Number theoryDifficulty 5.9AIME, harderProve itTaiwan
Suppose that p is an odd prime, p≥7 and q=23p−7. Define the series Sq=2⋅3⋅41+5⋅6⋅71+⋯+(q+1)(q+2)(q+3)1 Express 1+2Sq−p1 as a rational number nm with (m,n)=1. Prove that m is a multiple of p.
Solution
We need the partial fraction decomposition (k+1)(k+2)(k+3)2=k+11−k+22+k+31 Sum over q=1,4,7,…, we get 2Sq=(21−32+41)+(51−62+71)+⋯+(q+11−q+22+q+31)=21+31+41+51+61+71+⋯+q+11+q+21+q+31−(11+21+⋯+q+21) Also we have p+11+p+21+⋯+q+31≡11+21+⋯+(q−p)+31(modp) Note that q−p+3=3q+2⟺q=23p−7 In the final, we have 1+2Sq−p1≡1+21+⋯+p−11(modp)≡0(modp)
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Source: MathNet,
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