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Number theory Difficulty 4.7 AIME Prove it Ireland

Prove that, for every positive integer nn which ends in the digit 5,
20n+15n+8n+6n 20^n + 15^n + 8^n + 6^n
is divisible by 2009.

Solution

Observe that
20n+15n+8n+6n=(5n+2n)(4n+3n)(4) 20^n + 15^n + 8^n + 6^n = (5^n + 2^n)(4^n + 3^n) \quad (4)
Since n=10k+5=5(2k+1)n = 10k + 5 = 5(2k + 1) for some integer kk,
5n+2n=55(2k+1)+25(2k+1) 5^n + 2^n = 5^{5(2k+1)} + 2^{5(2k+1)}
and so 55+255^5 + 2^5 divides 5n+2n5^n + 2^n. Similarly, 45+354^5 + 3^5 divides 4n+3n4^n + 3^n. Now calculation shows that 55+25=711415^5 + 2^5 = 7 \cdot 11 \cdot 41 and 45+35=71814^5 + 3^5 = 7 \cdot 181 as products of primes. Since 2009=72412009 = 7^2 \cdot 41, the prime factors of 2009 occur as factors of the RHS of equation (4) and the result follows.

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