[Math] the maximum even number that can not be expressed as sum of two composite odd numbers

number theory

Question: What is the maximum even number that can NOT be expressed as sum of two composite odd numbers?

For example, $14=7+7=5+9=3+11=1+13$ is one of such even numbers, but probably not the maximum number. $24=9+15=3\times3+3\times5$ is not one of such numbers.

I have no idea how to tackle this one. Thanks.

Best Answer

Consider the three odd composites $9,25,35$. These are, respectively, $0,1,2\pmod 3$. Thus, if $n$ is an even number, one of $n-9,n-25,n-35$ is an odd composite divisible by $3$ (well, supposing it is $>3$ at least). Thus $35+3=\fbox {38}$ is the largest even number that might be an example...inspection shows that it is indeed an example, hence the maximum example.

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