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jmc

number theory senior

Problem

What is the largest positive integer that is not the sum of a positive integral multiple of and a positive composite integer?
Solution
Let our answer be . Write , where are positive integers and . Then note that are all primes. If is , then because is the only prime divisible by . We get as our largest possibility in this case. If is , then is divisible by and thus . Thus, . If is , then is divisible by and thus . Thus, . If is , then is divisible by and thus . Thus, . If is , then is divisible by and thus . Thus, . Our answer is .
Final answer
215