Related Formula
Legendre's Formula for exponent of prime p in n!:$$\text{Legendre's Formula for exponent of prime } p \text{ in } n!:$$
Eₚ(n!) = [ (n)/(p) ] + [ (n)/(p²) ] + [ (n)/(p³) ] +$$E_p(n!) = \left[ \frac{n}{p} \right] + \left[ \frac{n}{p^2} \right] + \left[ \frac{n}{p^3} \right] + \dots$$
where [·]$[\cdot]$ represents the greatest integer function.
Core Logic
To find the highest power of 40$40$ dividing 60!$60!$, we first prime factorize 40$40$.
40 = 2³ × 5$$40 = 2^3 \times 5$$
Thus, 40ⁿ = 2³ⁿ × 5ⁿ$40^n = 2^{3n} \times 5^n$.
We need to find the exponents of 2$2$ and 5$5$ in 60!$60!$ and restrict n$n$ to satisfy both components simultaneously.
Step 1: Exponent of 2 in 60!
E₂(60!) = [(60)/(2)] + [(60)/(4)] + [(60)/(8)] + [(60)/(16)] + [(60)/(32)]$$E_2(60!) = \left[\frac{60}{2}\right] + \left[\frac{60}{4}\right] + \left[\frac{60}{8}\right] + \left[\frac{60}{16}\right] + \left[\frac{60}{32}\right]$$
= 30 + 15 + 7 + 3 + 1 = 56$$= 30 + 15 + 7 + 3 + 1 = 56$$
Thus, 60!$60!$ contains 2⁵⁶$2^{56}$.
Step 2: Exponent of 5 in 60!
E₅(60!) = [(60)/(5)] + [(60)/(25)]$$E_5(60!) = \left[\frac{60}{5}\right] + \left[\frac{60}{25}\right]$$
= 12 + 2 = 14$= 12 + 2 = 14$
Thus, 60!$60!$ contains 5¹⁴$5^{14}$.
Step 3: Calculating Limiting Factor
From the factors, 60!$60!$ can be written as 2⁵⁶ × 5¹⁴ × K$2^{56} \times 5^{14} \times K$.
We need to construct factors of 40 = 2³ × 5$40 = 2^3 \times 5$.
From 2⁵⁶$2^{56}$, we can form (2³)¹⁸$(2^3)^{18}$ with a remainder, so 2³$2^3$ limits at 18$18$.
From 5¹⁴$5^{14}$, we can form 5¹⁴$5^{14}$, so 5$5$ limits at 14$14$.
The limiting factor is the exponent of 5$5$, which is 14$14$.
Therefore, the maximum value of n$n$ is 14$14$.
Pattern Recognition
For a composite base C = p₁a₁ p₂a₂$C = p_1^{a_1} p_2^{a_2}$, the highest power is ( [ Ep₁(n!)a₁ ], [ Ep₂(n!)a₂ ] )$\min \left( \left[ \frac{E_{p_1}(n!)}{a_1} \right], \left[ \frac{E_{p_2}(n!)}{a_2} \right] \right)$. Generally, the larger prime (here 5$5$) dictates the bottleneck.
Chapter Mix
Class 11 Maths: Permutations and Combinations
Class 11 Maths: Number Theory