All about flooble | fun stuff | Get a free chatterbox | Free JavaScript | Avatars    
perplexus dot info

Home > Numbers
Sum three, get one (Posted on 2007-04-25) Difficulty: 2 of 5
Determine all possible positive integer solutions of this equation:

n! = a! + b! + c!

See The Solution Submitted by K Sengupta    
Rating: 2.5000 (2 votes)

Comments: ( Back to comment list | You must be logged in to post comments.)
Solution with explanation Comment 4 of 4 |
with no loss in generality, assume n > c >= b >= a. Then

c! + b! + a! = n! >= (c+1)! 
b! + a! >= c c! 

But c = 1 = a = b does not give a solution. so c >= 2 and 
b! + a! >= c c! >= 2 c! = c! + c!

so a = b = c and 
c! + b! + a! = 3c! 

but 3c! = n! only works if c= 2. so a=b=c=2, n=3

  Posted by FrankM on 2020-04-09 11:47:30
Please log in:
Login:
Password:
Remember me:
Sign up! | Forgot password


Search:
Search body:
Forums (0)
Newest Problems
Random Problem
FAQ | About This Site
Site Statistics
New Comments (3)
Unsolved Problems
Top Rated Problems
This month's top
Most Commented On

Chatterbox:
Copyright © 2002 - 2024 by Animus Pactum Consulting. All rights reserved. Privacy Information