Discrete Mathematics with Applications 4th Edition

Published by Cengage Learning
ISBN 10: 0-49539-132-8
ISBN 13: 978-0-49539-132-6

Chapter 4 - Elementary Number Theory and Methods of Proof - Exercise Set 4.7 - Page 213: 29

Answer

See explanation

Work Step by Step

**Proof:** Let \( n \) be an integer with \( n > 2 \). Consider the number \[ M = n! - 1. \] By the Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic, \( M \) has at least one prime divisor. Let \( p \) be a prime number such that \( p \mid M \). **Claim:** \( p > n \). **Justification:** Assume for contradiction that \( p \le n \). Then, since \[ n! = 1 \cdot 2 \cdot 3 \cdots n, \] \( p \) divides \( n! \). Therefore, \( p \) divides both \( n! \) and \( n! - 1 \). Consequently, \( p \) must divide their difference: \[ n! - (n! - 1) = 1. \] However, no prime number divides 1. This contradiction shows that our assumption is false; hence, \( p > n \). Also, since \( p \) is a divisor of \( M = n! - 1 \), it follows that \[ p \le n! - 1 < n!. \] Thus, we have \[ n < p < n!. \] Since \( p \) is a prime number with \( n < p < n! \), this completes the proof.
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