×

Chicken McNuggets Theorem

It states that if gcd(m,n)=1 and m,n are natural numbers, then the largest number that cannot be written as the sum am+bn, where a,b are non-negative integers, is mn-m-n. Also, the number of mumbers that cannot be written in this form is (m-1)(n-1)/2. How does one prove this?

Note by Shourya Pandey
4 years, 9 months ago

MarkdownAppears as
*italics* or _italics_ italics
**bold** or __bold__ bold
- bulleted- list
• bulleted
• list
1. numbered2. list
1. numbered
2. list
Note: you must add a full line of space before and after lists for them to show up correctly
paragraph 1paragraph 2

paragraph 1

paragraph 2

[example link](https://brilliant.org)example link
> This is a quote
This is a quote
    # I indented these lines
# 4 spaces, and now they show
# up as a code block.

print "hello world"
# I indented these lines
# 4 spaces, and now they show
# up as a code block.

print "hello world"
MathAppears as
Remember to wrap math in $$...$$ or $...$ to ensure proper formatting.
2 \times 3 $$2 \times 3$$
2^{34} $$2^{34}$$
a_{i-1} $$a_{i-1}$$
\frac{2}{3} $$\frac{2}{3}$$
\sqrt{2} $$\sqrt{2}$$
\sum_{i=1}^3 $$\sum_{i=1}^3$$
\sin \theta $$\sin \theta$$
\boxed{123} $$\boxed{123}$$

Sort by:

Its a nice theorem , and P14 in 104 number theory problems . For the proof , this link would help: AOPS-Chicken McNugget Theorem

- 4 years, 9 months ago

Can you add this to the Brilliant Wiki of Chicken Mcnugget Theorem? Thanks!

Staff - 3 years, 2 months ago

Sure , i will add , with good description in 3-4 days.

- 3 years, 2 months ago