Question

4. Use Euclid's division lemma to show that the square of any positive integer is either of
the form 3m or 3m + 1 for some integer m.
THint : Let x be any positive integer then it is of the form 39, 39 + 1 or 39 +2. Now square​

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

Let us consider a positive integer a

Divide the positive integer a by 3, and let r be the reminder and b be the quotient such that

a = 3b + r……………………………(1)

where r = 0,1,2,3…..

Case 1: Consider r = 0

Equation (1) becomes

a = 3b

On squaring both the side

a2 = (3b)2

a2 = 9b2

a2 = 3 × 3b2

a2 = 3m

Where m = 3b2

Case 2: Let r = 1

Equation (1) becomes

a = 3b + 1

Squaring on both the side we get

a2 = (3b + 1)2

a2 = (3b)2 + 1 + 2 × (3b) × 1

a2 = 9b2 + 6b + 1

a2 = 3(3b2 + 2b) + 1

a2 = 3m + 1

Where m = 3b2 + 2b

Case 3: Let r = 2

Equation (1) becomes

a = 3b + 2

Squaring on both the sides we get

a2 = (3b + 2)2

a2 = 9b2 + 4 + (2 × 3b × 2)

a2 = 9b2 + 12b + 3 + 1

a2 = 3(3b2 + 4b + 1) + 1

a2 = 3m + 1

where m = 3b2 + 4b + 1

∴ square of any positive integer is of the form 3m or 3m+1.