Exercise 3.12

Let ( p k ) = p ! k ! ( p − k ) ! be a binomial coefficient, and suppose that p is prime. If 1 ≤ k ≤ p − 1 , show that p divides ( p k ) . Deduce ( a + b ) p ≡ a p + b p ( mod p ) .

Answers

Proof. p ∣ p ! = k ! ( p − k ) ! ( p k ) .

If 1 ≤ k ≤ p − 1 , then each i such that 1 ≤ i ≤ k satisfies 1 ≤ i < p , so i ∧ p = 1 . Thus ( ∏ ⁡ i = 1 k i ) ∧ p = 1 , that is k ! ∧ p = 1 . Similarly, p − k < p , so ( ∏ ⁡ i = 1 p − k i ) ∧ p = 1 , ( p − k ) ! ∧ p = 1 . Thus p ∧ k ! ( p − k ) ! = 1 , and p ∣ p ! = k ! ( p − k ) ! ( p k ) , so p ∣ ( p k ) .

Finally, from binomial formula

( a + b ) p = a p + ∑ k = 1 p − 1 ( p k ) a k b n − k + b p ≡ a p + b p ( mod p ) □
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2022-07-19 00:00
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