Problem

Source: Turkey TST 1990 - P6

Tags: abstract algebra, induction, number theory proposed, number theory



Let $k\geq 2$ and $n_1, \dots, n_k \in \mathbf{Z}^+$. If $n_2 | (2^{n_1} -1)$, $n_3 | (2^{n_2} -1)$, $\dots$, $n_k | (2^{n_{k-1}} -1)$, $n_1 | (2^{n_k} -1)$, show that $n_1 = \dots = n_k =1$.