Brooke Sturgis

Problem statement:
A prime number is a whole number that is not one, and can only be divided by one and
itself. Twin primes are two prime numbers that are only one number apart such as 11 and 13.
Twin primes are fascinating because if you multiply the two numbers then add one to the
product, it is a perfect square and is divisible by 36. The only scenario where this is not possible
is 3 and 5. In this assignment, we were to prove this. The first step is writing the first one
hundred prime numbers, therefore the twin primes are easy to find. After, we were to show
twenty cases where we prove how they were a multiple of 36, and a perfect square. Finally, we
were to show patterns in our data and how they work.

Process
First, I searched up examples of twin primes so I could get an idea of where I was going
and making sure it was in the right direction. After I wrote down the first one hundred prime
numbers, I went through and circled the twin ones.
As you can see here, this was my process of this, having the bold numbers represent the
ones I circled.

2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37, 41, 43, 47, 53, 59, 61, 67, 71, 73, 79, 83, 89, 97,
101, 103, 107, 109, 113, 127

Next, I took the numbers and wrote down the equation. Once I solved it, I did the proof
that it was a multiple of thirty-six and a perfect square.
Here is an example of my process
17, 19
17x19+1 =324
324= 18^2
324/36=9

I did this for every set of numbers. One pattern I found was that the square number was
the one that fit in between the two numbers. I used this to check my work and stay on a
consistent track. The assistance I received on this project was through my sister, who had already
taken algebra 2. With her help, it showed me that the twin primes are not as complicated as they
seem, and I was dong it wrong at first simply because I was overthinking it. The one thing that
seemed like a waste of time was finding out whether or not it was a multiple of 36 and how. It
was very repetitive and you knew that if it was a twin prime, it was going to be divisible by 36,
after multiplying and adding one, all except for 3 and 5. After repetitions of twin primes using
these equations, it proved how it would turn out to be a perfect square and multiple of 36.

Solution
My solution was that every twin prime, except 3 and five, are a perfect square and a
multiple of 36 if you multiply them and add one. I know that this is correct because it is proved
in my work through equations and patterns. Since all twin primes have the same thing in
common, being that they’re only one number apart, the answers will have a repeating pattern that
is shown. Once the list of twin primes starts to get higher, the numbers start to get confusing and
long however, the pattern stays the same and continues to have the same similarities that you
started with. For example, 59 and 61 when multiplied and added by one, you get 3,600. This
seems like a complicated number to work with, however it is noticeable that it is divisible by 36,
equaling 100, and is a perfect square which is 60^2.

Evaluation
I felt as this assignment was generally easy, however it was very meticulous and tedious.
I would change this assignment to make it better by doing less problems, and more drawn out
work for each. I did not enjoy working on it, simply because once I got the gist of what I was
doing, it became very repetitive and I felt as if I was just writing instead of thinking about what I
was doing. The one benefit was how I learned something new, because I had never learned about
twin primes before, and this gave me an opportunity to grow my knowledge and understanding.
My middle school only touched on prime numbers very briefly, so this lesson was a good
refresher. I did find the patterns very interesting and became easy for me once I found them.