[ASK] Mathematical Induction: Prove 7^n-2^n is divisible by 5.

[Monoxdifly]

Prove by mathematical induction that \(\displaystyle 7^n-2^n\) is divisible by 5.What I've done so far:For n = 1

\(\displaystyle 7^1-2^1=7-2=5\) (true that it is divisible by 5)

For n = k

\(\displaystyle 7^k-2^k=5a\) (assumed to be true that it is divisible by 5)

For n = k + 1

\(\displaystyle 7^{k+1}-2^{k+1}=7^k\cdot7-2^k\cdot2=7(7^k-2^k)+12\cdot2^k=7(5a)+12\cdot2^k\)

This is where the problem lies. How can I show that \(\displaystyle 12\cdot2^k\) is divisible by 5?

 

[castor28]

Prove by mathematical induction that \(\displaystyle 7^n-2^n\) is divisible by 5.What I've done so far:For n = 1

\(\displaystyle 7^1-2^1=7-2=5\) (true that it is divisible by 5)

For n = k

\(\displaystyle 7^k-2^k=5a\) (assumed to be true that it is divisible by 5)

For n = k + 1

\(\displaystyle 7^{k+1}-2^{k+1}=7^k\cdot7-2^k\cdot2=7(7^k-2^k)+12\cdot2^k=7(5a)+12\cdot2^k\)

This is where the problem lies. How can I show that \(\displaystyle 12\cdot2^k\) is divisible by 5?

Hi Monoxdifly,

$12\cdot2^k$ is certainly not divisible by $5$ (look at the prime factors).

You made a mistake in your calculation: I get:
$$
7^k\cdot7 - 2^k\cdot2 = 7(7^k-2^k) + 5\cdot2^k
$$
and this should clear things up.

 

[Monoxdifly]

Ah, I see. Thank you very much!

 

[Prove It]

It seems a bit overkill to use Induction, when there's a simple rule for the Difference of Two Terms With the Same Power...

$\displaystyle \begin{align*} a^n - b^n \equiv \left( a - b \right) \sum_{r = 0}^{n - 1}{ a^{n - 1 - r}\,b^r } \end{align*}$

so in your case the factor would be (7 - 2) which equals 5.

 

[Monoxdifly]

It seems a bit overkill to use Induction, when there's a simple rule for the Difference of Two Terms With the Same Power...

$\displaystyle \begin{align*} a^n - b^n \equiv \left( a - b \right) \sum_{r = 0}^{n - 1}{ a^{n - 1 - r}\,b^r } \end{align*}$

so in your case the factor would be (7 - 2) which equals 5.

Well, the school curriculum doesn't teach this rule, so yes, we were supposed to solve it with the "overkill" method.

 

[Prove It]

Well, the school curriculum doesn't teach this rule, so yes, we were supposed to solve it with the "overkill" method.

Then you can consider it as something new that you have learnt. The most concise method of proof is always the best.