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Exercise: Divisibility Proofs · Q11

Q.Prove by induction that n3−nn^3 - n is divisible by 66 for every natural number nn.

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Let P(n)P(n) be the statement that n3−nn^3-n is divisible by 6. Base case: n=1n=1 gives 1−1=0=6×01-1=0=6\times0, divisible by 6, so P(1)P(1) holds. Inductive step: assume P(k)P(k): k3−k=6mk^3-k=6m for some integer mm. Expand: (k+1)3−(k+1)=k3+3k2+3k+1−k−1=(k3−k)+3k2+3k=(k3−k)+3k(k+1)(k+1)^3-(k+1)=k^3+3k^2+3k+1-k-1=(k^3-k)+3k^2+3k=(k^3-k)+3k(k+1). Now k(k+1)k(k+1) is a product of two consecutive integers, so it is always even; write k(k+1)=2tk(k+1)=2t for integer tt. Substituting: (k+1)3−(k+1)=6m+3(2t)=6m+6t=6(m+t)(k+1)^3-(k+1)=6m+3(2t)=6m+6t=6(m+t), which is a multiple of 6. So P(k+1)P(k+1) holds. By induction, P(n)P(n) holds for all n≥1n\ge1. [!ANSWER] n3−nn^3-n is divisible by 66 for every natural number nn.

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