Almost a perfect square

Algebra Level 1

If the product 1 × 2 × 3 × × n 1\times2\times3\times\cdots \times n is a 4-digit number, what is the product?


The answer is 5040.

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1 solution

Chung Kevin
Nov 14, 2016

The question is about the factorials . We have

1 ! = 1 = 1 2 ! = 1 × 2 = 2 3 ! = 1 × 2 × 3 = 6 4 ! = 1 × 2 × 3 × 4 = 24 5 ! = 1 × 2 × 3 × 4 × 5 = 120 6 ! = 1 × 2 × 3 × 4 × 5 × 6 = 720 7 ! = 1 × 2 × 3 × 4 × 5 × 6 × 7 = 5040 8 ! = 1 × 2 × 3 × 4 × 5 × 6 × 7 × 8 = 40320 \begin{array} { l l l } 1! & = 1 & = 1 \\ 2! & = 1 \times 2 & = 2 \\ 3! & = 1 \times 2 \times 3 & = 6 \\ 4! & = 1 \times 2 \times 3 \times 4 & = 24 \\ 5! & = 1 \times 2 \times 3 \times 4 \times 5 & = 120 \\ 6! & = 1 \times 2 \times 3 \times 4 \times 5 \times 6 & = 720 \\ 7! & = 1 \times 2 \times 3 \times 4 \times 5 \times 6 \times 7 & = 5040 \\ 8! & = 1 \times 2 \times 3 \times 4 \times 5 \times 6 \times 7 \times 8 & = 40320 \\ \end{array}

Since the factorials are increasing, hence the only 4-digit number is 5040.

How can i be sure, algebraicly, it is the only 4-digit number?

Hjalmar Orellana Soto - 4 years, 7 months ago

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That's a good point. Well, since the numbers are increasing, we have to test enough cases. I have added in 8!.

Chung Kevin - 4 years, 7 months ago

Does anyone have another way? This way is quite long :/

Røman Nguyen - 4 years, 7 months ago

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No, this is the simplest and easiest solution. The other solution that I can think of is fairly tedious (use Stirling's formula ).

Pi Han Goh - 4 years, 6 months ago

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