Euclid's Theorem of Infinite Prime Numbers The Explicit Formula - after 2,000 years

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Authors: Jim Harlow
Cited by: 0

Abstract

Euclid’s classical theorem is traditionally stated as asserting the infinitude of prime numbers. We show that the logical content of Euclid’s argument is more precisely formulated as a structural admissibility result: no finite admissible closure exists for the arithmetic of primes. The proof does not rely on set-theoretic notions of infinity, density, or asymptotic distribution. Instead, it establishes that any finite attempt at admissible closure is obstructed by a canonical extension operation. This reformulation isolates the constructive core of Euclid’s argument and aligns it with modern obstruction- based reasoning while remaining fully faithful to the original proof. No new arithmetic theorem is claimed; the contribution is a structural reformulation isolating the obstruction logic implicit in Euclid’s proof.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Analytic Number Theory Research Advanced Topology and Set Theory History and Theory of Mathematics

Publication details

Journal / source
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Publication date
27 January 2026