Difference between revisions of "2005 IMO Problems/Problem 4"

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==Solution==
 
==Solution==
  
The Answer is 1.
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For all primes <math>p</math> greater than <math>3</math>, by Fermat's last theorem, <math>n^{p-1} = 1</math> mod <math>p</math> if <math>n</math> and <math>p</math> are relatively prime. This means that <math>n^{p-3} = \frac{1}{n^2}</math> mod <math>p</math>. Plugging <math>n = p-3</math> back into the equation, we see that the value mod <math>p</math> is simply <math>\frac{2}{9} + \frac{3}{4} + \frac{1}{36} - 1 = 0</math>. Thus, the expression is divisible by <math>p</math>. Because the expression is clearly never divisible by <math>2</math> or <math>3</math>, our answer is all numbers of the form <math>2^a3^b</math>.

Revision as of 22:51, 17 July 2023

Determine all positive integers relatively prime to all the terms of the infinite sequence \[a_n=2^n+3^n+6^n -1,\ n\geq 1.\]

Solution

For all primes $p$ greater than $3$, by Fermat's last theorem, $n^{p-1} = 1$ mod $p$ if $n$ and $p$ are relatively prime. This means that $n^{p-3} = \frac{1}{n^2}$ mod $p$. Plugging $n = p-3$ back into the equation, we see that the value mod $p$ is simply $\frac{2}{9} + \frac{3}{4} + \frac{1}{36} - 1 = 0$. Thus, the expression is divisible by $p$. Because the expression is clearly never divisible by $2$ or $3$, our answer is all numbers of the form $2^a3^b$.