divisibility

prove that 72!/36!-1 is divisible by 73.

12 Answers

341
Hari Shankar ·

can u tell me the source of the question. because:

1.it is wrong

2. this about the 10th time i have seen the problem in this form

3. It is more correct to say that \frac{72!}{(36!)^2} - 1 is divisible by 73 (that is a miscellaneous problem in Bernard & Child)

1
Akand ·

wow tht was so awesum prophet sir..........ill giv u a pink hehe

3
msp ·

sir in arihant it was given like dat.Thanq for giving the right qn sir.

3
msp ·

i was very confusd on seeing the pbm.i wastd more than half of a hr,but i cant come to the conclusion dat it is rong.

1
Akand ·

and did they solve it in arihant?????

341
Hari Shankar ·

We have 72! = 36! (73-36)(73-35)...(73-1) = 36! (73k+36!) = 73m+(36!)^2

i.e. 72! - (36!)^2 is divisible by 73.

\Rightarrow (36!)^2 \left(\frac{72!}{(36!)^2} - 1 \right) is divisible by 73.

Now, we can prove that \frac{72!}{(36!)^2} is an integer.

We use the fact that the product of n consecutive integers is divisble by n!.

72! = (1 X 2 X 3 X...X 36) X (37 X 38 X 39 X...X72)

Both the bracketed expressions are hence divisible by 36!, so that 72! is divisible by (36!)2

Further, (36!)2 is not divisible by 73 (obvious)

So, if \Rightarrow (36!)^2 \left(\frac{72!}{(36!)^2} - 1 \right) is divisible by 73 and (36!)2 is not divisible by 73, we must have \frac{72!}{(36!)^2} - 1 divisible by 73

341
Hari Shankar ·

If you know number theory, then the path is a bit easier.

You invoke Wilson's Theorem ( If p is a prime (p-1)!+1 is divisible by p), to say that 73! \equiv -1 \bmod 73

Further, a corollary to this theorem (it follows from one approach of the proof) if p is of the form 4k+1, then \left[\left(\frac{p-1}{2}\right)!\right]^2 \equiv -1 \bmod p

So, we can write, 72! \equiv (36!)^2 \bmod 73

Since 36! is prime to 73, we can divide by (36!)2 and obtain

\frac{72!}{(36!)^2} \equiv 1 \bmod 73

Notice, here we werent concerned with proving that \frac{72!}{(36!)^2} is an integer.

39
Dr.House ·

well , sir is that the only way possible to do it?

anyways good work.

3
msp ·

hey bargave do u know any other method. if so can u do it also.

i proved the first method sir.

Thanq for posting the soln.

i donno number theory sir.is it necessary for jee.if so i will study dat .pls do reply.

341
Hari Shankar ·

i guess so. both the posts are equivalent. If you observe carefully the number theory result that i quoted proceeds in the same way as worked out in the first post.

3
msp ·

i dont know nething abt number theory sir.If u know ne link dat starts from the basics of number theory can u give it to me.

341
Hari Shankar ·

you do not need much, if at all. knowing up to Fermat's theorem is sufficient.

Elementary Number Theory by Burton is a good start. Try downloading it.

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