1.Show that n(n+1)(n+2) is divisible by 6. 2.Show that 1^2015+2^2015+3^2015+4^2015+5^2015+6^201512015+22015+32015+42015+52015+62015 is divisible by 7. How do I solve these?

I have no lead on the first problem. I know the divisibility rule of 7 but I have to know the whole number for that whereas I can only know the last few digits.

2 Answers
Mar 4, 2016

For the first problem, note that a number is divisible by 66 if and only if it is divisible by both 22 and by 33. As any three consecutive integers will contain at least one multiple of 22 and exactly one multiple of 33, the product of any three consecutive integers will be divisible by both, and thus by 66.


For the second problem, we can solve this using modular arithmetic. The basic idea behind modular arithmetic is that rather than look at the specific value of a given integer, we look at its remainder when divided by a given modulus. This is just like how when we use an analog clock, we will arrive at the same time if we wait 1212 hours or 2424 hours. We are operating modulo 1212, and rather than saying that 1212 and 2424 are equal we say that they are congruent modulo 12 (and we use the symbol -= to denote this). Modular arithmetic is a very useful tool and is worth [reading up on.](http://betterexplained.com/articles/fun-with-modular-arithmetic/)

As a number is divisible by 77 if and only if it is congruent to 00 modulo 77, we can calculate the sum modulo 77 to demonstrate the result.

As 1^n = 11n=1 for all nn, we have 1^2015-=1" (mod 7)"120151 (mod 7)

As 2^3 = 823=8 and 8-=1" (mod 7)"81 (mod 7) we have
2^2015 -= 2^2(2^3)^671-=4*1^671-=4" (mod 7)"2201522(23)671416714 (mod 7)

As 3^3 = 2733=27 and 27 -=-1" (mod 7)"271 (mod 7) we have
3^2015 -=3^2(3^3)^671-=9(-1)^671-=-9-=-2" (mod 7)"3201532(33)6719(1)67192 (mod 7)

As 4^3=6443=64 and 64-=1" (mod 7)"641 (mod 7) we have
4^2015-=4^2(4^3)^2015-=16(1^671-=16-=2" (mod 7)"4201542(43)201516(1671162 (mod 7)

As 5^3=12553=125 and 125-=-1" (mod 7)"1251 (mod 7) we have
5^2015-=5^2(5^3)^671-=25(-1)^671-=-25-=3" (mod 7)"5201552(53)67125(1)671253 (mod 7)

As 6-=-1" (mod 7)"61 (mod 7) we have
6^2015 -=(-1)^2015-=-1" (mod 7)"62015(1)20151 (mod 7)

Then, substituting our newly found values into the given expression, we have

1^2015+2^2015+3^2015+4^2015+5^2015+6^2016-=12015+22015+32015+42015+52015+62016

-=1+4-2+2+3-1" (mod 7)"1+42+2+31 (mod 7)

-=7" (mod 7)"7 (mod 7)

-=0" (mod 7)"0 (mod 7)

Therefore, as the expression is congruent to 00 modulo 77, it is divisible by 77.

Mar 20, 2016

Alternative way

Explanation:

For the second part of the problem this can be proved for first 2n 2n terms of natural number having odd power where " "n =1,2,3,4,5,6,.....

We know that a^n+b^n"" is always divisible by (a+b) when n is odd. It can be easily verified by putting -b in place of a when the value of a^n+b^n becomes zero
So if we rearrange the given problem as below

(1^2015+6^2015)+(2^2015+5^2015)+(3^2015+4^2015)
we see that here sum of the bases in every pair with in parentheses
like (1+6);(2+5);(3+4) are all 7. So as per the rule of divisibility the given sum is divisible by 7

similarly the following series of 12 terms is also divisible by 13

1^2015+2^2015+3^2015+4^2015+5^2015+6^2015+7^2015+8^2015+9^2015+10^2015+11^2015+12^2015