2005 AMC 10B Problems/Problem 22

Problem

For how many positive integers n less than or equal to $24$ is $n!$ evenly divisible by $1 + 2 + \ldots + n$?

Solution

Since $1 + 2 + \cdots + n = \frac{n(n+1)}{2}$, the condition is equivalent to having an integer value for $\frac{n!}{\frac{n(n+1)}{2}}$. This reduces, when $n\ge 1$, to having an integer value for $\frac{2(n-1)!}{n+1}$. This fraction is an integer unless $n+1$ is an odd prime. There are 8 odd primes less than or equal to 25, so there are $24 - 8 = \boxed{16}$ numbers less than or equal to 24 that satisfy the condition.

See Also

2005 AMC 10B (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 21
Followed by
Problem 23
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