TITLE: (1) Sum of two factorials in two ways; (2) Value of $a^{2010}+a^{2010}+1$ given $a^4+a^3+a^2+a+1=0$.
QUESTION [6 upvotes]: Question $1$:
Does there exist an integer $z$ that can be written in two different ways as $z=x!+y!$,where $x,y\in \mathbb N$ and $x\leq y$?

Answer: $0!=1!$ so $0!+2!=3=1!+2!$

Question $2$:
If $a^4+a^3+a^2+a+1=0$, find the  value of $a^{2010}+a^{2010}+1$.

Answer: If $a^4+a^3+a^2+a+1=0$ then $$(a-1)(a^4+a^3+a^2+a+1)=0\implies a^5-1=0\implies a=1$$So the value of the required expression is $3$

I think that it is wrong as  at $a=1$,$\frac{a^5-1}{a-1}$ is not defined.
Please give me some hints  to solve thes problems?

REPLY [5 votes]: The second solution is not so wrong 
$a^5-1=0$ has five solutions, the five complex fifth roots of unity. Namely
$$\left(a_0=1,\;a_1 = -\frac{1}{4}-\frac{\sqrt{5}}{4}-i \sqrt{\frac{5}{8}-\frac{\sqrt{5}}{8}},\;a_2 = -\frac{1}{4}+\frac{\sqrt{5}}{4}+i \sqrt{\frac{5}{8}+\frac{\sqrt{5}}{8}},\\a_3 = -\frac{1}{4}+\frac{\sqrt{5}}{4}-i \sqrt{\frac{5}{8}+\frac{\sqrt{5}}{8}},\;a_4 = -\frac{1}{4}-\frac{\sqrt{5}}{4}+i \sqrt{\frac{5}{8}-\frac{\sqrt{5}}{8}}\right)$$
One of them, $a=1$, is not a root of the fourth degree equation 
$$a^4+a^3+a^2+a+1=0$$
but the other four actually are because $$a^5-1=(a-1)(a^4+a^3+a^2+a+1)$$
So plugging $a^5=1$ in the $a^{2000}+a^{2010}+1$  is perfectly legal and the actual result is  $3$
Hope this is useful