2023arXiv (Cornell University)Open access

Unit fractions with shifted prime denominators

Thomas F. Bloom

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Abstract

We prove that any positive rational number is the sum of distinct unit fractions with denominators in $\{p-1 : p\textrm{ prime}\}$. The same conclusion holds for the set $\{p-h : p\textrm{ prime}\}$ for any $h\in\mathbb{Z}\backslash\{0\}$, provided a necessary congruence condition is satisfied. We also prove that this is true for any subset of the primes of relative positive density, provided a necessary congruence condition is satisfied.

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We prove that any positive rational number is the sum of distinct unit fractions with denominators in $\{p-1 : p\textrm{ prime}\}$. The same conclusion holds for the set $\{p-h : p\textrm{ prime}\}$ for any $h\in\mathbb{Z}\backslash\{0\}$, provided a necessary congruence condition is satisfied. We also prove that this is true for any subset of the primes of relative positive density, provided a necessary congruence condition is satisfied.

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Available abstract

We prove that any positive rational number is the sum of distinct unit fractions with denominators in $\{p-1 : p\textrm{ prime}\}$. The same conclusion holds for the set $\{p-h : p\textrm{ prime}\}$ for any $h\in\mathbb{Z}\backslash\{0\}$, provided a necessary congruence condition is satisfied. We also prove that this is true for any subset of the primes of relative positive density, provided a necessary congruence condition is satisfied.

Key concepts: Congruence (geometry), Prime (order theory), Mathematics, Unit (ring theory), Combinatorics, Prime number, Backslash, Set (abstract data type)

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