Lifting the Exponent Lemma (LTE) 19

Problem 1.2.1 (AoPS). Let k be a positive integer.Find all positive integers n such that

3k | 2n − 1

Solution. First, notice that 3 | 2n −1 then n is even number, n = 2m for some m ∈ N. Then 3k | 4m −1.
By lifting the exponent Lemma, V3 (4m − 1) = 1 +V3 (m) which gives V3 (m) ≥ k − 1. So the answer is
n = 2 · 3k−1 · l for any l ∈ N

Problem 1.2.2 (AoPS). Find all natural numbers k such that k first prime p1 , p2 , . . . , pk then there
are exist 2 numbers a,n satisfy
p1 p2 . . . pk − 1 = an

Solution. Assume that there exists (k, a, n) ∈ Z3+ with n > 1 and k ≥ 2 for which

k
∏ pi = an + 1.
i=1

Since p2 = 3, we have 3 — an + 1, which implies 2 - n and a > 1. Since

!
k
gcd ∏ pi , a = 1,
i=1

we have a > pk . So we also have

k
pnk < an + 1 = ∏ pi < pkk
i=1

which implies n < k. Since n > 1 is odd, we can take an odd prime divisor q of n. Since q < k, we
must have q | an + 1. Since q | n and q | an + 1, by LTE, we must have q2 — an + 1. This is clearly
impossible. Therefore, k = 1 is the only solution.

Problem 1.2.3 (AoPS). Let p > 2013 be a prime. Also let a and b be positive integers such that
p | a + b but p - (a + b)2 . If p2 | a2013 + b2013 , then find the number of positive integers n ≤ 2013
such that pn | a2013 + b2013 .

Solution. We can rewrite the first condition as v p (a + b) = 1. We must also have v p a2013 + b2013 ≥

2. Now, if p - a, b,Well I think you might like to remember something which we have read