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Find all $n\in\mathbb{Z}^+$ such that the sum of the digits of $5^n$ equals $2^n$

Starting with a table of values, I found that $n=3$ works. Beyond this, it's hard to imagine any other number working. As $n$ gets larger, it seems to me that $2^n$ grows far more rapidly than the sum of the digits of $5^n$ would ever be able to "catch up" to.

My reasoning: multiplying by each $2$ doubles $2^n$, but multiplying by each $5$ adds (I think) at most $1$ digit to $5^n$, which would add at most $9$ to the sum of the digits of $5^n$. Another way of looking at it, suppose $n=1000000$. Notice that $5^{1000000}<10^{1000000}$, which is $1$ with $1000000$ zeros. Thus $5^{1000000}$ has at most $1000000$ digits, and the sum of its digits would be maximized if those digits were all $9$s. Then the sum of the digits of $5^n$ would be $9\cdot1000000=9000000$, which is far less than the number $2^{1000000}$.

But is there a way to prove this using theory?

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    $\begingroup$ Sounds like you already have the theory to me. What specific difficulty are you encountering trying to write this up as a general argument? (i.e. not just about $n=1000000$). $\endgroup$
    – Erick Wong
    Mar 29, 2015 at 16:09
  • $\begingroup$ Indeed, try to find the smallest $n$ such that $9\cdot n\log_{10}5 < 2^n$. In otherwords, the smallest $n$ for which the sum of digits of $5^n$ is always smaller than $2^n$ regardless what the digits actually are. $\endgroup$
    – JMoravitz
    Mar 29, 2015 at 16:10
  • $\begingroup$ @ErickWong Thank you, but my thinking (to me) is just "informal" and I don't think it's acceptable as a proof. $\endgroup$
    – yroc
    Mar 29, 2015 at 16:12
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    $\begingroup$ One method would be induction. Show that, if $9n<2^n$, then $9(n+1)<2^{n+1}$ as well. You also need a starting-point, as JMoravitz says. $\endgroup$
    – Empy2
    Mar 29, 2015 at 16:13
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    $\begingroup$ That is a different question @Elaqqad, where it compares sum of digits of $5^n$ to sum of digits of $2^n$, whereas in this question we are comparing sum of digits of $5^n$ to the number $2^n$ itself. $\endgroup$
    – JMoravitz
    Mar 29, 2015 at 16:23

2 Answers 2

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The number of digits of $5^n$ is $\leq n$. So, their sum is $\leq 9n$.

If $n\geq6$, $2^n>9n$. Therefore, we only need to test it for $n=1,2,3,4,5$

Out of those, it is only true for $n=3$.

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  • $\begingroup$ @I like your answer but, in a proof, is it not necessary to justify "the number of digits of $5^n\le n$" $\endgroup$
    – yroc
    Mar 29, 2015 at 16:31
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    $\begingroup$ I skipped it since I thought it was obvious. But it is possible to prove it. $$ $$ The number of digits of a positive integer is an increasing function (Let's write is a $d(n)$). So $$\forall n\geq 1:d(5^n)\leq d(10^n-1)=d(10^n)-1=n+1-1=n$$ $\endgroup$
    – Kitegi
    Mar 29, 2015 at 16:47
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    $\begingroup$ @yroc Note that Farnight's proof exactly follows your ad hoc argument that $5^{1000000} < 10^{1000000}$ is $1$ with $1000000$ zeroes, so it has at most $1000000$ digits. Very often the essence of writing a proof is to take something "obvious for one number" like this and distilling it so it becomes clear for all values of $n$ (or making it clear exactly which $n$ the same lline of reasoning applies to). It's a skill that I'd encourage you to cultivate. $\endgroup$
    – Erick Wong
    Mar 29, 2015 at 17:10
  • $\begingroup$ @ErickWong That's good advice; thank you kindly. $\endgroup$
    – yroc
    Mar 29, 2015 at 19:56
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Hint: Digital sum of a number $x$ in base $10$ is given by,

$$ \sum_{n=0}^{\lfloor{\log_{10}(x)}\rfloor} \frac{1}{10^n} (x \bmod 10^{n+1} - x \bmod 10^n) $$

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  • $\begingroup$ @Hmm, good formula to know! Thanks. $\endgroup$
    – yroc
    Mar 29, 2015 at 16:36

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