Mathematics Problem Of the Week

Spring 2004

POW 6

Calculator’s broke!

(That calculator’s been dropped one time too many…)

Solve the following problems without the aid of an electronic computational device, (an abacus is ok).

1). Prove that

is an integer and compute its value.

2). Determine the positive numbers a such that

is an integer and compute the induced values.

Due Friday, March 5^th at Noon.

Solutions should be submitted to Dr. Dan Gagliardi’s mailbox in the Math office or sent via e-mail to dgagliardi@stlawu.edu.

Presentation counts! The prize-winning entry will be selected from all correct submissions, based on the clarity, creativity and elegance of the solution.

Look for the SLU POW on the Web at http://it.stlawu.edu/~math/activities/