Number theoryDifficulty 6.7National OlympiadProve itEstonia
In the product (1+11)⋅(1+31)⋅(1+51)⋯(1+2n−11) the denominators of the fractions are all odd numbers from 1 to (2n−1). Is it possible to choose a natural number n>1 such that this product would evaluate to an integer?
Solution
By manipulating the given product we get (1+11)⋅(1+31)⋅(1+51)⋯(1+2n−11)=12⋅34⋅56⋯2n−12n=1⋅3⋅5⋯(2n−1)2⋅4⋅6⋯2n. For it to be an integer, the number 2⋅4⋅6⋯2n should be divisible by 1⋅3⋅5⋯(2n−1). But since 2⋅4⋅6⋯2n=(2⋅1)⋅(2⋅2)⋅(2⋅3)⋯(2⋅n)=2n⋅(1⋅2⋅3⋯n) and number 1⋅3⋅5⋯(2n−1) is odd, number 1⋅2⋅3⋯n should be divisible by 1⋅3⋅5⋯(2n−1). In case of n>1 this is impossible, because 1⋅2⋅3⋯n<1⋅3⋅5⋯(2n−1).
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