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jmc

algebra senior

Problem

The two positive integer solutions of the equation are and , where and are both prime numbers and . What is the value of ?
Solution
From , we get and . Since is prime, one of and is and the other is 1. , so and . Then . is also prime, so we have two consecutive integers that are prime. Since one of every two consecutive integers is even, and the only even prime is 2, we must have and . Therefore, .
Final answer
20