Saturday, 24 January 2026

Exercise (4.4).3

Find a prime factor of the following Mersenne numbers $M_q$:

(a) $M_{83}$

(b) $M_{131}$

(c) $M_{179}$

(d) $M_{191}$


(a) Setting $q=83$ gives $p=2(83)+1 = 167$ which is prime. Since $q=83$ is also prime, then $83$ is a Germain prime. 

As $q \equiv -1 \pmod 4$, by Corollary (4.21) we have $167 \mid 2^{83}-1$.

That is, 167 is a prime factor of $M_{83}$.


(b) Setting $q=131$ gives $p=2(131)+1)=263$. Both 131 and 263 are prime, and so 131 is a Germain prime.

As $q \equiv -1 \pmod 4$, by Corollary (4.21) we have $263 \mid 2^{131}-1 $.

That is, 263 is a prime factor of $M_{131}$.


(c) Setting $q=179$ gives $p=2(179)+1=359$. Both 179 and 359 are prime, and so 179 is a Germain prime.

As $q \equiv -1 \pmod 4$, by Corollary (4.21) we have $359 \mid 2^{179}-1$.

That is, 359 is a prime factor of $M_{179}$.


(d) Setting $q=191$, gives $p=2(191)+1=383$. Both 191 and 383 are prime, and so 191 is a Germain prime.

As $q \equiv -1 \pmod 4$, by Corollary (4.21) we have $383 \mid 2^{191}-1$.

That is, 383 is a prime factor of $M_{191}$.