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Ethereal
Oct17-04, 10:27 AM
I was reading this tutorial and I came across this part which I didn't quite understand:

Theorem: Let n and p be positive integers and p be prime. Then the largest exponent s such that p^s|n! is:
s = \sum_{j{\geq}1} \displaystyle{\lfloor} \frac{n}{p^j} \displaystyle{\rfloor} (1)

Proof Let m_i be the number of multiples of p^i in the set {1,2,3,...,n}. Let

t = m_1 + m_2 + m_3 + ... + m_k (2)

Suppose that a belongs to {1,2,3,...,n}, and such that p^j|a but not p^{j+1}|a. Then in the sum (2) a will be counted j times and will contribute i towards t. This shows that t=s.
I don't follow this. What does "a will be counted j times and will contribute i towards t" mean? Why does this show that t=s?

TenaliRaman
Oct17-04, 02:14 PM
First get this clear ...
m1 denotes the number of values in {1,..,n} divisible by p
m2 denotes the number of values in {1,..,n} divisible by p^2
m3 denotes the number of values in {1,..,n} divisible by p^3
...
...
mk denotes the number of values in {1,..,n} divisible by p^k

if a is divisible by p^j and not by p^j+1
that means the maximum power of p that can divide a is j ...

if p^j|a then p|a,p^2|a,p^3|a,p^4|a,.....,p^j|a

that means this number a will have been counted in m1,m2,m3,m4,....,mj
t = sum of all m_i's
so a will have been counted j times in t ....

contribute an i towards t
or in other words contribute an m_i towards t
(can u see why?)

why is t=s?
set a=n and apply floor

-- AI