Number theoryDifficulty 6.1National OlympiadProve itMongolia
Let p≥5 be a prime number and Sn=1n+2n+⋯+(p−1)n. Show that there exists infinitely many n∈N such that p3∣Sn, p∣Sn−1 and p∣Sn−2. (proposed by N. Davii-Od)
Solution
For every m∈N we can choose that way: m=p((p−1)m+3)=(p−1)(pm+3)+3 Therefore 2Sn=k=1∑p−1(kn+(p−k)n)=k=1∑p−1m=0∑n−1Cnm(p−k)mpn−m≡ ≡k=1∑p−1(−1)n−2⋅Cnn−2⋅(p−k)n−2p2+(−1)n−1Cnn−1⋅(p−k)n−1⋅p≡≡(−1)n−2⋅Cnn−2Sn−2p2+(−1)n−1Cnn−1Sn−1p(modp3) Moreover, Sn−2=1n−2+2n−2+⋯+(p−1)n−2≡S1=2p(p−1)≡0(modp)(∗) Sn−1=1n−1+2n−1+⋯+(p−1)n−1≡S2=6p(p−1)(2p+1)≡0(modp)(∗∗) p is odd prime number hence (p,6)=1. Thus 2Sn≡0(modp3). Because, we chose above p∣n and n=(p−1)(pm+3)+3. By Fermat's theorem, we get kn−1≡k2(modp), kn−2≡k(modp) then Sn−2≡S1(modp), Sn−1≡S2(modp). Finally, by () and (*) proof is completed.
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