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Question 6728: Reported Factorials versus Exact Values and Recurrence

On this page
  1. Original question and givens
  2. Definition and scope
  3. Step-by-step derivation
  4. Reverse checks
  5. Result
  6. This question review and source binding

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R0012-06728 · q-20261010-advance-20261014-r05-factorial-0053

Original question and givens

N begins at 0, F(0)=0!=1, and factorials use exact integer arithmetic, not floating point. n=2; candidate decimal integer strings u=2, v=7. Give (actual F(n), actual F(n+1), u−F(n), v−(n+1)u, are both reports correct?).

  • G001 — N begins at 0, F(0)=0!=1, and factorials use exact integer arithmetic, not floating point. n=2; candidate decimal integer strings u=2, v=7. Give (actual F(n), actual F(n+1), u−F(n), v−(n+1)u, are both reports correct?).

Definition and scope

Use the original question domain, assumptions and cited MKO definitions. This item has second-context mathematical and bilingual review, with the model, answer and every arithmetic step independently recomputed from the original parameters; the source question remains a candidate.

Step-by-step derivation

S001 · implies

Before

N includes0;F(0)=1;F(j)=j·F(j−1)

After

exact integer products,not floating values or a permutation proof

Conditions: none

Use empty product1 and integer factor multiplication,retaining large values exactly.This finite recurrence audit is not a general proof of permutation counting.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: exact_factorial_protocol · Uses: G001

S002 · implies

Before

actual factorial:start at F(0)

After

F(0)=1

Conditions: none

The product of zero factors is1,not0;this is the successor recurrence's base.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: factorial_empty_product_base · Uses: G001, S001

S003 · calculation

Before

actual factorial through factor1 := mul(1, 1)

After

actual factorial through factor1 = 1

Conditions: none

Multiply the preceding factorial by the new positive integer factor,retaining every exact intermediate.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: exact_rational_arithmetic · Uses: G001, S002

S004 · calculation

Before

actual factorial through factor2 := mul(1, 2)

After

actual factorial through factor2 = 2

Conditions: none

Multiply the preceding factorial by the new positive integer factor,retaining every exact intermediate.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: exact_rational_arithmetic · Uses: G001, S003

S005 · calculation

Before

true successor factorial := mul(3, 2)

After

true successor factorial = 6

Conditions: none

Compute F(n+1)=(n+1)F(n).

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: exact_rational_arithmetic · Uses: G001, S004

S006 · calculation

Before

reported u minus true factorial := sub(2, 2)

After

reported u minus true factorial = 0

Conditions: none

Compare reported u with the independently computed true factorial,not merely consistency between the reports.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: exact_rational_arithmetic · Uses: G001, S005

S007 · calculation

Before

successor predicted from reported u := mul(3, 2)

After

successor predicted from reported u = 6

Conditions: none

Form the candidate successor from reported u,separate from the true successor.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: exact_rational_arithmetic · Uses: G001, S006

S008 · calculation

Before

reported successor recurrence defect := sub(7, 6)

After

reported successor recurrence defect = 1

Conditions: none

The recurrence defect is v−(n+1)u;it may be0 while both reports are wrong.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: exact_rational_arithmetic · Uses: G001, S007

S009 · implies

Before

true values=(2,6);reports=(2,7);defects=(0,1)

After

both reports true=No

Conditions: none

Check both true F(n) and true F(n+1);a zero self-reported recurrence defect is not evidence.The original decimal strings remain retained.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: factorial_report_requires_true_anchor · Uses: G001, S008

Reverse checks

  • S009 · premise_and_result_audit — Check against the original data and this step's premises; a one-way implication is not an equivalence.
  • S008 · premise_and_result_audit — Recompute reported successor recurrence defect with exact rational arithmetic, not rounded decimals.
  • S007 · premise_and_result_audit — Recompute successor predicted from reported u with exact rational arithmetic, not rounded decimals.
  • S006 · premise_and_result_audit — Recompute reported u minus true factorial with exact rational arithmetic, not rounded decimals.
  • S005 · premise_and_result_audit — Recompute true successor factorial with exact rational arithmetic, not rounded decimals.
  • S004 · premise_and_result_audit — Recompute actual factorial through factor2 with exact rational arithmetic, not rounded decimals.
  • S003 · premise_and_result_audit — Recompute actual factorial through factor1 with exact rational arithmetic, not rounded decimals.
  • S002 · premise_and_result_audit — Check against the original data and this step's premises; a one-way implication is not an equivalence.
  • S001 · premise_and_result_audit — Check against the original data and this step's premises; a one-way implication is not an equivalence.

Result

(2, 6, 0, 1, No)

The full substitutions and premise checks give the original answer; source identity,format and status are unchanged.

This question review and source binding

Review date: 2026-10-26

Original questions, answers, step expressions, numeric ASTs and historical records are retained. Source candidate labels remain historical and are not overwritten as formal proof.

Source hashes and review receipts
  • input commit: 0f7be61e2c22317a4075561dc822c87d881a50db
  • original question SHA-256: 00c2a11d1e6471d28cd654b7132966ddcbb264d844eb37c1a74d2c2d5b023439
  • candidate record SHA-256: fbea13208566edd9aaa84eae9bb85ddac03bffab24d1a88887786db098cec612
  • semantic review receipt SHA-256: 90dbc494b2d34ef51f412dcff63cfcc1a2215d038bff71f38f5dded4c64faf00
  • question-first witness SHA-256: b72a3b8bcf10f584396e0dd5198c657b0934a71864e5a3fa6321d7a613aef9f9
  • Lean: NOT_RUN · human review: NOT_PERFORMED
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