MathDB
France TST 2007

Source: Problem 1

May 16, 2007
number theory proposednumber theory

Problem Statement

For a positive integer aa, aa' is the integer obtained by the following method: the decimal writing of aa' is the inverse of the decimal writing of aa (the decimal writing of aa' can begin by zeros, but not the one of aa); for instance if a=2370a=2370, a=0732a'=0732, that is 732732. Let a1a_{1} be a positive integer, and (an)n1(a_{n})_{n \geq 1} the sequence defined by a1a_{1} and the following formula for n1n \geq 1: an+1=an+an.a_{n+1}=a_{n}+a'_{n}. Can a7a_{7} be prime?