Search arXiv⌕ Search
Home/Archive/arXiv

arXiv · 2508.01686

On the Representation of Integers as Sums of Limited Prime Powers

Julius Stricker
View original source ↗Read source document ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

We present a novel conjecture concerning the additive representation of natural numbers using prime powers. Based on extensive computational verification, we conjecture that every integer n > 23 can be expressed as a sum of at most five prime powers p^k, where p is a prime number and k is an integer greater than or equal to 2. This conjecture is supported by comprehensive computational evidence covering all integers up to 10^7(exhaustively) and specific large numbers up to 10^10 (via sampling), where no counterexample requiring more than five summands has been found. This work highlights a surprising "combinatorial creativity" of prime powers, which allows for efficient additive representations despite their asymptotic sparsity and the existence of extremely large gaps between individual prime powers.

Explore related subjects

math.GM

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Julius Stricker. 2025-08-03. On the Representation of Integers as Sums of Limited Prime Powers. https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.01686

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

arXiv2026

A Proof of Liu's Conjecture on the Fundamental Triangle Inequality

Let $a,b,c$ be the side lengths of a triangle, and let $R$ and $r$ denote its circumradius and inradius, respectively. Liu proposed the conjecture \[ \sum_{\text{cyc}} \left(\frac{a(b+c-a)}{bc}\right)^k \ge 2+\left(\frac{2r}{R}\right)^k,\qquad k>1, \] with the reverse inequality for $k<1$. We prove this conjecture by reducing it to an algebraic inequality for three positive variables with prescribed sum and product. We also determine the equality cases.

math.GM↗
arXiv2026

A quadratic critical-value conjecture for the fifth Bessel moment

We conjecture an explicit evaluation of the pure fifth Bessel moment $\int_0^\infty K_0(t)^5\,dt$ as a quadratic expression in the critical value $L(f,2)$ of the weight-three, level-60 newform $f$ (LMFDB orbit 60.3.b.a) identified in the twisted fifth-moment modularity theorem of Lim, Tu and Yu, with coefficients in $\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{5})$ and the square taken before the real and imaginary parts. Directed interval computations, using no stored Bessel or $L$-values, bound the absolute discrepancy by $10^{-358}$. We prove three exact modular identities for $f$: the Petersson-norm formula $\langle f,f\rangle_{60} = \frac{3(5-\sqrt{5})}{2π^4}|L(f,2)|^2$, the coefficient-conjugation relation $L(f^σ,2) = κL(f,2)$ with explicit $κ\in \mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{5},i)$, and the twisted symmetric-square evaluation $L(χ_{-4}\mathrm{Sym}^2 f,2) = \sqrt{15}\,π^2 \langle f,f\rangle_{60}$, together with $L(χ_{-4}\mathrm{Sym}^2 f,3) = π^4\langle f,f\rangle_{60}/8$, in the full Euler-factor normalization of Lim, Tu and Yu. The last identity shows that the companion norm conjecture $D_{5,\mathrm{odd}} = \frac{3\sqrt{15}(5-\sqrt{5})}{2}|L(f,2)|^2$ is equivalent to the symmetric-square conjecture $D_{5,\mathrm{odd}} = π^2 L(χ_{-4}\mathrm{Sym}^2 f,2)$ of Lim, Tu and Yu, while the exact relation $D_{5,\mathrm{even}} = π^2 D_{5,\mathrm{odd}}/(2\sqrt{15})$ follows from Chuang's period formulas. Every Bessel-to-modular equality, including the individual-period formula, remains conjectural. Complete proofs, exact rational certificates and verification programs are included as ancillary files.

math.GM↗