Proof using counterexample. HELP

Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
1 reply · 3K views
limegreen00
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
1. Prove by minimum counterexample that for all n>=0, 5/(32n)-4n)

2. Homework Equations : proof by induction?



3. I tried plugging in 0 for n because that would be the minimum counterexample since 5 can't divide 0. If it's not zero it might be 2 because that works as well. I'm not sure where to go from there or what to state if I am right.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I would try to figure out a simpler way to write 3^(2n) mod 5. I.e. what's a simpler expression for its remainder after division by 5. Or just write it as 9^n-4^n and think about factoring.
 
Last edited: