What are the next three numbers in this sequence? 6, 28, 496, 8128, ... ? Please explain how you determined these three numbers.

(In reply to Some thoughts on the problem by K Sengupta)

Now that I see K. Sengupta's solution, it makes sense to me.  However, there are simply not enough information given in the problem to determine whether it is a series of perfect numbers or whether it follows the formula I gave (which I now see was originally found by Euclid); the only clue is the "flawless" in the problem title, which leads me to believe that K. Sengupta is correct, and that I (and Euclid) are not.

Posted by Ed on 2007-10-19 20:04:28