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Find n if (n + 1)! = 16n! + 16(n-1)!

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Explanation:

(n+1)! = (n+1)n(n-1)(n-2)...×3×2

16n! = 16n(n-1)(n-2)...×3×2

16(n-1)! = 16(n-1)(n-2)...×3×2

we can now divide both sides by (n-1)! and get

(n+1)n = 16n + 16

n² + n = 16n + 16

n² - 15n - 16 = 0

1×n² - 15n - 16 = 0

we try to bring this into a form

(n + a)(n - b)

one factor has to contain "-", because we have "-16".

and because -15 = 1 - 16, we see that

a = 1

b = 16

n² - 15n - 16 = (n + 1)(n - 16)

and that is 0, when at least one of the factors is 0, because 0×... = 0.

so, the solutions are

n = -1

n = 16

n = -1 does not make any sense for n!

so, n = 16 is the solution.

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