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LemmaStatement: Literature-sourcedProof: AI-adaptedprecheck passaudited 2026-08-17
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If ∣G∣=pam with p∤m, then vp(pampa)=0

Statement

Let p be prime and let a,m∈N satisfy p∤m. Then vp ⁣((pampa))=0. The valuation is applied only to nonzero integers. See The p-adic valuation vp(a) of a nonzero integer: the greatest k∈N with pk∣a.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: The hypotheses and objects in the Statement.

[L1]

For a prime p and a nonzero integer x, the p-adic valuation is vp(x):=max⁡{k∈N:pk∣x}; the value vp(0) is undefined. (The p-adic valuation vp(a) of a nonzero integer: the greatest k∈N with pk∣a).

[L2]

For a prime p and nonzero integers x,y, the product xy is nonzero and vp(xy)=vp(x)+vp(y). (vp(ab)=vp(a)+vp(b) for nonzero integers a,b, and vp(a+b)≥min⁡{vp(a),vp(b)} whenever a, b and a+b are all nonzero).

[L3]

For a finite set A and k∈N put [A]k:={ S⊆A : ∣S∣=k }, the set of k-element subsets of A. Every S⊆A is finite (thm-subset-of-a-finite-set), so the condition ∣S∣=k makes sense for every subset. (The set [A]k of k-element subsets and the binomial coefficient (nk):=∣[n]k∣).

[L4]

Let n,k∈N with k≤n. Then (nk) k! (n−k)!=n!, and consequently (nk) k!=nk‾. ((nk) k! (n−k)!=n! for k≤n; hence (nk) k!=nk‾, the quotient n!/(k!(n−k)!) is a natural number, and (nk)=(nn−k)).

[L5]

The factorial and falling factorial satisfy 0!=1,(n+1)!=n!(n+1),n0‾=1,nk+1‾=nk‾(n−k), and for k≤n, nk‾ is the product n(n−1)⋯(n−k+1). (The factorial n! and the falling factorial nk‾, defined by recursion in N).

Proof

technique · direct
1.1L1L2L3L4L5givenalgebra

We apply the valuation to the identity (pampa)(pa)!=(pam)pa‾.

2.1step 1.1givenalgebra

If 0<j<pa, write j=pru with p∤u; then r<a and pam−j=pr(pa−rm−u), whose parenthesized factor is prime to p. Hence vp(pam−j)=vp(j). The factor pam contributes a+vp(m)=a, exactly matching the contribution of pa in (pa)!, so all valuations cancel.

3.1step 2.1givenalgebra∎

If a=0, the binomial coefficient is (m1)=m, which is nonzero and prime to p. No valuation of zero occurs in either case. This proves the stated claim.

Depends on

Used by

Dependency tree · two levels

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Sources