All Exams Test series for 1 year @ ₹349 only
Question

Let \(x\) and \(y\) be natural numbers, each less than 20, such that \(x\), \(y\), \(x+y\) and \(x-y\) are prime numbers. How many such combinations of \((x, y, x+y, x - y)\) are possible?

This question was previously asked in
CDS 2 2025 Maths Question Paper (14-Sep-2025)
The correct answer is
One

Understanding the Prime Number Problem

The question asks us to find the number of possible combinations for \((x, y, x+y, x - y)\) given specific conditions. Let's break down these conditions:

  • \(x\) and \(y\) must be natural numbers. Natural numbers are positive whole numbers: \(\{1, 2, 3, ...\}\).
  • Both \(x\) and \(y\) must be less than 20. So, \(1 \le x \le 19\) and \(1 \le y \le 19\).
  • The numbers \(x\), \(y\), \(x+y\), and \(x-y\) must all be prime numbers.

First, let's list the prime numbers less than 20:

Primes < 20 = \(\{2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19\}\)

Since \(x-y\) must be a prime number, it must be positive. This means \(x\) must be greater than \(y\) (\(x > y\)).

Analyzing the Conditions for x and y

We need \(x\) and \(y\) to be prime numbers themselves, and \(x > y\). The possible pairs of \((x, y)\) where both are primes less than 20 and \(x > y\) are:

  • \(y=2\), \(x \in \{3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19\}\)
  • \(y=3\), \(x \in \{5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19\}\)
  • \(y=5\), \(x \in \{7, 11, 13, 17, 19\}\)
  • \(y=7\), \(x \in \{11, 13, 17, 19\}\)
  • \(y=11\), \(x \in \{13, 17, 19\}\)
  • \(y=13\), \(x \in \{17, 19\}\)
  • \(y=17\), \(x \in \{19\}\)

Now let's consider the parity (even or odd) of \(x\) and \(y\). Remember, the only even prime number is 2.

  • Case 1: \(y\) is an odd prime.
    If \(y\) is an odd prime (like 3, 5, 7, etc.), then \(x\) must also be an odd prime (since \(x > y\) and \(x\) must be prime).
    • If both \(x\) and \(y\) are odd primes, then \(x-y\) (odd - odd) would be an even number. The only even prime is 2. So, \(x-y = 2\).
    • Similarly, \(x+y\) (odd + odd) would be an even number. For \(x+y\) to be prime, it must be 2. However, since \(x > y \ge 3\), \(x+y\) must be greater than \(3+3=6\). Thus, \(x+y\) cannot be 2.
    • Therefore, it's impossible for both \(x\) and \(y\) to be odd primes.
  • Case 2: \(y\) is the even prime.
    The only possibility is \(y=2\). Since \(x > y\), \(x\) must be an odd prime.
    • We need \(x\) (odd prime < 20), \(y=2\) (prime), \(x+y\) (prime), and \(x-y\) (prime).
    • Let's check the possible values for \(x\) from the list of odd primes greater than 2 and less than 20: \(x \in \{3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19\}\).

Testing Potential Combinations

We will test each possible value of \(x\) (where \(y=2\)):

  • If \(x=3, y=2\):
    • \(x=3\) (prime), \(y=2\) (prime)
    • \(x+y = 3+2 = 5\) (prime)
    • \(x-y = 3-2 = 1\) (not prime)
    This combination fails because \(x-y\) is not prime.
  • If \(x=5, y=2\):
    • \(x=5\) (prime), \(y=2\) (prime)
    • \(x+y = 5+2 = 7\) (prime)
    • \(x-y = 5-2 = 3\) (prime)
    This combination works! \(x=5\), \(y=2\), \(x+y=7\), \(x-y=3\). All are primes, and \(x, y < 20\). The combination is \((5, 2, 7, 3)\).
  • If \(x=7, y=2\):
    • \(x=7\) (prime), \(y=2\) (prime)
    • \(x+y = 7+2 = 9\) (not prime)
    • \(x-y = 7-2 = 5\) (prime)
    This combination fails because \(x+y\) is not prime.
  • If \(x=11, y=2\):
    • \(x=11\) (prime), \(y=2\) (prime)
    • \(x+y = 11+2 = 13\) (prime)
    • \(x-y = 11-2 = 9\) (not prime)
    This combination fails because \(x-y\) is not prime.
  • If \(x=13, y=2\):
    • \(x=13\) (prime), \(y=2\) (prime)
    • \(x+y = 13+2 = 15\) (not prime)
    • \(x-y = 13-2 = 11\) (prime)
    This combination fails because \(x+y\) is not prime.
  • If \(x=17, y=2\):
    • \(x=17\) (prime), \(y=2\) (prime)
    • \(x+y = 17+2 = 19\) (prime)
    • \(x-y = 17-2 = 15\) (not prime)
    This combination fails because \(x-y\) is not prime.
  • If \(x=19, y=2\):
    • \(x=19\) (prime), \(y=2\) (prime)
    • \(x+y = 19+2 = 21\) (not prime)
    • \(x-y = 19-2 = 17\) (prime)
    This combination fails because \(x+y\) is not prime.

Conclusion on Combinations

By systematically checking all possibilities based on the properties of prime numbers and the given conditions, we found only one pair \((x, y)\) that satisfies all requirements:

  • \((x, y) = (5, 2)\)

This leads to the combination \((x, y, x+y, x-y) = (5, 2, 7, 3)\). All numbers in this tuple are prime, and \(x=5\) and \(y=2\) are natural numbers less than 20.

Therefore, there is only one such combination possible.

Was this answer helpful?

Similar Questions

  1. Let \(p\) and \(q\) be natural numbers such that \(q > p\). What is the largest value of \(p\) such that \(q^2 - 5p-4\) is negative?
  2. Let \(x = n(n+1)(n+2)\), where \(n\) is an even natural number. Which of the following statements is/are correct? 

    I. \(x\) is always divisible by 48. 

    II. \(x^2\) is always divisible by 144. 

    Select the answer using the code given below.

  3. A Question is given followed by two Statements I and II. Consider the Question and the Statements and mark the correct option.
    Question : Is \(r^n\) less than 1, where \(r\) is a real number and \(n\) is a natural number ?
    Statement-I : \(0 < r^2 < 1\)
    Statement-II : \(0 < r^3 < 2\)
    Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above Question and the Statements ?
  4. A Question is given followed by two Statements I and II. Consider the Question and the Statements and mark the correct option.
    Question : Is \((0.5)^n + (0.5)^{-n}\) always greater than 2, where \(n\) is an integer ?
    Statement-I : \(n\) is an even integer
    Statement-II : \(n\) is negative
    Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above Question and the Statements ?
  5. A Question is given followed by two Statements I and II. Consider the Question and the Statements and mark the correct option.
    Question : Let XYZ be a 3-digit number and the difference between XYZ and ZYX is equal to PQR. Is (P + R) equal to Q ?
    Statement-I : P = 3
    Statement-II : R = 6
    Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above Question and the Statements ?
  6. A Question is given followed by two Statements I and II. Consider the Question and the Statements and mark the correct option.
    Question : Is \((p^2 + q^2)\) always composite number, where \(p\) and \(q\) are different prime numbers ?
    Statement-I : \((p - q)\) is an odd integer
    Statement-II : \((p + q)\) is an odd integer
    Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above Question and the Statements ?
  7. What is the remainder when 

    \((17^{25} +19^{25})\) 

    is divided by 18?

  8. If \(n\) is natural number less than 7, then what is the number of values of \(n\) for which \((12n+2)\) and \((8n+1)\) are relatively prime?
  9. Let XYZ be a 3-digit number. Let D be the difference between XYZ and ZYX. What is the remainder when D is divided by 99?
  10. Let \(p\) and \(q\) be two natural numbers such that \((p+q)^{p+q}\) is divisible by 512. What is the least value of \((p+q)\)?

Important Questions from Number System

  1. What is the value of 1 2 + 2 2 + 3 2 + ......21 2 ?

  2. Which sequence is correct to represent the hierarchical chain of number system?

    (Where N - Natural Numbers

    W - Whole Numbers

    Q - Rational Numbers

    Z - Integers)

  3. The difference of the place value and the face value of 5 in 26549 is :

  4. What must be added to 45680 to make it exactly divisible by 9?

  5. How many zeroes are there at the end of the following product? 

    1 x 5 x 10 x 15 x 20 x 25 x 30 x 35 x 40 x 45 x 50 x 55 x 60

Need Expert Advice?
Upcoming Exams
NDA
September 13, 2026
CDS
September 13, 2026
Test Series
CDS img
Defence
UPSC CDS 2026 Mock Test Series
540 Tests 4 Tests Free
1300 Attempts
4.3(170)
English, Hindi
More Questions from CDS

Start Your Preparation with Prepp Mobile App

Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Prepp Mobile App