On an unproven statement of the form ∃ X⊆N (X is naturally defined) ∧ Γ(X) that conjecturally holds for X={1}∪P(n^2+1), where Γ(X) refers to the current knowledge on X and the statement ∃ X⊆N Γ(X) holds although fails for every subject which knows the output of every algorithm with no inputs
Résumé
Let f(1)=2, f(2)=4, and let f(n+1)=f(n)! for every integer n≥2. Edmund Landau's conjecture states that the set P(n^2+1) of primes of the form n^2+1 is infinite. Landau's conjecture implies the following unproven statement Φ: card(P(n^2+1))<ω ⇒ P(n^2+1)⊆(-∞,f(7)]. Let B denote the system of equations: {x_i!=x_k: i,k∈{1,...,9}}∪ {x_i⋅x_j=x_k: i,j,k∈{1,...,9}}. We write down a system U⊆B of 9 equations which has exactly two solutions in positive integers, namely (1,...,1) and (f(1),...,f(9)). Let Ψ denote the statement: if a system S⊆B has at most finitely many solutions in positive integers x_1,...,x_9, then each such solution (x_1,...,x_9) satisfies x_1,...,x_9≤f(9). We write down a system A⊆B of 8 equations. The statement Ψ restricted to the system A is equivalent to the statement Φ. This heuristically proves the statement Φ . This proof does not yield that card(P(n^2+1))=ω. All algorithms are deterministic. Algorithms always terminate. We explain the distinction between "existing algorithms" (i.e. algorithms whose existence is provable in ZFC) and "known algorithms" (i.e. algorithms whose existence is constructive and currently known to us). Conditions (1)-(5) concern sets X⊆N. *** (1) There are many elements of X and it is conjectured that X is infinite. (2) No known algorithm with no inputs returns the logical value of the statement card(X)=ω. (3) There is a known algorithm that for every k∈N decides whether or not k∈X. (4) There is a known algorithm with no inputs that computes an integer n satisfying card(X)<ω ⇒ X⊆(-∞,n]. (5) There is a known condition C, which can be formalized in ZFC, such that for all except at most finitely many k∈N, k satisfies the condition C if and only if k∈X. The simplest known such condition C defines in N the set X. *** We define a set X⊆N that satisfies conditions (1)-(5). No set X⊆N will satisfy conditions (1)-(4) forever, if for every algorithm with no inputs, at some future day, a computer will be able to execute this algorithm in 1 second or less. The statement Φ implies that conditions (1)-(5) hold for X={1}∪P(n^2+1). As the condition Γ(X), we take the conjunction of conditions (1)-(4) or the conjunction of conditions (1)-(5).
Mots clés
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