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Show that one and only one out of n,n+2 or n+4 is divisible by 3 where n is any positive integer. |
By induction: When n = 1, exactly one of 1, 1 + 2, and 1 + 4 is divisible by 3, namely 1 + 2, since 3 is divisible by 3, and the other two 1 and 5 are not. Suppose for n < k, only one out of n, n+2, n+4 is divisible by 3 For n = k, we consider k, k+2, k+4. By the induction hypothesis, only one of k-1, k+1 and k+3 is divisible by 3. We look at the three possible cases. Case 1: k-1 is the one which is divisible by 3. Then k-1 = 3m, for some positive integer m. Then add 1 to both sides of k-1 = 3m: k-1+1=3m+1 k = 3m+1 then k is NOT divisible by 3 Now add 3 to both sides of k-1 = 3m: k-1+3=3m+3 k+2 = 3m+3 k+2 = 3(m+1) then k+2 is divisible by 3 Now add 5 to both sides of k-1 = 3m: k-1+5=3m+5 k+4 = 3m+5 k+4 = 3m+3 + 2 = 3(m+1)+2 then k+4 is NOT divisible by 3. So, we have proved case 1 for n = k Case 2: k+1 is the one which is divisible by 3. Then k+1 = 3m, for some positive integer m. Then add -1 to both sides of k+1 = 3m: k+1-1=3m-1 k = 3m-1 then k is NOT divisible by 3 Now add 1 to both sides of k+1 = 3m: k+1+1=3m+1 k+2 = 3m+1 then k+2 is NOT divisible by 3 Now add 3 to both sides of k+1 = 3m: k+1+3=3m+3 k+4 = 3m+3 k+4 = 3(m+1) so k+4 is divisible by 3. So, we have proved case 2. Case 3: k+3 is the one which is divisible by 3. Then k+3 = 3m, for some positive integer m. Then add -3 to both sides of k+3 = 3m: k+3-3=3m-3 k = 3(m-1) then k is divisible by 3 Now add -1 to both sides of k+3 = 3m: k+3-1=3m-1 k+2 = 3m-1 then k+2 is NOT divisible by 3 Now add 1 to both sides of k+3 = 3m: k+3+1=3m+1 k+4 = 3m+1 then k+4 is NOT divisible by 3. |