#4 - factorial

How many such numbers are there so that 1 ! + 2 ! + 3 ! + + n ! 1! + 2! + 3! + \ldots + n! is a perfect square?


The answer is 2.

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1 solution

Tasmeem Reza
Feb 4, 2015

For any arbitrary positive integer a a , a 2 0 , 1 , 4 m o d 5 a^{2} \equiv 0, 1, 4 \mod 5

And, for n 5 n \geq 5 , n ! 0 m o d 5 n! \equiv 0 \mod 5

let, p 2 = 1 ! + 2 ! + 3 ! + . . . + n ! p^{2} = 1! + 2! + 3! + ... + n!

Now, for n 5 n \geq 5 , 1 ! + 2 ! + 3 ! + 4 ! + 5 ! + . . . + n ! 1 ! + 2 ! + 3 ! + 4 ! 3 m o d 5 1! + 2! + 3! + 4! + 5! + ... + n! \equiv 1! + 2! + 3! + 4! \equiv 3 \mod 5 p 2 3 m o d 5 \Rightarrow p^{2} \equiv 3 \mod 5

which contradicts the original statement for n 5 n \geq 5 .

Now we are left with only n = { 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 } n = \left \{ 1, 2, 3, 4 \right \} . Its trivial to find that n = 1 n = 1 and 3 3 are the solutions.

\therefore the answer is 2 \boxed{2}

How about n = 3 n = 3 ? 1 + 2 + 6 = 9 = 3 2 1 + 2 + 6 = 9 = 3^2

Sharky Kesa - 6 years, 4 months ago

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oh i forgot that. Really sorry, I've edited the solution.

tasmeem reza - 6 years, 4 months ago

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