Denote f:Z≥02→Z such that
xn=f(0,n)+f(1,n)[(x+1)−1]+f(2,n)[(x+1)(x+2)−(x+1)]+…
for every non-negative integers x,n.
The above function always exists because the expression of xn can be uniquely represented in that particular way. Moreover, f(x,n) is an integer for every x,n∈Z≥0 and f(x,n)=0 for all x>n. Next, we will prove the following lemmas.
Lemma 1. f(0,n) is even if and only if 3∣n−1
Proof. Observe that f(0,0)=1, f(0,1)=1, and f(0,2)=−1, so it is sufficient to show that 2∣f(0,n)+f(0,n+1)+f(0,n+2) for all n∈Z≥0.
Rewrite the definition of f as
xn=g(0,n)+i=1∑ng(i,n)(x+1)(x+2)⋯(x+i)
where g(k,n)=f(k,n)−f(k+1,n) for all k,n∈Z≥0. Therefore,
g(0,n)+g(1,n)+⋯+g(n,n)=i=0∑ng(i,n) for all n∈Z≥0
xn+1=g(0,n)+i=1∑ng(i,n)⋅x(x+1)(x+2)⋯(x+i)=g(0,n)+i=1∑ng(i,n)⋅[(x+1)(x+2)⋯(x+i)(x+i+1)−(i+1)(x+1)(x+2)⋯(x+i)]=g(n,n)(x+1)(x+2)⋯(x+n+1)+i=1∑n−1[g(i−1,n)−(i+1)g(i,n)](x+1)(x+2)⋯(x+i)−g(0,n)
Therefore, g(n+1,n+1)=g(n,n), g(0,n+1)=−g(0,n), and g(i,n+1)=g(i−1,n)−(i+1)g(i,n) for each 1≤i≤n. Wrapping them up, we get, for each n∈Z≥0,
f(0,n+1)=i=0∑n+1g(i,n+1)=−i=0∑nig(i,n).
And
f(0,n+2)=−i=0∑n+1ig(i,n+1)=−(n+1)g(n,n)−i=1∑ni[g(i−1,n)−(i+1)g(i,n)]≡−(n+1)g(n,n)−i=0∑n−1(i+1)g(i,n)(mod2)≡−i=0∑n(i+1)g(i,n)(mod2)
Therefore,
f(0,n)+f(0,n+1)+f(0,n+2)≡i=0∑ng(i,n)−i=0∑nig(i,n)−i=0∑n(i+1)g(i,n)≡0(mod2)
Lemma 2. If α and β are integers such that n!∣α⋅(1!+2!+⋯+(n−1)!)+β for all positive integer n, then α=β=0
Proof. We know that 1!+2!+⋯+k!<(k+1)! for all positive integer k. Taking large enough n for which (n−1)!>∣β∣ and n>2∣α∣+1, we have
∣α⋅(1!+2!+⋯+(n−1)!)∣+∣β∣≤∣α∣⋅(1!+2!+⋯+(n−1)!)+∣β∣<(2∣α∣+1)⋅(n−1)!<n⋅(n−1)!=n!
But n!∣α⋅(1!+2!+⋯+n!)+β, therefore α⋅(1!+2!+⋯+n!)+β=0 for all large n. Thus, we can conclude that α=β=0, as desired. □
Back to the problem. Let m=k−1. The given sequence is equivalent to
a0+j=1∑njm⋅j!
an=n!a0+∑j=1njm⋅j!.
We have n!∣a0+∑j=1njm⋅j! for all positive integer n. Now taking modulo n! by using the expression of xm as mentioned before, we get
j=1∑njm⋅j!=j=1∑nj!⋅{f(0,m)+f(1,m)[(x+1)−1]+f(2,m)[(x+1)(x+2)−(x+1)]+⋯+f(m,m)[(x+1)(x+2)…(x+m)−(x+1)(x+2)…(x+m−1)]}=f(0,m)⋅i=1∑ni!+i=1∑nj=1∑mf(j,m)⋅[(i+j)!−(i+j−1)!]=f(0,m)⋅i=1∑ni!+j=1∑mi=1∑nf(j,m)⋅[(i+j)!−(i+j−1)!]=f(0,m)⋅i=1∑ni!+j=1∑mf(j,m)[(n+j)!−j!]≡f(0,m)⋅(1!+2!+⋯+(n−1)!)−j=1∑mf(j,m)⋅j!(modn!)
Therefore, n!∣f(0,m)⋅(1!+2!+⋯+(n−1)!)+β for every positive integer n, when β=a0−∑j=1mf(j,m)⋅j!. Applying Lemma 2, we get f(0,m)=0. And by Lemma 1, we get 3∣m−1. Since m=k−1, therefore k−2 is divisible by 3, as desired.