Possible Value of n When 2005th Digit of n is 0

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around determining the possible values of n such that the 2005th digit of n! is zero. Participants explore the mathematical implications of factorials, particularly focusing on the factors of 5 and 2, and how these relate to the occurrence of zeros in the digits of factorials. The scope includes theoretical reasoning and mathematical exploration.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants inquire whether the counting of digits is from the right and seek to clarify the goal of finding the least n where the 2005th digit of n! is zero.
  • One participant suggests calculating the highest power of 5 that divides n! and discusses the relevance of the highest power of 2.
  • Another participant expresses uncertainty about how to determine the specific location of the zero within the digits of n! without knowing n.
  • A claim is made that there are infinitely many integers n such that the 2005th digit of n! is zero, based on the relationship between m and n, where m is the first integer such that 10^{2005} divides m!.
  • Participants discuss the method for finding m by calculating the number of factors of 5 in m! and propose a formula for this calculation.
  • A specific set of integers between 800! and 1000! is provided, all of which have the 2005th digit equal to zero.
  • One participant speculates that n could be 2008, suggesting it as a possible value without further justification.
  • Clarifications are made regarding the counting direction of the digits, confirming that they are counted from the right.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the method to determine n and the implications of the calculations. While some agree on the infinite nature of possible n values, others focus on the specifics of calculating m and the factors involved, indicating that the discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing views.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations regarding the assumptions made about the counting of digits and the dependence on the definitions of factorials and their properties. The discussion does not resolve the mathematical steps necessary to find m or the exact values of n.

vagabond
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Given that the 2005th digit in n! is zero, what is the possible value of n ?
Thanks :smile:
 
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Are you counting digits from the right? ie. the 3rd digit of 1234567 would be 5? Are you looking for the least n where the 2005th digit of n! is 0?

Can you work out the highest power of 5 that divides n!? The highest power of 2? (the 2's won't really be an issue though)
 
Are you counting digits from the right? ie. the 3rd digit of 1234567 would be 5?
Yes.

Are you looking for the least n where the 2005th digit of n! is 0?
I would like to find all n where the 2005th digit of n! is 0.
Can we deduce if the possible number of such n is finite? Can we find the pattern?

Can you work out the highest power of 5 that divides n!? The highest power of 2? (the 2's won't really be an issue though)
If n is known, I can do it.
For instance, if n=100, then in n!, the factors 5, 10, 15, 20, ..., 95, 100 involve 5.
So the highest power of 5 that divides n! is 1+1+1+1+2+1+1+1+1+2+1+1+1+1+2+1+1+1+1+2 = 24.
But if n is unknown, I do not know how to do.

Also, this method is used to count the number of '0' appeared in n!.
But how do we know the location of the '0' is at 2005th position or not?
 
Can we deduce if the possible number of such n is finite? Can we find the pattern?

This is easy. No, there are an infinite number of integers n such that the 2005th (from the right) digit of n! is 0, since letting m be the first integer such that [itex]10^{2005}|m![/itex] we find that the 2005th digit of m! is 0 and so is the 2005th digit of n! for every [itex]\mathbb{Z} \ni n > m[/itex].

I would like to find all n where the 2005th digit of n! is 0.

This is not so easy. What we can do is work out the m that I mentioned above (so that every n>m has the desired property also). This is equivalent to finding the first [itex]m[/itex] s.t. [itex]5^{2005}|m![/itex] (since there are clearly more factors of 2 than there are of 5 in m!), so let's see what we can do. I claim that the number of factors of 5 in m! for any positive integer m is

[tex]\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \biggr \lfloor \frac{m}{5^n} \biggr \rfloor.[/tex]

Now, before you use this, you should definitely prove it on your own (I haven't written out a rigorous proof - so maybe I'm wrong! You shouldn't risk it!).

Once you show that the statement above is true, you're almost done - you just have to solve for the first [itex]m[/itex] such that

[tex]\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \biggr \lfloor \frac{m}{5^n} \biggr \rfloor \geq 2005.[/tex]
 
Last edited:
Here's the set between 800! and 1000! that have the 2005'th digit equal to 0:

{810, 811, 812, 813, 814, 815, 816, 817, 818, 819, 820, 821, 822, 823, 824,
825, 826, 827, 828, 829, 830, 831, 832, 833, 834, 835, 836, 837, 838, 839,
840, 841, 842, 843, 844, 845, 846, 847, 848, 849, 850, 851, 852, 853, 854,
855, 856, 857, 858, 859, 860, 861, 862, 863, 864, 865, 866, 867, 868, 869,
870, 871, 872, 873, 874, 875, 876, 877, 878, 879, 880, 881, 882, 883, 884,
886, 905, 922, 934, 948, 955, 965, 969, 985, 986, 992}
 
The digits are being counted from the right, not the left.
 
i guess it should be 2008.i mean n should be 2008.just a guess you might give it a try
 
shmoe said:
The digits are being counted from the right, not the left.

Ok, thanks. These then:

{811, 821, 828, 846, 850, 867, 872, 878, 880, 893, 896, 924, 925, 926, 932,
937, 938, 944, 978, 985}
 

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