2005 PMWC Problems/Problem T10

Problem

Find the largest 12-digit number for which every two consecutive digits form a distinct 2-digit prime number.

Solution

We start with 97, which is the largest 2 digit prime.

97

Then we add 9 to get 79, the largest 2 digit prime with tens digit 7.

979

Add 3 to get 93, the largest prime less than 97

9793

Now the largest two digit prime with tens digit 3 is 37. So we add a 7

97937

Now we add another 3 as 79 already exists.

979373

And proceeding like this will get us

979373191713