Q.Show that 9n+1−8n−9 is divisible by 64, whenever n is a positive integer.
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🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Concept understanding — Proof By Induction
Proof by Induction: From Dominoes to Certainty
Imagine you have an infinite line of dominoes standing upright. You want to be absolutely sure that every single domino will fall. How would you prove it?
You'd need two things:
- The first domino falls — you push it.
- If any domino falls, the next one falls too — they are close enough to knock each other over.
That's it. If both conditions hold, you know — without checking each domino individually — that every domino will eventually fall. This is the core intuition behind proof by induction.
The Problem Induction Solves
Many mathematical statements involve natural numbers (1,2,3,…) and claim something is true for all of them. For example:
The sum of the first n odd numbers equals n2.
You could check: 1=12, 1+3=22, 1+3+5=32, 1+3+5+7=42... but you can never check infinitely many cases. Induction gives you a way to prove it in just two steps.
The Precise Structure
Let P(n) be a statement about a natural number n (like "the sum of the first n odd numbers is n2"). To prove P(n) is true for all n≥1, you need:
Principle of Mathematical Induction
[P(1) is true]and[P(k)⟹P(k+1) for all k≥1]⟹P(n) is true for all n≥1
The two parts have names:
- Base case: Prove P(1) is true. (The first domino falls.)
- Inductive step: Assume P(k) is true for some arbitrary k≥1, and prove P(k+1) follows. (If domino k falls, domino k+1 falls too.)
The assumption "P(k) is true" is called the inductive hypothesis.
A Worked Example
Let's prove: 1+3+5+⋯+(2n−1)=n2 for all n≥1.
Base case (n=1):
Left side: 1
Right side: 12=1
So P(1) is true.
Inductive step:
Assume P(k) is true for some k≥1:
1+3+5+⋯+(2k−1)=k2
We want to prove P(k+1):
1+3+5+⋯+(2k−1)+(2(k+1)−1)=(k+1)2
Start from the left side of P(k+1):
[1+3+⋯+(2k−1)]+(2k+1)
Replace the bracketed sum using the inductive hypothesis:
k2+(2k+1)
Simplify:
k2+2k+1=(k+1)2
That's exactly the right side of P(k+1). So P(k)⟹P(k+1) is proved.
Since both conditions hold, P(n) is true for all n≥1.
The inductive step does not assume P(k+1) is true — that would be circular. It assumes P(k) and deduces P(k+1).
Why It Works (The Logic)
Induction is a domino chain of implications:
- P(1) is true (base).
- P(1)⟹P(2) (inductive step with k=1), so P(2) is true.
- P(2)⟹P(3) (inductive step with k=2), so P(3) is true.
- P(3)⟹P(4), so P(4) is true.
- ... and so on, forever.
You never need to check infinitely many cases. The inductive step acts as a "machine" that, given any true P(k), produces P(k+1). The base case feeds the machine the first truth, and the machine keeps running forever. …
Concept: Proof by mathematical induction.
Step 1 – Base case (n=1):
92−8(1)−9=81−8−9=64, which is divisible by 64.
Step 2 – Induction hypothesis:
Assume for some n=k that 9k+1−8k−9=64m, where m is an integer.
Step 3 – Induction step (n=k+1):
Consider 9(k+1)+1−8(k+1)−9=9k+2−8k−17.
Rewrite 9k+2=9⋅9k+1. Using the hypothesis, 9k+1=64m+8k+9, so
9k+2=9(64m+8k+9)=576m+72k+81. …
We prove by induction that 9n+1−8n−9 is always a multiple of 64 for every positive integer n. The base case n=1 gives 64, and the inductive step uses the binomial expansion of 9k+1 to show the difference between successive terms is a multiple of 64.
Why induction fits perfectly
When a statement claims something holds "for all positive integers n", induction is often the cleanest tool. The idea is simple: show it works for the smallest case (usually n=1), then prove that if it works for some n=k, it must also work for n=k+1. That chain reaction covers every positive integer.
Here, we need to show 64 divides 9n+1−8n−9. The expression mixes an exponential term 9n+1 with a linear term −8n. Induction lets us handle the exponential jump neatly by relating 9k+2 to 9k+1.
Step-by-step proof
1. Base case: n=1
Plug n=1 into the expression:
91+1−8(1)−9=92−8−9=81−17=64
64 is clearly divisible by 64. So the statement holds for n=1.
2. Inductive hypothesis
Assume that for some positive integer k, the statement is true:
9k+1−8k−9=64mfor some integer m
This means 9k+1=64m+8k+9.
3. Inductive step: prove for n=k+1
We need to show that 9(k+1)+1−8(k+1)−9 is also a multiple of 64.
Write the expression for n=k+1:
9k+2−8(k+1)−9=9k+2−8k−8−9=9k+2−8k−17
Now relate 9k+2 to 9k+1:
9k+2=9⋅9k+1
Using the inductive hypothesis 9k+1=64m+8k+9, we get:
9k+2=9(64m+8k+9)=9⋅64m+72k+81
So the expression becomes:
(9⋅64m+72k+81)−8k−17=9⋅64m+(72k−8k)+(81−17)
Simplify:
=9⋅64m+64k+64
Factor 64 out:
=64(9m+k+1) …
Showing the 12 most recent of 15 on this concept.
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-14-FN1 markMCQQ.For n∈N, 12+22+32+⋯+n2> (A) n3 (B) 2n3 (C) 3n3 (D) 3n3
›Reveal solutionSolution
The sum of squares 12+22+⋯+n2 grows like 3n3, so for large n it exceeds 3n3 but is less than 2n3; the only option it is always greater than is 3n3, making (C) the correct choice.
The key idea is to compare the sum of squares to a simple cubic expression. We know the exact formula:
12+22+⋯+n2=6n(n+1)(2n+1).
But we don’t need the exact formula to reason about inequalities — we just need to know the leading term. The sum of k2 from k=1 to n behaves like 3n3 for large n, because the integral ∫0nx2dx=n3/3 approximates it. So the sum is roughly n3/3, and we can check which of the given options it is always greater than.
Let’s test each option step by step.
-
Option (A): n3
For n=1, the sum is 1, and n3=1, so the sum is not greater (it’s equal). For n=2, sum =1+4=5, n3=8, so 5<8. So the sum is not always greater than n3. Eliminate (A).
-
Option (B): 2n3
For n=1, sum =1, n3/2=0.5, so 1>0.5 — okay. For n=2, sum =5, n3/2=4, so 5>4 — okay. For n=3, sum =14, n3/2=13.5, so 14>13.5 — still okay. But check n=4: sum =30, n3/2=32, so 30<32. So it fails for n=4. Eliminate (B).
-
Option (C): 3n3
Test small n:
- n=1: sum =1, n3/3≈0.333, so 1>0.333.
- n=2: sum =5, n3/3≈2.667, so 5>2.667.
- n=3: sum =14, n3/3=9, so 14>9.
- n=4: sum =30, n3/3≈21.333, so 30>21.333. It seems always true. To be sure, use the exact formula:
6n(n+1)(2n+1)>3n3
Multiply both sides by 6:
n(n+1)(2n+1)>2n3
Expand left: n(2n2+3n+1)=2n3+3n2+n. …
-
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-14-AN1 markMCQQ.The divisor of 36n+56n−1 ∀ n∈N is (A) 729 (B) 625 (C) 676 (D) 784
›Reveal solutionSolution
36n+56n−1 is a classic "(1+k)n expansion minus a linear correction" divisibility identity; direct evaluation at small n shows it's always a multiple of 784=282.
Concept and Intuition
Expressions of the form an+bn−1 (here a=729=36) are divisible by b2 precisely when b=a−1, because the binomial expansion (1+(a−1))n=1+n(a−1)+(2n)(a−1)2+… gives an−1−n(a−1)=(2n)(a−1)2+…, a multiple of (a−1)2. Here a−1=728, and 56=728/13 is NOT quite a−1, so it isn't automatically the textbook identity — the safest and most reliable path for an MCQ is to just directly test the divisor candidates against computed values of the expression, which pins down the true common divisor without needing the full expansion argument.
Step-by-Step Solution
- At n=1: 36+56(1)−1=729+56−1=784.
- At n=2: 312+56(2)−1=531441+112−1=531552. Check 531552/784=678 exactly (since 784×678=531552), so 784 divides this value too.
- At n=3: 318+56(3)−1=387420489+168−1=387420656. Check 387420656/784=494159 exactly, confirming 784 divides it again. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-18-AN1 markMCQQ.∀n∈N, 12n(n+1)2(n+2)> (A) 12(n+2)4 (B) 12n4 (C) 2n4 (D) 3(2n+1)n
›Reveal solutionSolution
The inequality 12n(n+1)2(n+2)>12n4 holds for all natural numbers n, making option (B) the correct choice.
We are asked: for every natural number n, which of the four expressions is always less than the given left-hand side?
The key is to compare the growth rates and exact values of the expressions, not to solve an equation. Since the inequality must hold for all n∈N, we can test small values and also reason algebraically.
Concept & Intuition
The left-hand side is 12n(n+1)2(n+2). Notice that for large n, the leading term is 12n⋅n2⋅n=12n4. So the LHS behaves like 12n4 plus extra positive terms. That suggests the LHS is greater than 12n4 for all n. The other options either grow faster (like 12(n+2)4) or are much smaller (like 3(2n+1)n), so only one option is plausible.
Step-by-step reasoning
- Expand the LHS to see its leading term
n(n+1)2(n+2)=n(n2+2n+1)(n+2)
First multiply (n2+2n+1)(n+2)=n3+2n2+n+2n2+4n+2=n3+4n2+5n+2.
Then multiply by n:
n4+4n3+5n2+2n
So the LHS is 12n4+4n3+5n2+2n.
- Compare with option (B): 12n4 The difference is:
12n4+4n3+5n2+2n−12n4=124n3+5n2+2n
For any natural number n≥1, 4n3+5n2+2n>0, so the LHS is strictly greater than 12n4.
Hence option (B) is always true.
- Check option (A): 12(n+2)4 Expand (n+2)4=n4+8n3+24n2+32n+16. Compare with LHS numerator n4+4n3+5n2+2n: The difference (LHS minus option A) is:
12(n4+4n3+5n2+2n)−(n4+8n3+24n2+32n+16)=12−4n3−19n2−30n−16
This is negative for all n≥1, so LHS < option (A). Thus (A) is false.
- Check option (C): 2n4 Compare LHS 12n4+… with 2n4=126n4. The difference is 12n4+4n3+5n2+2n−6n4=12−5n4+4n3+5n2+2n. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-21-FN1 markMCQQ.For all n∈N, if 13+23+33+…+n3>x, then a value of x among the following is (A) 4n2 (B) n2 (C) n4 (D) 4n2(n+1)2
›Reveal solutionSolution
Using the closed form ∑k3=4n2(n+1)2, only x=4n2 is strictly less than this sum for every natural number n.
Concept and Intuition
The question asks which expression x can serve as a valid STRICT lower bound of the sum of cubes for every n. Since we know the sum exactly, this becomes an algebraic comparison: check, for each option, whether sum(n)−x(n)>0 for all n≥1 (not just for large n, and not merely ≥0).
Step-by-Step Solution
- Recall the identity: 13+23+⋯+n3=(2n(n+1))2=4n2(n+1)2.
- Option (D) 4n2(n+1)2: this equals the sum exactly, so "sum > this" is never true (equality, not strict inequality) — rejected.
- Option (B) n2: at n=1, sum =1 and n2=1; sum is NOT >n2 here (equality) — rejected as a universal strict bound.
- Option (C) n4: compare 4n2(n+1)2 to n4. Their difference is 4n2(n+1)2−4n4=4n2[(n+1)2−4n2]=4n2(1−n)(3n+1), which is negative for n≥2 (since 1−n<0 there) — so sum <n4 for n≥2; rejected. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-22-FN1 markMCQQ.For all n∈N, 23n−1≥ (A) n2(2n/2) (B) n2(32n−1) (C) n3(32n−1) (D) n(32n−1)
›Reveal solutionSolution
A "which bound is valid" induction-style inequality question — resolved by direct numeric testing across the four candidates, since the exponential-vs-polynomial growth rates make the true bound obvious once you compare a few terms.
Concept and Intuition
When four polynomial-times-exponential expressions are offered as lower bounds for 23n−1, the fastest reliable method is to plug in small n and eliminate any candidate that ever exceeds the left side — because a true lower bound must hold for every n∈N, a single violation kills a candidate.
Step-by-Step Solution
- At n=1: LHS =23−1=1. Candidate (A) =12⋅21/2≈1.414>1 — fails already, (A) eliminated.
- At n=2: LHS =29−1=4. Candidate (B) =22⋅30.5≈6.93>4 — fails, (B) eliminated. Candidate (C) =23⋅30.5≈13.86>4 — fails, (C) eliminated.
- Candidate (D) at n=2: 2⋅30.5≈3.46≤4 — holds.
- Check (D) further: n=3, LHS =13, (D) =3⋅31=9≤13 ✓. n=4, LHS =40, (D) =4⋅31.5≈20.8≤40 ✓. n=5, LHS=121, (D)=5⋅32=45≤121 ✓. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-24-FN1 markMCQQ.For all n∈N, if n(n2+3) is divisible by k, then the maximum value of k is (A) 4 (B) 6 (C) 8 (D) 2
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests finding the largest k that divides n(n2+3) for every natural number n — you need the GCD across all n, not just one case.
Concept and Intuition
The question asks for the greatest common divisor of n3+3n as n ranges over all naturals. A common trap is to test only one or two values and conclude a bigger number like 4 or 6 works — but "divisible by k for all n" requires k to divide every instance, so a single counterexample kills a candidate.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Compute n(n2+3) for the first several naturals:
- n=1: 1(1+3)=4
- n=2: 2(4+3)=14
- n=3: 3(9+3)=36
- n=4: 4(16+3)=76
- n=5: 5(25+3)=140
- n=6: 6(36+3)=234
- Any valid k must divide all of these. gcd(4,14)=2. Check the rest: 36/2=18, 76/2=38, 140/2=70, 234/2=117 — all divide evenly by 2.
- Test whether 4 works: 14/4=3.5, not an integer, so k=4 fails. …
- Compute n(n2+3) for the first several naturals:
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-27-FN1 markMCQQ.The remainder obtained when (2m+1)2n (m,n∈N) is divided by 8 is (A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4
›Reveal solutionSolution
The square of any odd integer is always 1 more than a multiple of 8 — a standard number-theory fact. Raising that to any further power n keeps the remainder at 1. Answer: remainder 1.
Concept and Intuition
2m+1 is the general form of an odd integer. A key fact in elementary number theory: the square of any odd integer, divided by 8, always leaves remainder 1. This is because consecutive odd numbers can be paired as (2m+1) and (2m+1)2=4m2+4m+1=4m(m+1)+1, and m(m+1) is always a product of two consecutive integers, hence always even — so 4m(m+1) is always a multiple of 8.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Expand (2m+1)2=4m2+4m+1=4m(m+1)+1.
- m(m+1) is a product of two consecutive integers, so one of them is always even ⇒ m(m+1)=2k for some integer k.
- So (2m+1)2=4(2k)+1=8k+1, i.e. (2m+1)2≡1(mod8).
- Now (2m+1)2n=[(2m+1)2]n≡1n=1(mod8) for every natural number n. …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-18-FN1 markMCQQ.For all positive integers 'n' if 3(52n+1)+23n+1 is divisible by k, then the number of prime numbers less than or equal to k is (A) 17 (B) 6 (C) 7 (D) 8
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests a modular-arithmetic divisibility identity (3⋅52n+1+23n+1 is always divisible by 17), followed by counting primes up to that value k=17, giving 7 primes.
Concept and Intuition
Many 'always divisible by k' problems can be cracked cleanly by writing the expression in a form where a common factor emerges directly, rather than relying on induction. Here, expressing 52n+1=5⋅(52)n=5⋅25n and 23n+1=2⋅(23)n=2⋅8n, and noting that 25≡8(mod17), lets both terms collapse to multiples of the same power 8n, revealing the factor of 17 explicitly.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Rewrite the expression: 3⋅52n+1+23n+1=3⋅5⋅(52)n+2⋅(23)n=15⋅25n+2⋅8n.
- Note 25=17+8, so modulo 17, 25≡8. Hence 25n≡8n(mod17).
- Substitute: 15⋅25n+2⋅8n≡15⋅8n+2⋅8n=17⋅8n≡0(mod17).
- So for every positive integer n, the expression is divisible by 17. (Quick check at n=1: 3⋅53+24=375+16=391=17×23 ✓.) …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-20-AN1 markMCQQ.If 2⋅42n+1+33n+1 is divisible by k for all n∈N, then k= (A) 209 (B) 11 (C) 8 (D) 3
›Reveal solutionSolution
Rewriting the expression as 8⋅16n+3⋅27n and reducing mod 11 (where 16≡27≡5) shows it always equals 11⋅5n, hence always divisible by 11.
Concept and Intuition
To find a universal divisor of an expression depending on n, it helps to reduce each power modulo the candidate k and see if the combination collapses to a multiple of k for every n — this both proves the divisibility (algebraically, not just by testing values) and identifies exactly which k works.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Rewrite: 2⋅42n+1=2⋅4⋅42n=8⋅(42)n=8⋅16n, and 33n+1=3⋅(33)n=3⋅27n.
- So the expression is 8⋅16n+3⋅27n.
- Modulo 11: 16=11+5≡5, and 27=22+5≡5. So 8⋅16n+3⋅27n≡8⋅5n+3⋅5n=11⋅5n≡0(mod11) for all n. …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-22-AN1 markMCQQ.If P is the greatest divisor of 49n+16n−1 for all n∈N, then the number of factors of P is (A) 12 (B) 15 (C) 7 (D) 13
›Reveal solutionSolution
Binomial-expand 49n=(48+1)n to show 64 always divides the expression, and the n=1 case shows 64 is exactly the greatest such divisor; 64=26 has 7 factors.
Concept and Intuition
To find the greatest number dividing an expression for every natural number n, a standard trick is to rewrite the base as (a multiple of some number) +1, so the binomial expansion isolates that number as a common factor of every non-constant term. Here writing 49=48+1 lets every term except the constant carry a factor of 48 (or a higher power of 48), which combines nicely with the linear 16n term.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Write 49n=(48+1)n=∑k=0n(kn)48k=1+48n+(2n)482+(3n)483+⋯
- So 49n+16n−1=(1+48n+(2n)482+⋯)+16n−1=64n+(2n)482+(3n)483+⋯
- Note 482=2304=64×36, so 482 (and every higher power of 48) is itself divisible by 64. Hence every term in the sum (64n and all the 48k terms for k≥2) is divisible by 64.
- So 64 divides 49n+16n−1 for every n∈N — 64 is a common divisor. …
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-20-AN1 markMCQQ.Using mathematical induction, the numbers an's are defined by a0=1,an+1=3n2+n+an (n≥0), then an= (A) n3+n2+1 (B) n3−n2+1 (C) n3−n2 (D) n3+n2
›Reveal solutionSolution
Generate the first few terms from the recurrence and match them against the candidate closed
forms; an=n3−n2+1 fits every computed term.
Concept and Intuition
When a recurrence defines a sequence and the answer choices are closed forms, the fastest rigorous
check is to compute several terms directly from the recurrence and test each candidate — the
correct formula must match every computed value, not just one.
Step-by-Step Solution
- a0=1 (given).
- a1=a0+1=3(0)2+0+a0=0+0+1=1.
- a2=a1+1=3(1)2+1+a1=3+1+1=5.
- a3=a2+1=3(2)2+2+a2=12+2+5=19.
- Test an=n3−n2+1: at n=0: 0−0+1=1 ✓; at n=1: 1−1+1=1 ✓; at n=2: 8−4+1=5 ✓; at n=3: 27−9+1=19 ✓. All four match. …
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-23-AN1 markMCQQ.If 'n' is a positive integer, then 2⋅42n+1+33n+1 is divisible by (A) 2 (B) 9 (C) 11 (D) 27
›Reveal solutionSolution
Checking small cases (and confirming via modular arithmetic) shows 2⋅42n+1+33n+1 is always divisible by 11.
Concept and Intuition
For "which number always divides this expression" questions, it's efficient to (a) test small values of n to screen out wrong options, and (b) confirm the surviving candidate using modular arithmetic (showing the expression is ≡0 modulo that number for all n).
Step-by-Step Solution
- Test n=1: 2⋅42(1)+1+33(1)+1=2⋅43+34=2(64)+81=128+81=209. Factor: 209=11×19. So 209 is divisible by 11, but 209 is odd (not divisible by 2), and 209/9≈23.2, 209/27≈7.7 (not divisible by 9 or 27).
- This already eliminates options (A) 2, (B) 9, (D) 27, leaving (C) 11 as the only surviving candidate.
- Confirm with n=2: 2⋅45+37=2(1024)+2187=2048+2187=4235=11×385 — again exactly divisible by 11. …
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