That's Too Many Terms To Write!

Algebra Level 1

Consider an arithmetic progression whose first term and common difference are both 100. If the n th n^\text{th} term of this progression is equal to 100 ! 100! , find n . n.

Notation : ! ! denotes the factorial notation. For example, 8 ! = 1 × 2 × 3 × × 8 8! = 1\times2\times3\times\cdots\times8 .

99 99 99 ! 99! 100 100 100 ! 100!

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5 solutions

Ashish Menon
May 29, 2016

Relevant wiki: Arithmetic Progressions

Using the formula a n = a + ( n 1 ) d a_n = a + \left(n - 1\right)d .
100 ! = 100 + ( n 1 ) × 100 100 ! 100 = 100 ( n 1 ) 100 ( 99 ! 1 ) 100 = n 1 99 ! 1 = n 1 n = 99 ! 100! = 100 + (n - 1)×100\\ 100! - 100 = 100(n - 1)\\ \dfrac{100\left(99! - 1\right)}{100} = n - 1\\ 99! - 1 = n - 1\\ n = \color{#69047E}{\boxed{99!}}


Generalizing:-
Let n ! n! be the x th x^{\text{th}} term in an AP which starts with n n and have common difference between its terms are n n .
n ! = n + ( x 1 ) × n n ! n = ( x 1 ) × n x 1 = n ( ( n 1 ) ! 1 ) n x 1 = ( n 1 ) ! 1 x = ( n 1 ) ! n! = n + (x - 1)×n\\ n! - n = (x - 1)×n\\ x - 1 = \dfrac{n\left((n - 1)! - 1\right)}{n}\\ x - 1 = (n - 1)! - 1\\ x = (n - 1)!

So, n ! n! is the ( n 1 ) ! th {(n - 1)!}^{\text{th}} term of an arithmetic progression starting with n n having common difference between its terms as n n .

Good problem and solution. Keep at it.

Sandeep Bhardwaj - 5 years ago

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Thanks for the encouragement! :)

Ashish Menon - 5 years ago

You're coming up with some rather interesting AP problems

Hung Woei Neoh - 5 years ago

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Haha thanks!

Ashish Menon - 5 years ago

Nice one... Keep it up... :)

Sparsh Sarode - 5 years ago

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Thanks! :) :)

Ashish Menon - 5 years ago

If the first term and the common difference of an AP is equal, then the n n th term of the sequence is simply a n = n × a 1 a_n = n \times a_1 .

Pranshu Gaba - 5 years ago
Chew-Seong Cheong
May 29, 2016

Relevant wiki: Arithmetic Progressions

The n th n^{\text{th}} term of an AP is given by a n = a + ( n 1 ) d a_n = a + (n-1)d , where a a and d d is the first term and the common difference of the AP respectively. In this case, a = d = 100 a n = 100 + 100 ( n 1 ) = 100 n a=d=100 \implies a_n = 100 + 100(n-1) = 100n . For a n = 100 ! = 99 ! × 100 n = 99 ! a_n = 100! = 99! \times 100 \implies n = \boxed{99!} .

(: (: Nice solution (+1) :) :)

Ashish Menon - 5 years ago

The n t h nth term of an Arithmetic Progression is

a n = a 1 + ( n 1 ) d a_{n} = a_{1} + (n - 1)d

Substituting gives

100 ! = 100 + ( n 1 ) ( 100 ) = 100 + 100 n 100 100! = 100 + (n - 1)(100) = 100 + 100n - 100

100 ! = 100 n 100! = 100n

Dividing both sides by 100 100 gives

n = 99 ! n = 99!

Mina Rashad
Jan 19, 2021

ِ a n = a 1 + ( n 1 ) d = 100 + 100 n 100 = 100 ! = 100 ( 99 ! ) ِa_{n}=a_{1} + (n-1)d = 100 + 100n-100 = 100! = 100(99!)

100 + 100 n 100 = 100 ! = 100 ( 99 ! ) 1 + n 1 = 99 ! \because 100 + 100n-100 = 100! = 100(99!) \therefore 1+n-1=99!

n = 99 ! \therefore n=99!

Relevant wiki: Arithmetic Progression.

In A.P. n th n^{\text{th}} term is given by a n = a + ( n 1 ) d a_{n}=a+(n-1)d .

a + ( n 1 ) d = 100 ! \Rightarrow a+(n-1)d=100!
100 ( 1 + ( n 1 ) ) = 100 × 99 ! 100(1+(n-1))=100×99!
n = 99 ! \therefore n=\boxed{99!}

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