| − | Given a prime number p the '''p-adic value''' is the function, denoted <math>v_p</math> which takes as its argument a natural number n and returns the power of p appearing in the prime factorization of that number (equivalently, the highest power of p which divides n): | + | Given a [[prime number]] p the '''p-adic value''' is the function, denoted <math>v_p</math> which takes as its argument a natural number n and returns the power of p appearing in the [[prime factorization]] of that number (equivalently, the highest power of p which divides n): |
| | <math>v_p(x)=\max\{n:p^n\mid x\}</math>. For example, the p-adic values of 60 for p=2,3,5,7,11,13... are 2,1,1,0,0,0,.... | | <math>v_p(x)=\max\{n:p^n\mid x\}</math>. For example, the p-adic values of 60 for p=2,3,5,7,11,13... are 2,1,1,0,0,0,.... |