$pq+1$ is a square $\iff$ $p$ and $q$ are twin primes

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This exercise if from Beachy and Blairs Abtract algebra book.

Assume that $p$ and $q$ are primes.

Show that: $pq+1$ is square $\iff$ $p$ and $q$ are twin primes.

The backward direction is: Assume that $$p=q+2$$ then $$pq+1=q^2+2q+1=(q+1)^2.$$

For the forward direction: we assume that $$pq+1$$ is a square that is $$pq+1=n^2\Rightarrow pq=(n-1)(n+1).$$ Now since $p$ and $q$ are primes by assumption and prime factorisation is unique we have $$p=n-1\qquad q=n+1$$ so $p$ and $q$ are two apart therefore are twins.

First of all in my original question I forgot a really important assumtion that both of $p$ and $q$ are primes from the beginning. I am sorry for this mistake. So some of the comments may be irrelevant now when I edited the question (I hope it is correct now). Thanks for the comments and again sorry for the incorrect citation of the question.

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Yes, you are missing somethin, in fact your proof is wrong on at least two points.


First of all, you need to assume that $p$ and $q$ are primes for the forward direction to even work, since otherwise, you could have $p=6$ and $q=4$ to get $pq+1=25=5^2$.

Second of all, you go from

$$pq=(n+1)(n-1)$$ straight to "therefore, $p$ and $q$ are two appart, which is faulty logic since you assume $$ab=cd \implies \{a,b\}=\{c,d\}$$ which is false in general. For example, $3\cdot 8 = (5+1)(5-1)$, however that does not mean that $\{3,8\}=\{4,6\}$. Of course, if you know that $a$ and $b$ are primes, then it is possible to show this, but still, you can't just assume it is true.


After the edit:

Your proof is now correct. Using the unique factorisation is a quick and easy way to prove the statement, and it's also clear why you need to assume $p,q$ are primes (and how $4,6$ fails in that step).