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Attempt at proving result from intro to pure mathematics by liebeck

If n=m3mn=m^3-m for some integer mm, then nn is a multiple of 6.

I assume that any integer mm can be written in the form x+1x+1 for some value of xx

n=(x+1)3(x+1)n=(x+1)^3-(x+1)
n=x(x+1)(x+2)n=x(x+1)(x+2)

From this result it can be seen that whatever the value of the integer xx, nn will have a factor which is a multiple of 2 and a factor which is a multiple of 3. From this nn must be divisible by 6 as it is divisible by both 2 and 3. Thus, it is a multiple of 6

This is my first real attempt at proving anything so please do not be too harsh. Is it valid?

And for anyone well versed in LaTex, why has my second line of xx's and nn's changed like that?
(edited 11 years ago)
Reply 1
Looks valid to me. And when you wanna do some more latex on a new line you should end the first line (/latex) and start a new (latex)(/latex) on the next line.
n=(x+1)3(x+1)n=(x+1)^3-(x+1)
n=x(x+1)(x+2)n = x(x+1)(x+2)
Original post by Tla
Looks valid to me. And when you wanna do some more latex on a new line you should end the first line (/latex) and start a new (latex)(/latex) on the next line.
n=(x+1)3(x+1)n=(x+1)^3-(x+1)
n=x(x+1)(x+2)n = x(x+1)(x+2)


Cheers, much appreciated on both accounts. Have now fixed the mistake and will remember for the future.
Reply 3
It is valid but you don't really need the substitution:

m3m=m(m21)=(m1)(m)(m+1)m^3-m = m(m^2-1) = (m-1)(m)(m+1)

This is also the product of three consecutive integers.
Original post by notnek
It is valid but you don't really need the substitution:

m3m=m(m21)=(m1)(m)(m+1)m^3-m = m(m^2-1) = (m-1)(m)(m+1)

This is also the product of three consecutive integers.


Damn, you're right. I had tried factorizing it but I hadn't noticed the connection until I made the substitution. Thanks for the input
Reply 5
Original post by Tla
Looks valid to me. And when you wanna do some more latex on a new line you should end the first line (/latex) and start a new (latex)(/latex) on the next line.


Or use these like this \\ sometimes it required \\ \\ to look neat but today it is just one set:s-smilie: weird n and x on second line, what's going on? Does some funny stuff does tex, the different n is because I pressed enter after the \\.

n=(x+1)3(x+1)[br]n=x(x+1)(x+2)n=(x+1)^3-(x+1) \\ [br]n = x(x+1)(x+2)
(edited 11 years ago)
Reply 6
Original post by SubAtomic
Or use these like this \\ sometimes it required \\ \\ to look neat but today it is just one set:s-smilie: weird n and x on second line, what's going on?Other things being equal, it's better to use separate [noparse]......[/noparse] blocks, because then each line is treated separately by the vBulletin system. It makes it easier for other people to put comments between lines etc.
Reply 7
Original post by DFranklin
Other things being equal, it's better to use separate [noparse]......[/noparse] blocks, because then each line is treated separately by the vBulletin system. It makes it easier for other people to put comments between lines etc.


I will bear that in mind in the future, cheers:cool: How come the n and x'es changed in the second line of my reply? Never seen that happen before.
Reply 8
Original post by SubAtomic
I will bear that in mind in the future, cheers:cool: How come the n and x'es changed in the second line of my reply? Never seen that happen before.
Looks like it's changed to "text mode". I don't ever do multi-line LaTeX on here (and it's 20 years since I've done it at all), so I don't think I can suggest anything beyond that!
Reply 9
Original post by SubAtomic
I will bear that in mind in the future, cheers:cool: How come the n and x'es changed in the second line of my reply? Never seen that happen before.


I'd suggest writing "\displaystyle" on each spaced line. That should do the trick.

[br][br]n=(x+1)3(x+1)[br][br]n=x(x+1)(x+2)[br][br]\displaystyle n=(x+1)^3-(x+1)[br][br]\displaystyle n = x(x+1)(x+2)

I'm no expert mind.
(edited 11 years ago)
Reply 10
Original post by SubAtomic
Or use these like this \\ sometimes it required \\ \\ to look neat but today it is just one set:s-smilie: weird n and x on second line, what's going on?

n=(x+1)3(x+1)[br]n=x(x+1)(x+2)n=(x+1)^3-(x+1) \\ [br]n = x(x+1)(x+2)


n=(x+1)3(x+1)n=x(x+1)(x+2) n=(x+1)^3-(x+1) \\ n = x(x+1)(x+2)

See my LaTex.

To start a new line, just write "\\" but then don't press the enter key, write everything in the same line.

NB: I might be wrong because i am not an expert at it.
Original post by f1mad
I'd suggest writing "\displaystyle" on each spaced line. That should do the trick.

[br][br]n=(x+1)3(x+1)[br][br]n=x(x+1)(x+2)[br][br]\displaystyle n=(x+1)^3-(x+1)[br][br]\displaystyle n = x(x+1)(x+2)

I'm no expert mind.



Original post by raheem94
n=(x+1)3(x+1)n=x(x+1)(x+2) n=(x+1)^3-(x+1) \\ n = x(x+1)(x+2)

See my LaTex.

To start a new line, just write "\\" but then don't press the enter key, write everything in the same line.

NB: I might be wrong because i am not an expert at it.


I prefer it to look like this though, with a bit of a space between lines, so it is either

n=(x+1)3(x+1)n=x(x+1)(x+2)\displaystyle n=(x+1)^3-(x+1) \\ \\ n=x(x+1)(x+2)

Or like DFranklin said,

n=(x+1)3(x+1)\displaystyle n=(x+1)^3-(x+1) press enter twice and start the second line.

n=x(x+1)(x+2)\displaystyle n=x(x+1)(x+2)


Just a case of having the (tex)\displaystyle copied in the second way.
(edited 11 years ago)

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