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Difference between revisions of "1969 Canadian MO Problems/Problem 6"

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In both cases, the expression telescopes into <math> (n+1)!-1.</math>
 
In both cases, the expression telescopes into <math> (n+1)!-1.</math>
  
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== Solution  1==
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== Solution  2==
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We need to evaluate  
+
 
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<cmath>1\cdot 1!+2\cdot 2!+3\cdot 3!+\cdots+(n-1)(n-1)!+n\cdot n!</cmath>
+
We need to evaluate:
−
We replace <math>k\cdotk!</math> with <math>((k+1)-1)\cdotk!</math>
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<cmath>1\cdot 1!+2\cdot 2!+\cdots+(n-1)(n-1)!+n\cdot n!</cmath>
−
<cmath>(2-1)\cdot 1!+(3-1)\cdot 2!+(4-1)\cdot 3!+\cdots+((n)-1)(n-1)!+((n+1)-1)\cdot n!</cmath>
+
We replace <math>k\cdot k!</math> with <math>((k+1)-1)\cdot k!</math>
 +
<cmath>(2-1)\cdot 1!+(3-1)\cdot 2!+\cdots+((n)-1)(n-1)!+((n+1)-1)\cdot n!</cmath>
 
Distribution yields
 
Distribution yields
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<cmath>(2\cdot 1!-1\cdot1!+3\cdot2!-1\cdot2!+\cdots+n(n-1)!-1(n-1)!+(n+1)n!-1\cdotn!</cmath>
+
<cmath>(2\cdot 1!-1\cdot1!+3\cdot2!-1\cdot2!+\cdots+n(n-1)!-1(n-1)!+(n+1)n!-1\cdot n!</cmath>
 
Simplifying,
 
Simplifying,
 
<cmath>2!-1!+3!-2!+\cdots+n!-(n-1)!+(n+1)!-n!</cmath>
 
<cmath>2!-1!+3!-2!+\cdots+n!-(n-1)!+(n+1)!-n!</cmath>
 
Which telescopes to
 
Which telescopes to
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<cmath>(n+1)!-1!=\box((n+1)!-1)</cmath>
+
<cmath>(n+1)!-1!=(n+1)!-1</cmath>
 +
So <math>(n+1)!-1</math> is the solution.
 +
 
 +
== Solution  3==
 +
 
 +
<math>S=\sum_{k=1}^{n}k\cdot k!=\sum_{k=1}^{n}(k\cdot k!+k!-k!)=\sum_{k=1}^{n}\left( (k+1)\cdot k!-k! \right)=\sum_{k=1}^{n}(k+1)\cdot k!-\sum_{k=1}^{n}k!\\
 +
=\sum_{k=2}^{n+1}k!-\sum_{k=1}^{n}k!=(n+1)!+\sum_{k=2}^{n}k!-\sum_{k=2}^{n}k!-1!=\boxed{(n+1)!-1}</math>
 +
 
 +
~Tomas Diaz. orders@tomasdiaz.com
 +
 
 +
{{alternate solutions}}
  
 
{{Old CanadaMO box|num-b=5|num-a=7|year=1969}}
 
{{Old CanadaMO box|num-b=5|num-a=7|year=1969}}

Latest revision as of 19:33, 27 November 2023

Problem

Find the sum of $1\cdot 1!+2\cdot 2!+3\cdot 3!+\cdots+(n-1)(n-1)!+n\cdot n!$, where $n!=n(n-1)(n-2)\cdots2\cdot1$.

Solution 1

Note that for any positive integer $n,$ $n\cdot n!+(n-1)\cdot(n-1)!=(n^2+n-1)(n-1)!=(n+1)!-(n-1)!.$ Hence, pairing terms in the series will telescope most of the terms.

If $n$ is odd, $(n+1)!-(n-1)!+(n-1)!-(n-3)!\cdots -2!+2!-0!.$

If $n$ is even, $(n+1)!-(n-1)!+(n-1)!-(n-3)!\cdots -3!+3!-1!.$ In both cases, the expression telescopes into $(n+1)!-1.$

Solution 2

We need to evaluate: \[1\cdot 1!+2\cdot 2!+\cdots+(n-1)(n-1)!+n\cdot n!\] We replace $k\cdot k!$ with $((k+1)-1)\cdot k!$ \[(2-1)\cdot 1!+(3-1)\cdot 2!+\cdots+((n)-1)(n-1)!+((n+1)-1)\cdot n!\] Distribution yields \[(2\cdot 1!-1\cdot1!+3\cdot2!-1\cdot2!+\cdots+n(n-1)!-1(n-1)!+(n+1)n!-1\cdot n!\] Simplifying, \[2!-1!+3!-2!+\cdots+n!-(n-1)!+(n+1)!-n!\] Which telescopes to \[(n+1)!-1!=(n+1)!-1\] So $(n+1)!-1$ is the solution.

Solution 3

$S=\sum_{k=1}^{n}k\cdot k!=\sum_{k=1}^{n}(k\cdot k!+k!-k!)=\sum_{k=1}^{n}\left( (k+1)\cdot k!-k! \right)=\sum_{k=1}^{n}(k+1)\cdot k!-\sum_{k=1}^{n}k!\\ =\sum_{k=2}^{n+1}k!-\sum_{k=1}^{n}k!=(n+1)!+\sum_{k=2}^{n}k!-\sum_{k=2}^{n}k!-1!=\boxed{(n+1)!-1}$

~Tomas Diaz. orders@tomasdiaz.com

Alternate solutions are always welcome. If you have a different, elegant solution to this problem, please add it to this page.

1969 Canadian MO (Problems)
Preceded by
Problem 5 		1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • Followed by
Problem 7


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