Thread: Biconditional Proof

Hi all,

This is my question with my thoughts about how to approach it:

For all integers m and n, 4 divides (m²-n²) if and only if m and n are both even or m and n are both odd.

So obviously, I have to prove it from both directions.

--> For all integers m and n, 4 divides (m²-n²) if m and n are both even or both odd.
<-- If m and n are both even or both odd, then 4 divides (m²-n²) for all integers m and n.

Assuming these directions are correct, I would attempt to prove this the following way. Let m and n be even integers, say 2m and 2n. By substitution it is 4m²-4n² and by algebra that is equal to 4(m²-n²). m²-n² is an integer by definiton of integers while the 4 in front of the integer makes the number divisible by 4. That's for the evens. For the odds 2m+1 and 2n+1, by substitution and algebra I have 4(m²+m-n²-n). Again, that is an integer with a factor of 4 making it divisible by 4.

In terms of the second direction...in past biconditionals I remember taking the contrapositive of the 2nd. So...

There exists integers m and n that are both even or both odd such that 4 does not divide (m²-n²) for all integers m and n.

At this point, I am stuck. I might have done the contrapositive wrong because I think the "or" needs to change to "and". But I could be wrong on that...

You're right--you need to re-formulate your statements. For the most straightforward (but not the most elegant) method, break it up into two conditions: (1) m, n both even, and (2) m, n both odd. Then prove the statement for each case. That is, first prove (both directions) that 4 divides m²-n² if and only if m, n both even. Then show 4 divides m²-n² if and only if m, n both odd (each direction, of course). It may involve more pencil lead, but I believe it makes the logic more transparent and less likely to be inaccurately manipulated.

If you choose to do anything by contrapositive in these cases, the negation of "m, n both odd" becomes "either m or n is not odd," and likewise with "even".

Also, when you want to represent m and n as generic integers, it is customary to use alternate letters. For example, let m be an even integer represented by 2r, and n an even integer represented by 2s, for all integers r, s.