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let $a_{i},i=1,2,\cdots,n$ be postive integer ,show that $$1^{n-1}2^{n-2}\cdots (n-2)^2(n-1)|\prod_{1\le i<j\le n}(a_{i}-a_{j})$$

I know this $\prod_{1\le i<j\le n}(a_{i}-a_{j})$ is Vandermonde determinants,and I found $$1^{n-1}2^{n-2}\cdots (n-2)^2\cdot (n-1)=1!2!3!\cdots (n-1)!=\prod_{1\le i<j\le n}(j-i)$$ we only prove $$\prod_{1\le i<j\le n}\dfrac{a_{j}-a_{i}}{j-i}$$ is integer

maybe consider Vandermonde determinants ? But I can't prove this

math110
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1 Answers1

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There are many ways to prove that this number is an integer. For example, it has representation-theoretic and combinatorial interpretations.

Your idea also leads to a solution. We want to prove that $\det\bigl(\frac{a_i^{j-1}}{(j-1)!}\bigr)$ is an integer. Idea: while $x^k/k!$ is not always an integer, there is a deformation $$ \frac{x^{\downarrow k}}{k!}:=\frac{x(x-1)\ldots(x-k+1)}{k!}=\binom xk $$ which is always an integer.

Now $\det(a_i^{j-1})=\det(a_i^{\downarrow j-1})$ (in general, if each $P_k$ is a polynomial with leading term $x^k$ then $\det P_{j-1}(x_i)=\det x_i^{j-1}$). So $\det\bigl(\frac{a_i^{j-1}}{(j-1)!}\bigr)=\det\left(\binom{a_i}{j-1}\right)$ which is manifestly an integer.

Grigory M
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