Question

For any positive integer n, prove that n3-n is divisible by 6.

Answer 1

n3 - n = n (n2 - 1) = n (n - 1) (n + 1) 

Whenever a number is divided by 3, the remainder obtained is either 0 or 1 or 2.
∴ n = 3p or 3p + 1 or 3p + 2, where p is some integer.
If n = 3p, then n is divisible by 3.
If n = 3p + 1, then n – 1 = 3p + 1 –1 = 3p is divisible by 3.
If n = 3p + 2, then n + 1 = 3p + 2 + 1 = 3p + 3 = 3(p + 1) is divisible by 3.
So, we can say that one of the numbers among n, n – 1 and n + 1 is always divisible by 3.
⇒ n (n – 1) (n + 1) is divisible by 3.
 
Similarly, whenever a number is divided 2, the remainder obtained is 0 or 1.
∴ n = 2q or 2q + 1, where q is some integer.
If n = 2q, then n is divisible by 2.
If n = 2q + 1, then n – 1 = 2q + 1 – 1 = 2q is divisible by 2 and n + 1 = 2q + 1 + 1 = 2q + 2 = 2 (q + 1) is divisible by 2.
So, we can say that one of the numbers among n, n – 1 and n + 1 is always divisible by 2.
⇒ n (n – 1) (n + 1) is divisible by 2.
Since, n (n – 1) (n + 1) is divisible by 2 and 3.

∴ n (n-1) (n+1) = n3 - n is divisible by 6.( If a number is divisible by both 2 and 3 , then it is divisible by 6) 

Answer 2

Answer:

n3 – n = n(n2 – 1) = n(n+1)(n – 1) = (n – 1)n(n+1) = product of three consecutive positive integers.

Now, we have to show that the product of three consecutive positive integers is divisible by 6.

We know that any positive integer n is of the form 3q, 3q + 1 or 3q + 2 for some positive integer q.

Now three consecutive positive integers are n, n + 1, n + 2.

Case I. If n = 3q.

n(n + 1) (n + 2) = 3q(3q + 1) (3q + 2)

But we know that the product of two consecutive integers is an even integer.

∴ (3q + 1) (3q + 2) is an even integer, say 2r.

⟹ n(n + 1) (n + 2) = 3q × 2r = 6qr, which is divisible by 6.

Case II. If n = 3n + 1.

∴ n(n + 1) (n + 2) = (3q + 1) (3q + 2) (3q + 3)

= (even number say 2r) (3) (q + 1)

= 6r (q + 1),

which is divisible by 6.

Case III. If n = 3q + 2.

∴ n(n + 1) (n + 2) = (3q + 2) (3q + 3) (3q + 4)

= multiple of 6 for every q

= 6r (say),

which is divisible by 6.

Hence, the product of three consecutive integers is divisible by 6.