Friday, 21 August 2015

discrete mathematics - Prove that n3+5n is divisible by 6 by using induction




Prove that for integers n>0, n3+5n is divisible by 6.



Here is what I have done:



Base Step: n=1, 13+5(1)=6



Inductive Step:



p(k)=k3+5k=6m, m is some integer




p(k+1)=(k+1)3+5(k+1)=6m m is some integer



Since both are equal to 6m I set them equal to each other.



k3+5k=(k+1)3+5(k+1)



k3+5k=(k+1)[(k+1)2+5]



Proven that p(k)=p(k+1)




I do not think this is the correct way of proving this problem but I couldn't think of anything else.


Answer



Hint: (k+1)3+5(k+1)=(k3+5k)+3k2+3k+6



Since (k3+5k) is divisible by 6, all you have to prove is 3k2+3k+6 is divisible by 6 too. Since adding 6 does not change divisibility, you just have to proove 3k(k+1) is divisible by 6. Think about even and odd numbers.


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