to 1 mod mk and each even idempotent e in BL has successor e+1 in G1. It follows that G1+G1 E, the set of even residues in Zmk, so each even residue is the sum of two roots of unity, proving "Goldbach for Residues" mod mk ("GR"). . . . Induction on k by extending residues mod mk with "carry" a < pk+1 of weight mk, yields a prime sieve for integers. Failure of Goldbach's Conjecture ("GC") for some 2n contradicts GR(k) for some k. By Bertrand's Postulate (on prime i<p<2i for each i>1) successive 2n are in overlapping intervals, while the smallest composite unit in G1 mod mk is pk+12, yielding "GC": Each 2n > 4 is the sum of two odd primes.

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