Difference between revisions of "Lifting the Exponent"

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(Lemma from MAA official solution, 2020 AIME I Problems/Problem 12)
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Let <math>p</math> be an odd prime, and let <math>a</math> and <math>b</math> be integers relatively prime to <math>p</math> such that <math>p \mid (a-b)</math>. Let <math>n</math> be a positive integer. Then the number of factors of <math>p</math> that divide <math>a^n - b^n</math> is equal to the number of factors of <math>p</math> that divide <math>a-b</math> plus the number of factors of <math>p</math> that divide <math>n</math>.
 
Let <math>p</math> be an odd prime, and let <math>a</math> and <math>b</math> be integers relatively prime to <math>p</math> such that <math>p \mid (a-b)</math>. Let <math>n</math> be a positive integer. Then the number of factors of <math>p</math> that divide <math>a^n - b^n</math> is equal to the number of factors of <math>p</math> that divide <math>a-b</math> plus the number of factors of <math>p</math> that divide <math>n</math>.

Latest revision as of 18:59, 18 January 2024

(Lemma from MAA official solution, 2020 AIME I Problems/Problem 12)

Let $p$ be an odd prime, and let $a$ and $b$ be integers relatively prime to $p$ such that $p \mid (a-b)$. Let $n$ be a positive integer. Then the number of factors of $p$ that divide $a^n - b^n$ is equal to the number of factors of $p$ that divide $a-b$ plus the number of factors of $p$ that divide $n$.