Discrete Maths Last Minute questions (1 Viewer)

4025808

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Would anyone know how to start off this one?

Firstly I did (n+k)|n^2 but I'm not sure how to proceed from there.
 

leehuan

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Sorry I know I can do this myself but I don't have time to right now. Can someone prove this?

 

Drsoccerball

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Would anyone know how to start off this one?

Firstly I did (n+k)|n^2 but I'm not sure how to proceed from there.
Okay so (n + k)|n^2

n^2 = (n + k)M for some M integer.

Take note: n^2 = (n - k)(n + k) + k^2

(n + k)M = (n - k)(n + k) + k^2

(n + k)(M + k - n) = k^2

Therefore (n + k)|k^2

If k <= sqrt(n) that means n + k > k^2 and thus a contradiction (Take note k, n are positive integers)

Therefore k > sqrt(n)
 

leehuan

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Okay so (n + k)|n^2

n^2 = (n + k)M for some M integer.

Take note: n^2 = (n - k)(n + k) + k^2

(n + k)M = (n - k)(n + k) + k^2

(n + k)(M + k - n) = k^2

Therefore (n + k)|k^2

If k <= sqrt(n) that means n + k > k^2 and thus a contradiction (Take note k, n are positive integers)

Therefore k > sqrt(n)
Man... need Peter Brown though... cause that's so not obvious to induce the diff. of two squares and the add/deduct trick
 

leehuan

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With these perms and combs I'd appreciate anyone checking but it's also (hopefully) for Drsoccerball's convenience
 

leehuan

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You didn't try long division?

gosh you people.
I thought you were the one that hated long division

Though yeah that never crosses my mind with algebra anymore unless I explicitly see polynomials
 

leehuan

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The question isn't hard but I just want to see it get done because I want to see how you'd set out your working



I'll put down the relevant Euclidean algorithm to save a bit of work

 

Drsoccerball

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The question isn't hard but I just want to see it get done because I want to see how you'd set out your working



I'll put down the relevant Euclidean algorithm to save a bit of work

If your gcd != 1 and your desired number in this case being 8 is not equal to the gcd then you divide everything by the gcd(including the modulus) and multiply everything by 8 except the modulus.
 
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