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1992 AIME Problems/Problem 15

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Problem

Define a positive integer n^{}_{} to be a factorial tail if there is some positive integer m^{}_{} such that the decimal representation of m! ends with exactly n zeroes. How many positiive integers less than 1992 are not factorial tails?

Solution

The number of zeros at the end of m! is f(m) = \left\lfloor \frac{m}{5} \right\rfloor + \left\lfloor \frac{m}{25} \right\rfloor + \left\lfloor \frac{m}{125} \right\r....

Note that if m is a multiple of 5, f(m) = f(m+1) = f(m+2) = f(m+3) = f(m+4).

Since f(m) \le \frac{m}{5} + \frac{m}{25} + \frac{m}{125} + \cdots  = \frac{m}{4}, a value of m such that f(m) = 1991 is greater than 7964. Testing values greater than this yields f(7975)=1991.

There are \frac{7975}{5} = 1595 distinct positive integers, f(m), less than 1992. Thus, there are 1991-1595 = \boxed{396} positive integers less than 1992 than are not factorial tails.

See also

1992 AIME (ProblemsResources)
Preceded by
Problem 14
Followed by
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