# Math Help - Number of trailing zero?

1. ## Number of trailing zero?

Find the number of trailing zeros in the ordinary decimal representation of the number:

2. ## Re: Number of trailing zero?

Hello, musngiburger!

Find the number of trailing zeros in the ordinary decimal representation of the number: . ${123\choose45}$

We have: . ${123\choose45} \:=\:\frac{123!}{45!\,78!}$

The numerator is: . $79\cdot80\cdot81\,\cdots\, 123$

The denominator is: . $1\cdot2\cdot3\,\cdots\,45$

The number of trailing zeros depends on the number of factors-of-5
. . that remain in the numerator after reducing the fraction.

The numbers in the numerator which have a factor-of-5 are:
. . $80,85,90,95,100,105,110,115,120$
There are ten factors-of-5. .(100 has two.)

The numbers in the denominator which have a factor of 5 are:
. . $5,10,15,20,25,30,35,40,45$
There are ten factors-of-5. .(25 has two.)

We find that all the factors-of-5 cancel out.

Therefore, there are no trailing zeros in ${123\choose45}$