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k a April Highlights and 2025 AoPS Online Class Information
jlacosta   0
Apr 2, 2025
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0 replies
jlacosta
Apr 2, 2025
0 replies
inequalities
pennypc123456789   1
N a minute ago by Double07
Let \( x,y \) be non-negative real numbers.Prove that :
\[ \sqrt{x^4+y^4 } +(2+\sqrt{2})xy \geq x^2+y^2 \]
1 reply
pennypc123456789
Today at 3:28 AM
Double07
a minute ago
Number Theory Chain!
JetFire008   2
N 13 minutes ago by Double07
I will post a question and someone has to answer it. Then they have to post a question and someone else will answer it and so on. We can only post questions related to Number Theory and each problem should be more difficult than the previous. Let's start!

Question 1
2 replies
JetFire008
5 hours ago
Double07
13 minutes ago
Inspired by old results
sqing   2
N 21 minutes ago by sqing
Source: Own
Let $a,b$ be real numbers such that $  a^3 +b^3+6ab=8 . $ Prove that
$$a+b \leq 2$$Let $a,b$ be real numbers such that $ a^2+b^2+a^3 +b^3+8ab=12 . $ Prove that
$$a+b \leq 2$$Let $a,b$ be real numbers such that $a+b + a^2+b^2+a^3 +b^3+8ab=14 . $ Prove that
$$a+b \leq 2$$
2 replies
sqing
Today at 4:53 AM
sqing
21 minutes ago
2 var inquality
sqing   2
N 22 minutes ago by sqing
Source: Own
Let $ a,b>0 . $ Prove that
$$\dfrac{1}{a^2+b^2}+\dfrac{1}{4ab} \ge \dfrac{\dfrac{3}{2} +\sqrt 2}{(a+b)^2} $$
2 replies
1 viewing
sqing
3 hours ago
sqing
22 minutes ago
No more topics!
Power Of Factorials
Kassuno   178
N Apr 1, 2025 by Maximilian113
Source: IMO 2019 Problem 4
Find all pairs $(k,n)$ of positive integers such that \[ k!=(2^n-1)(2^n-2)(2^n-4)\cdots(2^n-2^{n-1}). \]Proposed by Gabriel Chicas Reyes, El Salvador
178 replies
Kassuno
Jul 17, 2019
Maximilian113
Apr 1, 2025
Power Of Factorials
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G H BBookmark kLocked kLocked NReply
Source: IMO 2019 Problem 4
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Kassuno
16 posts
#1 • 47 Y
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Find all pairs $(k,n)$ of positive integers such that \[ k!=(2^n-1)(2^n-2)(2^n-4)\cdots(2^n-2^{n-1}). \]Proposed by Gabriel Chicas Reyes, El Salvador
This post has been edited 4 times. Last edited by v_Enhance, Jul 18, 2019, 6:26 PM
Reason: add $2^n-4$ term
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TwinPrime
539 posts
#6 • 8 Y
Y by pog, samrocksnature, centslordm, Adventure10, Mango247, NicoN9, cubres, NonoPL
Kassuno wrote:
Find all the pairs of integers $(k,n)$ such that,
$$k!=(2^n-1)(2^n-2)\cdots(2^n-2^{n-1})$$
Shouldn't there not be a comma after "such that"? There also needs to be a period at the end. I think the question should look like this.
Kassuno wrote:
Find all the pairs of integers $(k,n)$ such that$$k!=(2^n-1)(2^n-2)\cdots(2^n-2^{n-1}).$$
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ImbecileMathImbaTation
106 posts
#7 • 10 Y
Y by Felixer, Kanep, pog, samrocksnature, centslordm, Luchitha2, Adventure10, Mango247, TheHerculean11, cubres
TwinPrime wrote:
Kassuno wrote:
Find all the pairs of integers $(k,n)$ such that,
$$k!=(2^n-1)(2^n-2)\cdots(2^n-2^{n-1})$$
Shouldn't there not be a comma after "such that"? There also needs to be a period at the end. I think the question should look like this.
Kassuno wrote:
Find all the pairs of integers $(k,n)$ such that$$k!=(2^n-1)(2^n-2)\cdots(2^n-2^{n-1}).$$

That doesn't really matter, I guess?
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TwinPrime
539 posts
#8 • 7 Y
Y by pog, samrocksnature, centslordm, Adventure10, Mango247, NicoN9, cubres
ImbecileMathImbaTation wrote:
That doesn't really matter, I guess?

For things like the contest collection, which should match the actual formatting, I believe so.
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ImbecileMathImbaTation
106 posts
#9 • 7 Y
Y by pog, samrocksnature, centslordm, Adventure10, Mango247, NicoN9, cubres
TwinPrime wrote:
ImbecileMathImbaTation wrote:
That doesn't really matter, I guess?

For things like the contest collection, which should match the actual formatting, I believe so.

Oh i see :)
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Filipjack
849 posts
#10 • 20 Y
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TwinPrime wrote:
ImbecileMathImbaTation wrote:
That doesn't really matter, I guess?

For things like the contest collection, which should match the actual formatting, I believe so.

I think that the expression $(2^n-1)(2^n-2)...(2^n-2^{n-1})$ is more important than a missed comma. This can be confused to $(2^n-1)(2^n-2)(2^n-3)...(2^n-2^{n-1}).$
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by Filipjack, Jul 17, 2019, 12:21 PM
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lminsl
544 posts
#11 • 26 Y
Y by Kassuno, richrow12, karitoshi, MathGenius_, pavel kozlov, JustKeepRunning, HolyMath, Pluto1708, Sazid, Jahir, OlympusHero, Ayoubmeb, pog, samrocksnature, centslordm, Quasi07, Lamboreghini, Math4Life7, Adventure10, Mango247, MarioLuigi8972, sabkx, Sedro, Rep24, cubres, Rajukian
We first compare the $v_2$'s of each side.
The left-hand side has $v_2(\text{LHS})=\sum_{i=1}^{\infty} \lfloor\frac{k}{2^i} \rfloor \le k$, whereas the right hand side has exactly $1+2+\cdots +(n-1)=\frac{n(n-1)}{2}$. Hence $\boxed{k \ge \frac{n(n-1)}{2}}$.

Now we compare the $v_3$'s of each side.
Note that $v_3(2^{2j}-1)=1+v_3(j)$ by the LTE lemma, so $v_3(k!)=\lfloor\frac{n}{2}\rfloor+v_3(n!)$. Since $v_3(k!)-v_3(n!)\ge \frac{k-n}{3}-2$, so we get $\boxed{k\le n+\frac{3n}{2}+6}$.

Comparing the two inequalities give finite cases(i.e. something like $n\le 7$), so we're done.
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square_root_of_3
78 posts
#14 • 5 Y
Y by pog, samrocksnature, centslordm, Adventure10, cubres
We will use abbrevations $RS$ and $LS$ for left and right side respectively.

It is a common fact that $\nu_2(k!)\leqslant k-1$.

On the other hand, $\nu_2(RS)=0+1+2+\ldots+n-1=\frac{n^2-n}{2}$.

This implies $\frac{n^2-n+2}{2}\leqslant k$, and, taking factorials, we get $\frac{n^2-n+2}{2}! \leqslant (2^n-1)\ldots(2^n-2^{n-1}) < (2^n)^n=2^{n^2}$.

Using a well-known bound $x!\geqslant (\frac{x}{3})^x$, we obtain $$(\frac{n^2-n+2}{6})^{\frac{n^2-n+2}{2}} < 2^{n^2}.$$
Taking base two logarithm, we get $$\frac{n^2-n+2}{2} \log_2 \frac{n^2-n+2}{6} < n^2.$$
For $n>7$, the expression under the logarithm is bigger than $8$, and consequently the left side is bigger that the right side. Therefore, $n\leqslant7$. It can now be easily checked that $(n,k) \in \{(1,0),(1,1),(2,3)\}$ are the only solutions.
This post has been edited 3 times. Last edited by square_root_of_3, Jul 17, 2019, 12:56 PM
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Physicsknight
635 posts
#15 • 6 Y
Y by padillac, pog, samrocksnature, centslordm, Adventure10, cubres
$\text{RHS} = (2^n - 1)\cdot 2^{n-1} (2^{n-1} - 1)\cdot (2^{n-1} - 2) \cdot \ldots \cdot (2^{n-1} - 2^{n-2}).$ When $2^{n-1} - 2^{n-2} = 2^{n-2} > 1,$ i.e. $n > 2,$
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by Physicsknight, Mar 1, 2020, 12:48 PM
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JND
658 posts
#16 • 7 Y
Y by Jahir, pog, samrocksnature, centslordm, megarnie, Adventure10, cubres
I was sure that there will be a Number Theory problem on Day 2. By the way, How much time did the contestants generally take to solve the P4 of the Day 2 ?
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ubermensch
820 posts
#17 • 6 Y
Y by programjames1, pog, samrocksnature, centslordm, Adventure10, cubres
Nice problem!... much better than day 1-
First, let's write $(2^n-1)(2^n-2)\cdots(2^n-2^{n-1})$ as $\frac{(2^n -1)!}{(2^{n-1}-1)!}$.

Now, use $v_2(n!)=\frac{n-S_2(n)}{2-1}$ to get $v_2((2^n -1)!)=2^n - n -1$ and $v_2((2^{n-1})!)=2^{n-1}-n$, thus $v_2((2^n-1)\cdots(2^n-2^{n-1})=2^{n-1}-1$.

And now, we realize that $v_2((2^{n-1})!)=2^{n-1}-1$, and the problem becomes very easy from here (basically $2^{n-1} \leq k \leq 2^{n-1}+1$, and as we know $k!=(2^n-1)(2^n-2)\cdots(2^n-2^{n-1}) => (2^n-1)(2^n-2)\cdots(2^n-2^{n-1})=(2^{n-1})(2^{n-1}-1)) \cdots 1$ which is trivially false for $n>1$ as there are $2^{n-1}$ terms on both sides, and the other case is very similar, though a little more complicated-the answers will be $n=1,2$ for $k=1,3$ respectively).
QED.

Honestly, I feel this is a much better problem and way more fun to solve than P1, although a little on the easier side if you know Legendre's formula(I'm not sure if this is what it's called though)...
This post has been edited 3 times. Last edited by ubermensch, Jul 17, 2019, 1:11 PM
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HKIS200543
380 posts
#18 • 7 Y
Y by pog, samrocksnature, rayfish, Adventure10, Mango247, lckr.18, cubres
Kassuno wrote:
Find all the pairs of integers $(k,n)$ such that
$$k!=(2^n-1)(2^n-2)\cdots(2^n-2^{n-1}).$$

The actual problem says positive integers.

The solution is just bounding. By Legendre, $\nu_2(k!) < n$. We clearly have
\[ \nu_2 (k!) = \nu_2 \left( \prod_{i=0}^{n-1} (2^n - 2^i) \right) = \frac{(n(n-1)}{2} . \]Thus $k! > (\frac{n(n-1)}{2})!$. On the other hand, though,
\[  \prod_{i=0}^{n-1} (2^n - 2^i)  > 2^{n^2}. \]It is easy to see that these two facts are impossible for sufficiently large $n$. In fact $n=6$ will suffice since
\begin{align*} 15! &= 2 \cdot 3  \cdots 15 \\
&> 2^2 \cdot 4^4 \cdot 8^4 \cdot 12 \cdot 13 \cdot 14 \cdot 15 \\
&= 2^{22} \cdot 132 \cdot 210  \\
&> 2^{22} \cdot 2^7 \cdot 2^7 \\
&= 2^{36} = 2^{6^2} 
\end{align*}Then we induct up:
\[ \left(\frac{n(n+1)}{2}\right)! > 2^{n^2} \cdot 6^{n} > 2^{(n+1)^2} \]for all $n \geq 6$.

Thus we only need to consider when $n = 6$.
By sheer computation we discover that $(k,n)=(1,1),(3,2)$ are solutions, but when $n=3,4$, there are none. To show that $n=5$ has no solution, note that the right handside is divisible by 31, so then $k! > 31! >2^{30} > 2^{25} $, so we are done.
This post has been edited 3 times. Last edited by HKIS200543, Jul 17, 2019, 10:11 PM
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totode
94 posts
#19 • 9 Y
Y by Pluto1708, meet18, WeakMathemetician, pog, samrocksnature, Wizard0001, rayfish, Adventure10, cubres
Here's what I found during the test:
Legendre gives
$$v_2(k!)<k$$But we also have:
$$v_2(RHS)=0+1+...+n-1=\dfrac{n(n-1)}{2}$$Then we must have $k>\dfrac{n(n-1)}{2}$
Therefore
$$2^{n^2}>RHS=k!>\bigg(\dfrac{n(n-1)}{2}\bigg)! \ge 1.2.2.4.4.4.4.8.8.8.8.8...8$$$$=2^{2+8+3((n(n-1)/2-7) }$$So we must have :
$$n^2\ge 2+8+3(n(n-1)/2-7)$$This holds only for n<7. We can check $n\le 6$ by hand.
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nguyenhaan2209
111 posts
#20 • 5 Y
Y by top1csp2020, pog, samrocksnature, Adventure10, cubres
Note that n(n-1)/2=v2(k!)<k but (n(n-1)/2)!>2^(n^2) for n>6 by induction hence (k,n)=(2,1);(2,3)
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karitoshi
202 posts
#21 • 4 Y
Y by pog, Adventure10, Mango247, cubres
ubermensch wrote:
Nice problem!... much better than day 1-


Now, use $v_2(n!)=\frac{n-S_2(n)}{2-1}$ to get $v_2((2^n -1)!)=2^n - n -1$ and $v_2((2^{n-1})!)=2^{n-1}-n$, thus $v_2((2^n-1)\cdots(2^n-2^{n-1})=2^{n-1}-1$.
.

What is $S_2(n)$, bro?
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by karitoshi, Jul 17, 2019, 1:30 PM
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