A generalization of a theorem of Nagell (Q5920198)
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scientific article; zbMATH DE number 7058261
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English | A generalization of a theorem of Nagell |
scientific article; zbMATH DE number 7058261 |
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A generalization of a theorem of Nagell (English)
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23 May 2019
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Let $n$ be a positive integer. \textit{L. Theisinger} [Monatsh. f. Math. 26, 132--134 (1915; JFM 45.0419.01)] proved that the $n$-th harmonic sum $1+\frac{1}{2}+\dots+\frac{1}{n}$ is never an integer if $n\ge 2$. \textit{T. Nagell} [Skr. Norske Vid. Akad. Kristiania 13, 10--15 (1923; JFM 52.0140.03)] generalized Theisinger's theorem from the sequence of positive integers to general arithmetic progressions by showing that, if $a$ and $b$ are positive integers and $n\ge 2$, then the reciprocal sum $\sum_{k=1}^n \frac{1}{a+(k-1)b}$ is not an integer. \textit{P. Erdős and I. Niven} [Bull. Amer. Math. Soc. 52, 248--251 (1946; Zbl 0061.06502)] proved that, for a sufficiently large positive integer $n$, no elementary symmetric function of $1, \frac{1}{2},\dots, \frac{1}{n}$ is an integer. \par In the paper under review the authors generalize Nagell's theorem by showing that, for arbitrary positive integers $n, a, b, s_1,\dots, s_n$, the reciprocal power sum $$\sum_{k=1}^n \frac{1}{(a+(k-1)b)^{s_k}}$$ is never an integer if $n\ge 2$.
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$p$-adic valuation
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arithmetic progression
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reciprocal power sum
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Bertrand's postulate
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integrality
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