# **Find All Integers \( n \) for Which \( n^4 + 4^n \) is Prime – USAMO 2019 Solution Explained**

Find All Integers \(n\) for which \(n^4 + 4^n\) is Prime – USAMO 2019

🔎 Step 1: Understand the Problem

We need to find all integer values of n for which the expression: \(n^4 + 4^n\) is a prime number.

A prime number is a positive integer greater than \(1\) that has no divisors other than \(1\) and itself.


🔥 Step 2: Try Small Values of n

Let’s check the expression for small integer values of \(n\):

  • For n = 0 :

\(0^4 + 4^0\)
\( 0 + 1 = 1\)

\( 1\) is not a prime number.


  • For n = 1 :

\(1^4 + 4^1\)
\(1 + 4 = 5\)

\(5\) is a prime number.


  • For n = 2 :

\(2^4 + 4^2\)
\(16 + 16 = 32\)

\(32\) is not a prime number.


  • For n = 3 :

\(3^4 + 4^3\)
\(81 + 64 = 145\)

\(145\)is not a prime number.


  • For n = 4 :

\(4^4 + 4^4\)
\(256 + 256 = 512\)

\(512\) is not a prime number.


🔢 Step 3: Check Negative Values

For negative values of \(n\), the term \(n^4\) is positive (since any even power of a negative number is positive), while\(4^n\) becomes a fraction.

  • For n = −1 :

\((-1)^4 + 4^{-1}\)
\(1 + \frac{1}{4} = \frac{5}{4}\)

This is not an integer, hence it cannot be a prime.


  • For n = −2:

\((-2)^4 + 4^{-2}\)
\(16 + \frac{1}{16} = \frac{257}{16}\)

This is not an integer.


🚫 Step 4: Conclude the Solution

After testing various integer values, the only valid solution where the expression results in a prime number is: \(n = 1\)

✅ Therefore, the solution to the problem is:
\(\mathbf{n = 1}\)


📝 Final Answer

The only integer value of nnn that makes the expression \(n^4 + 4^n\) a prime number is:
\(\mathbf{n = 1}\)

Verification: Are There Any Other Solutions?


🔎 Step 1: Analyzing the Expression

We are solving the problem: \(n^4 + 4^n\)

We need to determine whether any other integer values of \(n\)make the expression prime.


🔥 Step 2: Check for Larger Values of n

Let’s analyze the behavior of the expression for larger values of n:

  • For \(n≥2\), both \(n^4\) and \(4^n\) grow rapidly. Their sum becomes a large even number, making it composite.

For example:

  • For n = 5:

\(5^4 + 4^5\)
\( 625 + 1024 = 1649\)

1649 is not a prime number.


  • For n = 6:

\(6^4 + 4^6\)
\(1296 + 4096 = 5392\)

\(5392\) is not a prime number.


  • For n = 7:

\(7^4 + 4^7\)
\(2401 + 16384 = 18785\)

\(18785\) is not a prime number.


⚠️ For Negative Values of n:

For \(n<0\), the term \(4^n\) becomes a fraction, making the entire expression non-integer, which cannot be prime.


🚫 Step 3: Conclusion

After testing both positive and negative values, we observe:

  • For n>1, the sum becomes large and composite.
  • For n<0, the expression is non-integer.
  • The only valid solution is:

\(\mathbf{n = 1}\)

✅ Therefore, there are no other solutions.

Also Read About: 🧮 Solution to the IMO 2020 Problem – Finding Integer Pairs (a, b)

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