Given the problem, we need to find all positive integers a,b,c such that each of the expressions ab+1, bc+1, and ca+1 are factorials of positive integers. Let's denote these factorials as follows:
ab+1=x!
bc+1=y!
ca+1=z!
where x,y,z are positive integers.
Since ab+1, bc+1, and ca+1 are all factorials, we can infer:
ab=x!−1
bc=y!−1
ca=z!−1
Without loss of generality, we begin by exploring simple cases. Consider the scenario where at least one of b or c is 1. Assume b=1. This simplifies our equations to:
a(1)+1=x!⟹a=x!−1
1c+1=z!⟹c=z!−1
For the second equation:
ca+1=z!
Substitute a=x!−1 into the equation:
(z!−1)(x!−1)+1=y!
Given that a,b,c are permutations, we can further explore the symmetrical nature by setting b=1 and c=1, or a=1 and c=1, to find viable solutions.
Exploring these equations, assume b=1 and c=1:
For ab+1=x!, we have:
a(1)+1=x!⟹a=x!−1
and for bc+1=y!:
1(1)+1=2=y! if y=2
Thus, b=1, c=1, a=k!−1, where k is a positive integer such that k>1, satisfies the conditions. With these, all the expressions are valid factorials:
- ab+1=(k!−1)⋅1+1=k!
- bc+1=1⋅1+1=2, for y=2
- ca+1=1⋅(k!−1)+1=k!
Therefore, the solution is:
(k!−1,1,1) (and its permutations), where k∈N>1