This problem consists of four parts. 1. Show that for any nonzero integers $m,n,$ and prime $p$, we have $v_p(mn)=v_p(m)+v_p(n).$ 2. Show that if an off prime $p$, a positive integer $k$ and integers $a,b$ satisfy $p \nmid ~^\text{'}~p|a-b$ and $p\nmid k$, then $v_p(a^k-b^k)=v_p(a-b).$ 3. Show that if $p$ is an off prime with $p|a-b$ and $p\nmid a,b$, then $v_p(a^p-b^p)=v_p(a-b)+1)$. 4. Show that if an odd prime $p$, a positive integer $k$ and integers $a,b$ satisfy $p\nmid a,b ~^\text{'}~ p|a-b$, then $v_p(a^k-b^k)=v_p(a-b)$. Proposed by LTE.
Problem
Source: IMOC 2021 N1
Tags: number theory
12.08.2021 20:02
I don't think this was proposed by LTE. This is LTE, the infamous "Lifting the Exponent Lemma". I don't think there is a need for a new thread to discuss this, this was explained many many times on this forum.
13.08.2021 17:36
Sorry about that. As I was a member in the camp, the problem was given to us and if we solve it we can get some bonus. It was the least difficult one since the host( previous IMO contestants) hoped us all made it clear to prove LTE. Although LTE is well-known, it became our first problem for NT. Since the camp welcomed for all students under 18, there were some trivial things in our camp SL but not to repost it. Hopefully I had made the circumstance clear .
13.08.2021 17:40
Well, you don't need to be sorry for putting anything on a list or not. It is not your fault what other people do with this list of problems.
14.08.2021 09:31
Tintarn wrote: Well, you don't need to be sorry for putting anything on a list or not. It is not your fault what other people do with this list of problems. Yeah I guess this is why we haven't created literally a single post for every single problem on the list and created a collection by ourselves. Lots of problems are taken from other sources and some are just there for educational purposes. It's good that people are passionate enough about the problem lists and create a dedicated collection for them, but sometimes it is indeed a bit awkward to make a separate post for problems like this.
14.08.2021 18:18
True, and also a pain to type lol But if it gets a contest collection, I think it is worth it.
02.01.2022 22:28
LTE lemma. Induction