Do you divide me inductively?

What is the largest integer that always divides n 7 n n^{7}-n for any integer n ? n?

42 49 14 21

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1 solution

Mathh Mathh
Jul 16, 2014

Fermat's Little Theorem tells us that n 7 n ( m o d 7 ) n^7\equiv n\pmod {\boxed{7}} .

n 7 n = n ( n 3 1 ) ( n 3 + 1 ) = n ( n 1 ) ( n + 1 ) ( n 2 + n + 1 ) ( n 2 n + 1 ) n^7-n=n(n^3-1)(n^3+1)=n(n-1)(n+1)\cdot (n^2+n+1)(n^2-n+1)

n ( n 1 ) ( n + 1 ) n(n-1)(n+1) is a product of 3 3 consecutive integers, hence it is divisible by 6 \boxed{6} .

Hence, n Z \forall n\in\mathbb Z , we have n 7 n ( m o d 42 ) n^7\equiv n\pmod {\boxed{42}} , since 7 6 = 42 7\cdot 6=42 .

2 7 2 = 126 = 42 3 2^7-2=126=42\cdot 3 and 3 7 3 = 42 52 3^7-3=42\cdot 52 , so 42 42 is the largest possibility, because gcd ( 3 , 52 ) = 1 \gcd(3,52)=1 .

and what about n=1?

Jaime Lopez Amaya - 5 years, 6 months ago

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If n = 1 n=1 , then n 7 n = 0 n^7-n=0 is divisible by every integer, so it's divisible by 42 42 . Btw, I've greatly edited the solution. Ask if something is unclear.

mathh mathh - 5 years, 6 months ago

Excellent. I am truly impressed by your math skills!! I voted you up and thanks a lot for pointing out the error in the wording :D

Krishna Ar - 6 years, 11 months ago

Or you could have written n^7 - n as n(n^6-1). The latter is always divsible by 7 and this is always divisble by 6 as you've clearly shown...Thus proved. BTW, I wanted to ask you this- Did you learn all of this in school or on your own through interest ( I mean the higher math) @mathh mathh

Krishna Ar - 6 years, 11 months ago

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Most of it on my own. My math teacher is great at olympiad problems and helps me out a bit, though.

mathh mathh - 6 years, 11 months ago

Given the change in the question, can you explain why this would be the largest number? Why doesn't any larger number exist?

Calvin Lin Staff - 6 years, 11 months ago

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I've added an explanation.

mathh mathh - 6 years, 11 months ago

@Jaime Lopez Amaya, the question is asking largest integer

Pratyush Dash - 1 year, 9 months ago

I did not get this!

Katyayani Penumerthy - 7 months, 2 weeks ago

this can also divided by 14 and get the result. 2^7-2=126/14=9

amar nath - 6 years, 11 months ago

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You have to prove this for all n Z n\in\mathbb Z , not just n = 2 n=2 .

mathh mathh - 6 years, 11 months ago

put any value say 9^7-9/14=341640..all value of n ^7-n are divisible by 14..

amar nath - 6 years, 11 months ago

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You have to rigorously prove it for all n n , not just for n = 9 n=9 .

mathh mathh - 6 years, 11 months ago

And what you are left after dividing by 14 is still always divisible by 3, so the original number is divisible by 42 (=14*3)

Carl Salaets - 5 years, 4 months ago

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