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Print62nd Ukrainian National Mathematical Olympiad
Ukraine number theory
Problem
Given a positive integer . The product of some consecutive positive integers ends with the number . What value can the number attain?
Solution
Answer:
Suppose that . It is clear that among any consecutive numbers, there is one that is divisible by , and one that is divisible by , so their product ends in , hence is divisible by . It is clear that then , so in the product of consecutive numbers there are at least two numbers divisible by and at least two numbers divisible by , and one of them is divisible by . Hence, the product is divisible by , so there will be more zeros at the end than zeros at the end of , which is where we get the contradiction. Thus, .
If , then the product will be even, but it cannot end in the digit .
For it is enough to consider the following examples: , , .
Suppose that . It is clear that among any consecutive numbers, there is one that is divisible by , and one that is divisible by , so their product ends in , hence is divisible by . It is clear that then , so in the product of consecutive numbers there are at least two numbers divisible by and at least two numbers divisible by , and one of them is divisible by . Hence, the product is divisible by , so there will be more zeros at the end than zeros at the end of , which is where we get the contradiction. Thus, .
If , then the product will be even, but it cannot end in the digit .
For it is enough to consider the following examples: , , .
Final answer
1, 2, 4
Techniques
Factorization techniquesPrime numbers