{
  "aliases": null,
  "backlinks": null,
  "body": "\n## Proof\n\n1. Let $F_k = 2^{2^k} + 1$ be the [[Fermat numbers|0R03B54V4Z]]. We first show, by [[induction|0ASJVEFA9J]] on $k \\ge 1$, that $F_0 F_1 \\cdots F_{k-1} = F_k - 2$.\n2. For $k = 1$: $F_0 = 3$ and $F_1 - 2 = 5 - 2 = 3$.\n3. Assume $F_0 \\cdots F_{k-1} = F_k - 2$ for some $k \\ge 1$. Then\n$$F_0 \\cdots F_k = (F_k - 2) F_k = (2^{2^k} - 1)(2^{2^k} + 1) = 2^{2^{k+1}} - 1 = F_{k+1} - 2.$$\nThis completes the induction.\n4. Now let $m \\ne n$ be natural numbers. We may assume $m \u003c n$. Then $n \\ge 1$, and $F_m$ is one of the factors $F_0, \\dots, F_{n-1}$.\n5. Let $d$ be a positive common divisor of $F_m$ and $F_n$. Then $d$ [[divides|096PW7Q014]] $F_0 \\cdots F_{n-1} = F_n - 2$, by steps 1 and 4.\n6. So $d$ divides $F_n - (F_n - 2) = 2$. Hence $d = 1$ or $d = 2$.\n7. Every Fermat number is odd, since $2^{2^k}$ is even. So $d \\ne 2$, and $d = 1$.\n8. So the only positive common divisor of $F_m$ and $F_n$ is $1$. That is, $F_m$ and $F_n$ are [[coprime|0GFKP8F8AG]].\n\n## Idea\n\nThe product of all earlier Fermat numbers is $2$ less than the next one. So a common divisor of two Fermat numbers must divide $2$. Fermat numbers are odd, so that divisor is $1$.\n",
  "commit": "4a3290d299c8b2cd6493fce2296920ba7f82d942",
  "front": {
    "kind": "proof",
    "msc": [
      "11A41"
    ],
    "name": "Proof that Fermat numbers are pairwise coprime",
    "proves": "05598J0Y8R",
    "sources": [
      {
        "locator": "Basic properties",
        "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermat_number"
      }
    ],
    "tag": "BZKSH32NRV",
    "uses": [
      "0R03B54V4Z",
      "0GFKP8F8AG",
      "0ASJVEFA9J",
      "096PW7Q014"
    ]
  },
  "kind": "proof",
  "link": "https://math2.tamnd.com/node/BZKSH32NRV/",
  "links": [
    {
      "field": "proves",
      "target": "05598J0Y8R"
    },
    {
      "field": "uses",
      "target": "0R03B54V4Z"
    },
    {
      "field": "uses",
      "target": "0GFKP8F8AG"
    },
    {
      "field": "uses",
      "target": "0ASJVEFA9J"
    },
    {
      "field": "uses",
      "target": "096PW7Q014"
    }
  ],
  "markdown": "https://math2.tamnd.com/node/BZKSH32NRV.md",
  "msc": [
    "11A41"
  ],
  "name": "Proof that Fermat numbers are pairwise coprime",
  "prov": null,
  "role": "",
  "source": "https://github.com/tamnd/math2/blob/main/nodes/BZK/BZKSH32NRV.md",
  "status": null,
  "tag": "BZKSH32NRV",
  "uri": "m2://BZKSH32NRV",
  "url": "https://math2.tamnd.com/wiki/proof-that-fermat-numbers-are-pairwise-coprime/",
  "writing": {
    "tag": "BZKSH32NRV",
    "kind": "proof",
    "level": "W0",
    "next": [
      {
        "what": "an inventory row",
        "note": "the row of the inventory that the node accounts for",
        "have": 0,
        "want": 1
      }
    ]
  }
}
