You are here
Home ›proof that number of sum-product numbers in any base is finite
Primary tabs
proof that number of sum-product numbers in any base is finite
Let be the base of numeration.
Suppose that an integer has digits when expressed in base (not counting leading zeros, of course). Then .
Since each digit is at most , we have that the sum of the digits is at most and the product is at most , hence the sum of the digits of times the product of the digits of is at most .
If is a sum-product number, then equals the sum of its digits times the product of its digits. In light of the inequalities of the last two paragraphs, this implies that , so . Dividing both sides, we obtain . By the growth of exponential function, there can only be a finite number of values of for which this is true. Hence, there is a finite limit to the number of digits of , so there can only be a finite number of sum-product numbers to any given base .
Mathematics Subject Classification
11A63 Radix representation; digital problems- Forums
- Planetary Bugs
- HS/Secondary
- University/Tertiary
- Graduate/Advanced
- Industry/Practice
- Research Topics
- LaTeX help
- Math Comptetitions
- Math History
- Math Humor
- PlanetMath Comments
- PlanetMath System Updates and News
- PlanetMath help
- PlanetMath.ORG
- Strategic Communications Development
- The Math Pub
- Testing messages (ignore)
- Other useful stuff
Recent Activity
new question: Linear Algebra Combination Problem! by Bruce Lee
new question: Computation of $\varphi(2000)$ by jeremyboden
new question: Computation of $\varphi(2000)$ by jeremyboden
May 21
new question: pure subgroups by lvoyster
new correction: Typo in M\"obius function? by Aleph Zero
new collection: analytic number theory by Aleph Zero
May 20
new question: Taylor's Series Query! by unlord
new question: Laplace transform by J
new question: Residue Calculus by J
May 19
new Education: Project: PlanetMath Outlines Series by unlord


