Re^2: A bad shuffle

[tlm]

N^N-1/(N-1)! is not an integer for any integer N > 2, so it is not the case that N! | N^N, except for N=1 and N=2.

the lowliest monk

Update: Here's a proof of the assertion made above. I'm sure there are better proofs of it, but this is the best I could come up with.

Assume that N > 2, and let p be the largest prime in the prime factorization of N. There are three cases to consider. Suppose first that p is 2. Then, by assumption, N is a power of 2 greater than or equal to 4. Therefore, 3 is a factor of N!, and consequently N! does not divide N^N. Next, suppose that p > 2. If N = p^k for some nonnegative integer k, then N is odd and not divisible by N! whose prime factorization includes 2. This leaves the case in which p > 2, and is not the sole prime factor of N. In this case N >= 2 p. By Bertrand's postulate there exists a prime q such that p < q < 2 p <= N. Therefore, there is a factor of N!, namely q, that does not divide N^s, for any positive integer s. Therefore, N! does not divide N^N, for all N > 2.