Prove by contradiction that every integer greater than 11 is a sum of two composite numbers I have thought a lot but am failing to arrive at anything encouraging. 

First try: If this is to be proved by contradiction, then I start with the assumption that let $n$ be a number which is a sum of two numbers, of which at least one is prime. This gives $n = p + c$, where $p$ is the prime number and $c$ is the composite number. Also, any composite number can be written as a product of primes. So I can say, $n = p + p_1^{e_1}.p_2^{e_2}...p_k^{e_k}$. From this, I get $n - p = p_1^{e_1}.p_2^{e_2}...p_k^{e_k}$, but I have no clue what to do next.

Second try: For an instant let me forget about contradiction. Since $n &gt; 11$, I can say that $n \geq 12$. This means that either $p \geq 6$ or $c \geq 6$. Again I'm not sure what to do next.

Finally, consider that the number 20 can be expressed in three different ways: $17+3$ (both prime), $16+4$ (both composite), and $18+2$ (one prime and one composite). This makes me wonder what we are trying to prove.

The textbook contains a hint, "Can all three of $n-4$, $n-6$, $n-8$ be prime?", but I'm sure what's so special about $4, 6, 8$ here.
Spoiler #1


   You can write $n = (n - \varepsilon) + \varepsilon$, where $\varepsilon \in \{4, 6, 8\}$.


Spoiler #2


   $n - \varepsilon &gt; 3$, as $n &gt; 11$.


Spoiler #3


   One of the three numbers $n - \varepsilon$ is divisible by $3$, as they are distinct modulo $3$.
Only 9 even numbers greater than 4 can't be expressed as the ORDERED sum of two ODD composites, namely 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 22, 32, 38.

Look at the 4 identities:
1. pp(2n)=pr[2,n]-pc(2n)
2. cc(2n)=c[2,n]-cp(2n)
3. pp(2n)=pr[n,2n-2]-cp(2n)
4. cc(2n)=c[n,2n-2]-pc(2n)

where pp(2n)=number of ordered sum of 2 primes = 2n, cc(2n)=# of ordered sums of 2 composites=2n, cp(2n)=number of ordered sums of 1 composite and 1 prime (in that order)=2n, and pc(2n)= number of ordered sums of 1 prime and 1 composite (in that order)=2n, and a+b is an ordered sum iff a&lt; or = to b, pr[a,b] = number of primes in[a,b], c[a,b] = number of composites in [a,b]

Lots of other identities to construct from the 4 above - have fun playing with.