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Exercise: Divisibility Proofs · Q14

Q.Prove that 4n−14^n - 1 is divisible by 33 for every natural number nn.

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Let P(n)P(n) be the statement that 4n−14^n-1 is divisible by 3. Base case: n=1n=1: 4−1=34-1=3, divisible by 3, so P(1)P(1) holds. Inductive step: assume P(k)P(k): 4k−1=3m4^k-1=3m for some integer mm. Then 4k+1−1=4⋅4k−1=4(4k−1)+4−1=4(3m)+3=3(4m+1)4^{k+1}-1=4\cdot4^k-1=4(4^k-1)+4-1=4(3m)+3=3(4m+1). Since 4m+14m+1 is an integer, 4k+1−14^{k+1}-1 is a multiple of …

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