Observations on a certain theorem of Fermat and on others concerning prime numbers

Abstract

E26 in the Enestrom index. Translated from the Latin original, "Observationes de theoremate quodam Fermatiano aliisque ad numeros primos spectantibus" (1732). In this paper Euler gives a counterexample to Fermat's claim that all numbers of the form 2^{2^m}+1 are primes, by showing 2^{2^5}+1=4294967297 is divisible by 641. He also considers many cases in which we are guaranteed that a number is composite, but he notes clearly that it is not possible to have a full list of circumstances under which a number is composite. He then gives a theorem and several corollaries of it, but he says that he does not have a proof, although he is sure of the truth of them. The main theorem is that a^n-b^n is always able to be divided by n+1 if n+1 is a prime number and both a and b cannot be divided by it.