Related papers: Factorials and powers, a minimality result

The summation formula $$ \sum^{n-1}_{i=0}\epsilon^i i! (i^k+u_k) = v_k+\epsilon^{n-1} n! A_{k-1}(n) $$ $(\epsilon=\pm 1; k=1,2,...; u_k, v_k\in \msbm\hbox{Z}; A_{k-1}$ is a polynomial) is derived and its various aspects are considered. In…

In the integer case, the Smarandache function of a positive integer $n$ is defined to be the smallest positive integer $k$ such that $n$ divides the factorial $k!$. In this paper, we first define a natural order for polynomials in…

Let $\mathcal{P}_r$ denote an almost-prime with at most $r$ prime factors, counted according to multiplicity. In this paper, it is proved that, for $0.989<\gamma<1$, there exist infinitely many primes $p$ such that…

We are motivated by a result of Alzer and Luca who presented all the integer solutions to the relations $(k!)^n-k^n=(n!)^k-n^k$ and $(k!)^n+k^n=(n!)^k+n^k$. We consider the equations $(k!)^{n!}\pm k^n=(n!)^{k!}\pm n^k$ and $(k!)^n\pm…

The Stirling approximation formula for $n!$ dates from 1730. Here we give new and instructive proofs of this and related approximation formulae via tools of probability and statistics. There are connections to the Central Limit Theorem and…

Any positive integer $n$ other than 10 with abundancy index 9/5 must be a square with at least 6 distinct prime factors, the smallest being 5. Further, at least one of the prime factors must be congruent to 1 modulo 3 and appear with an…

A group $G$ is said to be factorized into subsets $A_1, A_2, \ldots, A_s\subseteq G$ if every element $g$ in $G$ can be uniquely represented as $g=g_1g_2\ldots g_s$, where $g_i\in A_i$, $i=1,2,\ldots,s$. We consider the following…

When $k>1$ and $n$ is the product of the smallest $k$ primes, the $(k+1)$-st smallest prime is the least divisor exceeding $1$ of $n^{n^n}-1$. This variant of Euclid's prime generator is discussed with some of its cousins.

A factorization of a permutation into transpositions is called "primitive" if its factors are weakly ordered. We discuss the problem of enumerating primitive factorizations of permutations, and its place in the hierarchy of previously…

A commutative semigroup of abstract factorials is defined in the context of the ring of integers. We study such factorials for their own sake, whether they are or are not connected to sets of integers. Given a subset X of the positive…

Given a positive integer $n\ge 2$, let $D(n)$ denote the smallest positive integer $m$ such that $a^3+a(1\le a\le n)$ are pairwise distinct modulo $m^2$. A conjecture of Z.-W. Sun states that $D(n)=3^k$, where $3^k$ is the least power of…

By recent work of the author, Wilson's theorem as well as the Wilson quotient can be described by supercongruences of power sums of Fermat quotients modulo every higher prime power. We translate these congruences into congruences of power…

Under the fundamental theorem of arithmetic, any integer $n>1$ can be uniquely written as a product of prime powers $p^a$; factoring each exponent $a$ as a product of prime powers $q^b$, and so on, one will obtain what is called the tower…

One of the greatest difficulties encountered by all in their first proof intensive class is subtly assuming an unproven fact in a proof. The purpose of this note is to describe a specific instance where this can occur, namely in results…

We give a short proof -- not relying on ideal classes or the geometry of numbers -- of a known criterion for quadratic orders to possess unique factorization.

For a positive rational $\alpha$, call a set of distinct positive integers $\{a_1, a_2, \ldots, a_r\}$ an $\alpha$-partition of $n$, if the sum of the $a_i$ is equal to $n$ and the sum of the reciprocals of the $a_i$ is equal to $\alpha$.…

We consider bivariate polynomials over the skew field of quaternions, where the indeterminates commute with all coefficients and with each other. We analyze existence of univariate factorizations, that is, factorizations with univariate…

Factorial series played a major role in Stirling's classic book "Methodus Differentialis" (1730), but now only a few specialists still use them. This article wants to show that this neglect is unjustified, and that factorial series are…

We give an overview of combinatoric properties of the number of ordered $k$-factorizations $f_k(n,l)$ of an integer, where every factor is greater or equal to $l$. We show that for a large number $k$ of factors, the value of the cumulative…

For various arithmetic functions $f:\mathbb{N} \to \mathbb{R}$, the behavior of $f(n!)$ and that of $\sum_{n\le N} f(n!)$ can be intriguing. For instance, for some functions $f$, we have ${f(n!)=\sum_{k\le n}f(k)}$, for others, we have…