Problem

Source: Indian IMOTC 2013, Practice Test 1, Problem 1

Tags: number theory proposed, number theory



For a prime $p$, a natural number $n$ and an integer $a$, we let $S_n(a,p)$ denote the exponent of $p$ in the prime factorisation of $a^{p^n} - 1$. For example, $S_1(4,3) = 2$ and $S_2(6,2) = 0$. Find all pairs $(n,p)$ such that $S_n(2013,p) = 100$.