How to prove that two exponential terms are congruent to 7?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves proving that for all natural numbers \( n \), the expression \( 3^{4n+1} - 5^{2n-1} \) is divisible by 7. This falls under the subject area of number theory, specifically dealing with congruences and divisibility.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss a base case for \( n=1 \) and explore an inductive approach starting from an assumption for \( n=k \). There are attempts to express the terms in different forms and to apply modular arithmetic, particularly mod 5. Some participants question the effectiveness of their expressions and seek clarification on how to proceed with induction.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing hints and suggestions for rewriting expressions to facilitate the proof. There is a recognition of the need to apply a specific formula and to consider the implications of the rewritten terms. However, no consensus or resolution has been reached yet.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating the constraints of the problem, including the requirement to prove the statement for all natural numbers and the challenges posed by the modular arithmetic involved. There is an acknowledgment of the complexity in transitioning from one step of the proof to the next.

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Homework Statement


"Prove: ##∀n∈ℕ,7|[3^{4n+1}-5^{2n-1}]##"

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


(1) "We take the trivial case: ##n=1##, and notice that ##3^5-5=238## and ##7|238## because ##7⋅(34)=238##."

(2) "Now let ##n=k## for some ##1<k∈ℕ##. Then we assume that ##7|[3^{4k+1}-5^{2k-1}]##. Now we must prove that ##7|[3^{4(k+1)+1}-5^{2(k+1)-1}]##. We rewrite the quantity as ##3^5(3^{4k})-5(5^{2k})##."

Here is where I got stuck. Basically, I was going to express everything in terms of ##mod5## and say that ##3^5(3^{4k})-5(5^{2k})=2mod5##.

"Now we have ##3^5(3^{4k})-5(5^{2k})=(3mod5)(1mod5)-(0mod5)(0mod5)=3mod5≠2mod5##."

I don't know how to approach the problem starting from the first sentence of (2). Can anyone help? Thanks.
 
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Hint: use ##(a^4x-b^2y)=(a^2x-by)(a^2+b)-a^2b(x-y)##.
 
Okay, I got ##(3^5⋅9^k-5⋅5^k)(9^k+5^k##. I'm not sure how I would proceed by induction.
 
Eclair_de_XII said:
##3^5(3^{4k})−5^1(5^{2k})##
... isn't helpful. Why don't you write it as ##3^4(3^{4k+1})-5^2(5^{2k-1})## with the powers you have in your induction hypothesis? From here apply the formula I gave you and consider what you get on the right hand side.
 
Okay, I got it.

##7|(9⋅3^{4k+1}-5⋅5^{2k-1})(14)-45(3^{4k+1}-5^{2k-1})##

Thanks.
 

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