Prove that if a & b are odd then a+b is even

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In summary, we prove that if a is an odd integer and b is an odd integer, then a+b is even by showing that a+b can be written as 2k where k is an integer, thus making it an even number.
  • #1
sonadoramante
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Summary:: Prove that if a is an odd integer and b is an odd integer then a+b is even.

Theorem: If a is odd and b is odd then a+b is even.

Proof: Let a and b be positive odd integers of the form a = 2n+1 & b = 2m+1

a+b = 2n+1+2m+1
= 2n+2m+1+1
= 2n+2m+2
= 2(n+m)+2
= Let k = n+m
= 2k+2
Therefore a+b is even.
 
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  • #2
This mostly looks fine, though you might be expected to justify why 2k+2 is even.
 
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  • #3
sonadoramante said:
Summary:: Prove that if a is an odd integer and b is an odd integer then a+b is even.

Theorem: If a is odd and b is odd then a+b is even.

Proof: Let a and b be positive odd integers of the form a = 2n+1 & b = 2m+1

a+b = 2n+1+2m+1
= 2n+2m+1+1
= 2n+2m+2
= 2(n+m)+2

Why not [itex]2n + 2m + 2 = 2(n + m + 1)[/itex]?

= Let k = n+m
= 2k+2
Therefore a+b is even.
 
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  • #4
Aha! That makes more sense.
a+b = 2n+1+2m+1
= 2n+2m+2
= 2(n+m+1)
= 2k
Hence a+b is even. :)
 
  • #5
sonadoramante said:
a+b = 2n+1+2m+1
= 2n+2m+1+1
= 2n+2m+2
= 2(n+m)+2
= Let k = n+m
= 2k+2
Therefore a+b is even.
The line "= Let k = n + m" shouldn't be there. The version in post #4 is what you want to say.
 
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1. What does it mean for a number to be "odd" or "even"?

Odd and even are terms used to describe the parity of a number. An odd number is any integer that is not divisible by 2, while an even number is any integer that is divisible by 2.

2. How can you prove that if a and b are odd, then a+b is even?

To prove this statement, we can use the definition of odd and even numbers. Since a and b are both odd, they can be expressed as a=2n+1 and b=2m+1, where n and m are integers. Substituting these values into the expression a+b, we get (2n+1)+(2m+1)=2(n+m+1), which is an even number since it is divisible by 2.

3. Can you provide an example to illustrate this statement?

Yes, for example, if a=3 and b=5, both of which are odd numbers, then a+b=3+5=8, which is an even number.

4. Does this statement hold true for any two odd numbers, or are there exceptions?

This statement holds true for any two odd numbers. This is because odd numbers always have a difference of 2 between them. So, when we add two odd numbers, the 2s cancel out and we are left with an even number.

5. How is this statement relevant in mathematics or real-world applications?

This statement is relevant in many areas of mathematics, such as number theory and algebra, as it is a fundamental property of odd and even numbers. It is also applicable in real-world scenarios, such as when dealing with quantities that can only be expressed as whole numbers, like the number of people in a group or the number of objects in a set.

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