Olympiad Maths Prep

Track / Stage 6 / 22 of 400 #1022 of 2000

Problem 1022

National olympiad, first round
Number theory Difficulty 6.0 Prove it

Three. (50 points) Let hnh_{n} be the last non-zero digit of the decimal representation of n!n!. Prove: 0.h1h20 . h_{1} h_{2} \cdots is an irrational number.

保留源文本的换行和格式,翻译结果如下:

Three. (50 points) Let hnh_{n} be the last non-zero digit of the decimal representation of n!n!. Prove: 0.h1h20 . h_{1} h_{2} \cdots is an irrational number.

This one wants a proof. Work it on paper, read the official solution, then mark yourself honestly — the ladder only means something if the record is true.

Official solution

Three, let 0.h1h20 . h_{1} h_{2} \cdots be a rational number. Then there exist N0,TZ+N_{0}, T \in \mathbf{Z}_{+}, such that for each nN0n \geqslant N_{0}, we have hn+T=hnh_{n+T}=h_{n}.

First, we prove: there exists T1Z+,TT1T_{1} \in \mathbf{Z}_{+}, T \mid T_{1}, and the last non-zero digit of T1T_{1} is 1.

In fact, let T=2α×5βpT=2^{\alpha} \times 5^{\beta} p, where α,βZ+\alpha, \beta \in \mathbf{Z}_{+}, and pp is not divisible by 2 and 5. Then
T0=2β×5αT=2α+β×5α+βp=10α+βp T_{0}=2^{\beta} \times 5^{\alpha} T=2^{\alpha+\beta} \times 5^{\alpha+\beta} p=10^{\alpha+\beta} p

has the last non-zero digit as an odd number, and not equal to 5.
If it equals 1, then take T1=T0T_{1}=T_{0};
If it equals 3, then take T1=7T0T_{1}=7 T_{0};
If it equals 7, then take T1=3T0T_{1}=3 T_{0};
If it equals 9, then take T1=9T0T_{1}=9 T_{0}.
In the above cases, the last non-zero digit of T1T_{1} is the same as that of 1,21,21,811, 21, 21, 81 respectively.
Thus, we find the number T1T_{1} such that hn+T1=hnh_{n+T_{1}}=h_{n} when nNn \geqslant N:
T1=10m(10a+1)(m,aZ+). T_{1}=10^{m}(10 a+1)\left(m, a \in \mathbf{Z}_{+}\right).

Next, we prove: for any nZ+,hn5n \in \mathbf{Z}_{+}, h_{n} \neq 5.
In fact, let [x][x] denote the greatest integer not exceeding the real number xx. Then in the prime factorization of n!n!, the power index of 2 is
r=[n2]+[n22]+, r=\left[\frac{n}{2}\right]+\left[\frac{n}{2^{2}}\right]+\cdots,
and the power index of 5 is
δ=[n5]+[n52]+. \delta=\left[\frac{n}{5}\right]+\left[\frac{n}{5^{2}}\right]+\cdots.

Since for iZ+i \in \mathbf{Z}_{+}, [n2i][n5i]\left[\frac{n}{2^{i}}\right] \geqslant\left[\frac{n}{5^{i}}\right], we have rδr \geqslant \delta, and
n!=2γ×5δq=10δ×2γδq, n!=2^{\gamma} \times 5^{\delta} q=10^{\delta} \times 2^{\gamma-\delta} q,

where qZ+q \in \mathbf{Z}_{+}, and qq is not divisible by 2 and 5. Thus, the last non-zero digit is the same as that of 2γδq2^{\gamma-\delta} q. Therefore, it is not equal to 5. Hence, take a sufficiently large bZ+b \in \mathbf{Z}_{+} such that
M=10m(10b+1)>N0. M=10^{m}(10 b+1)>N_{0}.

Let hM1=hh_{M-1}=h. Then
(M1)!=10k(10c+h)(c,kZ+). (M-1)!=10^{k}(10 c+h)\left(c, k \in \mathbf{Z}_{+}\right).

Thus, M!=(M1)!MM!=(M-1)!M
=10k(10c+h)10m(10b+1)=10k+m[10(bc+hb+c)+h]. \begin{array}{l} =10^{k}(10 c+h) \cdot 10^{m}(10 b+1) \\ =10^{k+m}[10(b c+h b+c)+h]. \end{array}

Therefore, hM=hh_{M}=h.
Since TT1T \mid T_{1}, we have hM1+T1=hM1=hh_{M-1+T_{1}}=h_{M-1}=h.
 Thus, (M1+T1)!=10l(10d+h)(l,dZ+). Hence, (M+T1)!=(M1+T1)!(M+T1)=10l(10d+h)[10m(10b+1)+10m(10a+1)]=10l+m(10d+h)[10(a+b)+2]=10l+m[10(10ad+10bd+ah+bh+2d)+2h], \begin{array}{l} \text { Thus, }\left(M-1+T_{1}\right)!=10^{l}(10 d+h)\left(l, d \in \mathbf{Z}_{+}\right). \\ \text { Hence, }\left(M+T_{1}\right)!=\left(M-1+T_{1}\right)!\left(M+T_{1}\right) \\ =10^{l}(10 d+h)\left[10^{m}(10 b+1)+10^{m}(10 a+1)\right] \\ =10^{l+m}(10 d+h)[10(a+b)+2] \\ =10^{l+m}[10(10 a d+10 b d+a h+b h+2 d)+2 h], \end{array}

which means hM+T1h_{M+T_{1}} is the same as the last digit of 2h2 h, denoted as hh^{\prime}.
On the other hand, hM+T1=hM=hh_{M+T_{1}}=h_{M}=h, but since h0.5h \neq 0.5, the last digit of 2h2 h is not equal to hh.
Thus, hM+T1=hh=hM+T1h_{M+T_{1}}=h^{\prime} \neq h=h_{M+T_{1}}, a contradiction.

Source: NuminaMath-1.5, licensed Apache-2.0. Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic, difficulty and ordering added by this site.