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An Integer Product (Posted on 2022-05-26) Difficulty: 3 of 5
P(n) is defined as an n-term product (4-2/1)*(4-2/2)*...*(4-2/n).

Prove P(n) is an integer for all natural numbers n.

  Submitted by Brian Smith    
Rating: 5.0000 (1 votes)
Solution: (Hide)
P(n) = (4-2/1)*(4-2/2)*...*(4-2/n)

Expand each term (4-2/k) into 2*(2k-1)/k
P(n) = (2*1/1)*(2*3/2)*...*(2*(2n-1)/n)

Simplify a bit
P(n) = 2^n * 1*3*...*(2n-1) / n!

Multiple the numerator and denominator by n!
P(n) = n! * 2^n * 1*3*...*(2n-1) / (n! * n!)

Combine n! and 2^n into a n-term product
P(n) = 2*4*...*(2n) * 1*3*...*(2n-1) / (n! * n!)

Then the numerator simplifies into (2n)!
P(n) = (2n)!/(n! * n!)

Now its easy to see that P(n) is just 2n choose n which is always an integer for natural number n.

Comments: ( You must be logged in to post comments.)
  Subject Author Date
No Subjectxdog2022-05-27 09:06:32
re(3): demonstrationCharlie2022-05-27 06:49:06
re(2): demonstrationKenny M2022-05-26 20:20:59
re(2): demonstrationCharlie2022-05-26 17:28:51
re: demonstrationKenny M2022-05-26 16:37:42
demonstrationxdog2022-05-26 12:38:06
Solutionverification as integersCharlie2022-05-26 10:43:32
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