# Homework Help: Number Theory

1. Sep 24, 2011

### Zhalfirin88

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
Prove that, for any integer a, 6 divides a(a+1)(2a+1)

3. The attempt at a solution
Well, 6 divides something if 2 and 3 divide the same number, so I must show that that product is even, and that the sum of its digits is divisible by 3. However, I don't see any algebraic manipulation to do either.

Last edited: Sep 24, 2011
2. Sep 24, 2011

### Dickfore

Hint: subtract the expression for $a \rightarrow a + 1$ and $a$. i.e. calculate:

$$(a + 1) (a + 2) \left[2 (a + 1) + 1\right] - a (a + 1) (2 a + 1) = ?$$

After you simplify this, what do you get?

Also, for $a = 1$, your expression is $1 \cdot 2 \cdot 3 = 6$, which is divisible by 6, and for $a = 0$, you get a zero, which is divisible by any non-zero integer.

It should be clear what method you should use by now.

Finally, what does your expression reduce to if you make the substitution $a \rightarrow -a$, i.e. what do you get for:
$$(-a) (-a + 1) \left[2 (-a) + 1\right]$$

and can you rewrite it in terms of your original expression for some positive integer value?

3. Sep 24, 2011

### Zhalfirin88

I have no idea what you're doing with that hint. I reduced it but I don't get why substituting $$(a+1)$$ and subtracting the expression for $$a$$ works?

Okay, I reduced it to $$-2a^3+2a^2-a$$ but . . I'm not sure what you mean by rewriting it?

4. Sep 24, 2011

### Dickfore

What did you get?

5. Sep 24, 2011

### Zhalfirin88

$$6a^2+12a+6$$ Each term is divisible by 6, so it works, but I'm not really sure where you came up with subtracting expressions?

Last edited: Sep 24, 2011
6. Sep 24, 2011

### Dickfore

Let's call $f(a) \equiv a(a + 1)(2 a + 1)$. What you had shown is:

$$f(a + 1) - f(a) = 6 (a^{2} + 2 a - 1)$$

Now, if we assume that $f(a)$ is divisible by 6, what can you say about $f(a + 1)$? What principle does this remind you of?

7. Sep 24, 2011

### Zhalfirin88

Kinda induction, but I'm guessing that's not what you're getting at?

If $$f(a+1)−f(a)=6(a^2+2a−1)$$ and we assume $f(a)$ is divisible by 6 then $f(a+1)$ is also divisible by 6.

8. Sep 24, 2011

### Dickfore

Yes, I was precisely getting at that. But, what you had shown is that it is correct for positive integers (natural numbers). Now, you need to prove it for negative integers (for zero, I think I already showed it). That is why I told you to consider it for $a = -n$, where $n$ is again a positive integer. Do not expand it!

$$f(-n) = (-n) (-n + 1) \left[2(-n) + 1\right] = - n (n - 1) (2 n - 1) = (n - 1) \left[(n - 1) + 1\right] \left[2 (n - 1) + 1\right] = - f(n - 1)$$

That's it!

9. Sep 24, 2011

### Dick

Not to distract from the excellent inductive approach, but you can also do this using modular arithmetic. The remainder when you divide a by 3 is either 0, 1 or 2. What does that make the remainder of a(a+1)(2a+1) in each of those cases?

Last edited: Sep 24, 2011
10. Sep 24, 2011

### Zhalfirin88

Thanks :)

11. Sep 24, 2011

### Zhalfirin88

If you did this by modular arithmetic you would have to take by mod 2 and mod 3, correct? And the remainder is zero =)

12. Sep 24, 2011

### Dick

Sure. But a(a+1) is obviously zero mod 2. mod 3 takes a little more work. Just a little.