# Math Help - induction

1. ## induction

show that

37^n+2 + 16^n+1 + 23^n is divisible by 7 whenever n is natural

thank you

2. Originally Posted by sabrina87
show that

37^n+2 + 16^n+1 + 23^n is divisible by 7 whenever n is natural

thank you
I assume you're having trouble with step 3.

Then note:

$37^{k+3} + 16^{k+2} + 23^{k+1} = 37 \cdot 37^{k+2} + 16 \cdot 16^{k+1} + 23 \cdot 23^{k}$

$= 37 \left( 37^{k+2} + 16^{k+1} + 23^{k} \right) - 21 \cdot 16^{k+1} - 14 \cdot 23^k$

$= 37 \left( 37^{k+2} + 16^{k+1} + 23^{k} \right) - 7 \left(3 \cdot 16^{k+1} + 2 \cdot 23^k\right)$

which is divisible by 7 due to step 2 ........

3. Originally Posted by sabrina87
show that

37^n+2 + 16^n+1 + 23^n is divisible by 7 whenever n is natural

thank you
Here is a non-induction proof.
Let $A_n = 37^{n+2}+16^{n+1}+23^n$.

Note $37^{n+2}\equiv 2^{n+2} (\bmod 7)$, $16^{n+1}\equiv 2^{n+1}(\bmod 7)$, $23^n\equiv 2^n(\bmod 7)$.

Thus, $A_n \equiv 2^{n+2}+2^{n+1}+2^n = 2^n(1+2+2^2) \equiv 0 (\bmod 7)$.

4. Originally Posted by ThePerfectHacker
Here is a non-induction proof.
Let $A_n = 37^{n+2}+16^{n+1}+23^n$.

Note $37^{n+2}\equiv 2^{n+2} (\bmod 7)$, $16^{n+1}\equiv 2^{n+1}(\bmod 7)$, $23^n\equiv 2^n(\bmod 7)$.

Thus, $A_n \equiv 2^{n+2}+2^{n+1}+2^n = 2^n(1+2+2^2) \equiv 0 (\bmod 7)$.
Hello,
could you explain the second solution, please?

5. Originally Posted by drthea
Hello,
could you explain the second solution, please?
The result you need to know here is that if $a\equiv b(\bmod c) \implies a^k \equiv b^k (\bmod c)$.