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

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If a and b are odd integers, then their sum a+b is even. The proof begins by expressing a and b in the form of 2n+1 and 2m+1, respectively. Adding these gives a+b = 2n + 2m + 2, which can be factored to 2(n+m+1), confirming that the sum is even. A suggestion was made to clarify the justification of why 2(n+m+1) is even. The discussion emphasizes the importance of clear mathematical reasoning in proofs.
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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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This mostly looks fine, though you might be expected to justify why 2k+2 is even.
 
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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 2n + 2m + 2 = 2(n + m + 1)?

= Let k = n+m
= 2k+2
Therefore a+b is even.
 
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Aha! That makes more sense.
a+b = 2n+1+2m+1
= 2n+2m+2
= 2(n+m+1)
= 2k
Hence a+b is even. :)
 
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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I picked up this problem from the Schaum's series book titled "College Mathematics" by Ayres/Schmidt. It is a solved problem in the book. But what surprised me was that the solution to this problem was given in one line without any explanation. I could, therefore, not understand how the given one-line solution was reached. The one-line solution in the book says: The equation is ##x \cos{\omega} +y \sin{\omega} - 5 = 0##, ##\omega## being the parameter. From my side, the only thing I could...
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