English

Generalized Lucas Theorem

General Mathematics 2025-02-28 v1

Abstract

Let pp be a prime. Let AA and BB, AB0A \ge B \ge 0, be integers with base pp expansions A=αiαi1α0A = \alpha_i\alpha_{i-1}\dots \alpha_0 and B=βiβi1β0B = \beta_i\beta_{i-1}\dots \beta_0. Lucas proved that (AB)j=0j=i(αjβj) mod p.\binom{A}{B} \equiv \prod_{j=0}^{j=i}\binom{\alpha_j}{\beta_j} \text{ mod } p. Similarly as proved by Kummer, the pp-adic valuation vp(AB)v_p\binom{A}{B} is the number of borrows when computing ABA-B in base pp, or the number of carries in (AB)+B(A-B)+B in base pp. Davis and Webb discovered a generalization of Lucas's Theorem for prime powers. We prove a similar generalization in a different form using the concept of pseudo-digits.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2502.19427,
  title  = {Generalized Lucas Theorem},
  author = {Jordan Hirsh},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2502.19427},
  year   = {2025}
}
R2 v1 2026-06-28T21:59:08.492Z