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A multiple of 42 (Posted on 2022-03-23) Difficulty: 3 of 5
Prove that
n^7-n
is divisible by 42
for any integer n.

See The Solution Submitted by Ady TZIDON    
Rating: 5.0000 (1 votes)

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Solution solution | Comment 3 of 6 |
(n+1)^7 =  n^7 + 7 n^6 + 21 n^5 + 35 n^4 + 35 n^3 + 21 n^2 + 7 n + 1

subtract (n+1):

n^7 + 7 n^6 + 21 n^5 + 35 n^4 + 35 n^3 + 21 n^2 + 6 n  
 
The difference between this and n^7 - n is

7 n^6 + 21 n^5 + 35 n^4 + 35 n^3 + 21 n^2 + 7 n 

This factors into

7 n (n + 1) (n^2 + n + 1)^2  (thanks to Wolfram Alpha)

7 n (n + 1) is always a multiple of 14. If n is a multiple of 3 or one less than a multiple of 3, it is also so, as n(n+1) will be a multiple of 3. And if n is one more than a multiple of 3, (n^2 + n + 1) will be a multiple of 3.

So the difference from one n to the next will always be a multiple of 14*3=42, so if any n^7-n is a multiple of 42, then n+1 will also be so. If n=1, n^7-n = 0, which is a multiple of 42, so adding a multiple of 42, as in the preceding paragraph gives another, etc.

  Posted by Charlie on 2022-03-23 08:57:13
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