Mr.

Mohamed Rashwan
P2 Proof

1- by exhaustion
2- by deduction
3- by Counter

Made by Mrs.Amira moharram

INTRODUCTION
Did you know that:
• if you add any odd number to any even number the result will always be odd;
• if you multiply two consecutive integers the result will always be even;
• the square of an odd number will always be odd;
• when the product of two consecutive positive integers is added to the larger integer, the result
is always a square number!
Also, can you see that:
• for integer values of n greater than zero, the expression 8(n + 7) – 5(n + 7) is always a
multiple of 3

You may have known some or all of the ‘facts’ above. If you did not know them, then it would be
easy to do a few calculations to convince yourself that the statements above are indeed true.
If we consider the third example – the square of an odd number will always be odd – we can test
this by squaring odd numbers:
12 = 1
32 = 9
52 = 25
The answers that I am getting are all odd and if I try a few more examples (72, 92 etc.) then I still get
results which are odd numbers.
This does not, however, prove that squaring an odd number will always produce an odd result, it
just shows that it is true for the numbers that I have used in my test – it might be possible that if
very large numbers are squared the rule does not work.
The only way to be certain that a rule works 100% of the time is to devise some sort of
mathematical proof.
There are many different ways of proving (or disproving) results, but in this workbook we are going
to be learning how to ‘construct’ an algebraic proof.
Note: I will using the letters n and m to represent the numbers (integers) in my proofs.

ODD OR EVEN
Even numbers
Even numbers have a factor of two. This means:

If an expression can be factorised into 2n or 2(…) it must be even.

Odd numbers
Odd numbers are one more (or one less) than an even number. This means:

If an expression can be written as 2n ± 1 or 2(…) ± 1 it must be odd.

The following examples use algebra to prove some arithmetic ‘facts’ about odd and even numbers.

Proof 1
Prove algebraically that the sum of any two even numbers is always even.

Solution:
Let the first even number be 2n and the second even number be 2m
Adding gives:
2n + 2m = 2(n + m)
This shows that the expression has a factor of 2 so it is even.

Proof 2
Prove algebraically that the sum of any even number and any odd number is always odd.

Solution:
Let the even number be 2n and the odd number be 2m + 1
Adding gives:
2n + (2m + 1) = 2n + 2m + 1
= 2(n + m) + 1
Thus, the expression can be written as one more than a multiple of 2, so it is odd

Proof 3
Determine algebraically whether the product of an even number and an odd number is always odd,
always even, or could be either odd or even.

Solution:
Let the even number be 2n and the odd number be 2m + 1.
Multiplying gives:
2n(2m + 1)
This shows a factor of 2 so the result is always even.
Proof 4
Determine algebraically whether the square of an odd number is always odd, always even, or could
be either odd or even.

Solution:
Let the odd number be 2n + 1
Squaring gives:
(2n + 1)2 = (2n + 1)(2n + 1)
= 4n2 + 4n + 1
= 2(2n2 + 2n) + 1
The expression can be written as one more than a multiple of 2, so it is always odd.

Proof 5
Prove algebraically that (2n + 1)2 − (2n + 1) is always an even number for all positive integer values
of n.

Solution:
(2n + 1)2 − (2n + 1) = (2n + 1)(2n + 1) − (2n + 1)
= 4n 2 + 4n + 1− 2n − 1
= 4n2 + 2n
= 2(2n2 + n)
This shows a factor of 2 so the expression is even.
CONSECUTIVE INTEGERS

If the starting integer is n, then the next integer will be n + 1 and the one after it n + 2, and so on.
Thus a list of consecutive integers would be written as:
n, n + 1, n + 2, n + 3, n + 4, …

Consecutive even numbers

An even number is a multiple of two so I will choose 2n to be the starting even number. This means
that the list of consecutive even numbers would be written as:
2n, 2n + 2, 2n + 4, 2n + 6, …

Consecutive odd numbers

An odd number is one more (or one less) than a multiple of two so I will choose 2n + 1 as my
starting odd number.
Thus a list of consecutive odd numbers would be written as:
2n + 1, 2n + 3, 2n + 5, 2n + 7, …

The following examples use algebra to prove some arithmetic ‘facts’ about consecutive integers.

Proof 6
Prove algebraically that the sum of any two consecutive integers is always an odd number.

Solution:
Let the starting integer be n.
This means that the next integer will be n + 1 and their sum will be:
n + (n + 1) = 2n + 1
This is one more than a multiple of 2 so the result is odd.

Proof 7
Prove algebraically that the sum of any two consecutive even numbers is always an even number.

Solution:
Let the starting even number be 2n.
This means that the next even number will be 2n + 2 and their sum will be:
2n + (2n + 2) = 4n + 2
= 2(2n + 1)
This shows a factor of 2 so the result is even.
Proof 8
Prove algebraically that the product of any two consecutive odd numbers is always odd.

Solution:
Let the first odd number be 2n + 1.
This means that the next odd number will be 2n + 3 and their product will be
(2n + 1)(2n + 3) = 4n2 + 8n + 3
= (4n2 + 8n + 2) + 1
= 2(2n2 + 4n + 1) + 1
This is one more than a multiple of 2, so it is odd.

Proof 9
Prove algebraically that the sum of the squares of any two consecutive integers is always an odd
number.

Solution:
Let the first integer be n.
This means that the next integer will be n + 1 and the sum of the squares will be
n2 + (n + 1)2 = n2 + n2 + 2n + 1
= 2n2 + 2n + 1
= 2(n2 + n) + 1
This is one more than a multiple of 2, so it is odd.
MULTIPLES
If an expression can be written as 3n or 3(…) then it must be a multiple of 3.
The same applies for 4, 5, 6 etc.

In general, if an expression can be written as kn or k(…) then it must be a multiple of k.

Example 10
Prove algebraically that the sum of any three consecutive integers is always a multiple of 3.

Solution:
Let the first integer be n
This means that the next two integers will be n + 1 and n + 2, and their sum will be
n + (n + 1) + (n + 2) = 3n + 3
= 3(n + 1)
This shows a factor of 3 so the expression is a multiple of 3

Example 11
Prove algebraically that 3(n + 4) + 5(n + 6) is always a multiple of 4

Solution:
3(n + 4) + 5(n + 6) = 3n + 12 + 5n + 30
= 8n + 32
= 4(2n + 8)
This shows a factor of 4 so the expression is a multiple of 4

Example 12
Prove that the square of any odd number is always one more than a multiple of 4

Solution:
If the odd number is 2n + 1 then squaring it gives:
(2n + 1)2 = (2n + 1)(2n + 1)
= 4n2 + 4n + 1
= 4(n2 + n) + 1
Which is one more than a multiple of 4
SAMPLE QUESTIONS 1
(a) Prove algebraically that the sum of two odd numbers is always even.
Let the first odd number be 2n + 1 and the other odd number be 2m + 1
Adding gives:
(2n + 1) + (2m + 1) = 2n + 2m + 2
= 2(n + m + 1)
This shows a factor of 2 so the result is always even.

(b) Prove algebraically that the product of two odd numbers is always odd.
Let the first odd number be 2n + 1 and the other odd number be 2m + 1
Multiplying gives:
(2n + 1)(2m + 1) = 4mn + 2n + 2m + 1
= 2(2mn + n + m) + 1
The expression can be written as one more than a multiple of 2, so it is always odd

(c) Prove algebraically that the difference between two odd numbers is always even.
Let the first odd number be 2n + 1 and the other odd number be 2m + 1
Subtracting gives:
(2n + 1) − (2m + 1) = 2n + 1− 2m − 1
= 2n − 2m
= 2(n − m)
This shows a factor of 2 so the result is always even.

(d) Prove algebraically that the difference between an odd number and an even number is always
odd.
Let the odd number be 2n + 1 and the even number be 2m
Subtracting gives:
(2n + 1) − 2m = 2n − 2m + 1
= 2(n − m) + 1
The expression can be written as one more than a multiple of 2, so it is always odd
(e) Prove algebraically that the square of an even number is always even.
Let the even number be 2n
Squaring gives:
(2n)2 = 4n2
= 2(2n2 )
This shows a factor of 2 so the result is always even.

(f) Prove algebraically that 7(n + 2) − 3(n + 4) is always even.

7(n + 2) − 3(n + 4) = 7n + 14 − 3n − 12
= 4n + 2
= 2(2n + 1)
This shows a factor of 2 so the result is always even.

(g) Prove algebraically that n2 – 2 – (n – 2)2 is always an even number.

n2 − 2 − (n − 2)2 = n2 − 2 − ⎡⎣ n2 − 4n + 4 ⎤⎦
= n2 − 2 − n2 + 4n − 4
= 4n − 6
= 2(2n − 3)
This shows a factor of 2 so the result is always even.

(h) Prove algebraically that (n + 1)2 – (n – 1)2 + 1 is odd for all positive integer values of n.
(n + 1)2 − (n − 1)2 + 1 = ⎡⎣ n2 + 2n + 1⎤⎦ − ⎡⎣ n2 − 2n + 1⎤⎦ + 1
= n2 + 2n + 1− n2 + 2n − 1+ 1
= 4n + 1
This is one more than a multiple of 2 so the result is an odd number.

(i) Prove algebraically that (n + 3)(2n + 1) + (n – 2)(2n + 1) is not an even number.

(n + 3)(2n + 1) + (n − 2)(2n + 1) = ⎡⎣ 2n2 + n + 6n + 3⎤⎦ + ⎡⎣ 2n2 + n − 4n − 2 ⎤⎦
= 2n2 + 7n + 3+ 2n2 − 3n − 2
= 4n2 + 4n + 1
= 2(2n2 + 2n) + 1
This is one more than a multiple of 2 so the result is odd, not even.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS 2
(a) Prove algebraically that the sum of any two consecutive odd numbers is always even.
Let the first odd number be 2n + 1.
This means that the next odd number will be 2n + 3 and their sum will be
(2n + 1) + (2n + 3) = 4n + 4
= 2(2n + 2)
This shows a factor of 2 so it is even.

(b) Prove algebraically that the difference between any two consecutive odd numbers is always
two.
Let the first odd number be 2n + 1.
This means that the next odd number will be 2n + 3 and their difference will be
(2n + 3) − (2n + 1) = 2n + 3− 2n − 1
=2

(c) Prove algebraically that the product of any two consecutive even numbers is always even.
Let the first even number be 2n.
This means that the next even number will be 2n + 2 and their product will be:
2n(2n + 2) = 4n2 + 4n
= 2(2n2 + 2n)
This shows a factor of 2 so it is even

(d) Prove algebraically that the mean of three consecutive integers is always the middle number
Let the first integer be n.
This means that the next two integers will be n + 1 and n + 2
Their mean will be:
n + (n + 1) + (n + 2) 3n + 3
=
3 3
3(n + 1)
=
3
= n +1
Which is the middle number
(e) Prove algebraically that the sum of any three consecutive even integers is always even.
Let the first even integer be 2n.
This means that the next two even integers will be 2n + 2 and 2n + 4 and their sum will be:
2n + (2n + 2) + (2n + 4) = 6n + 6
= 2(3n + 3)
This shows a factor of 2 so it is even

(f) Prove algebraically that the difference between the squares of any two consecutive integers is
always an odd number.
Let the first integer be n.
This means that the next integer will be n + 1 and the difference between the squares is
(n + 1)2 − n2 = ⎡⎣ n2 + 2n + 1⎤⎦ − n2
= 2n + 1
This is one more than a multiple of two so it is an odd number.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS 3
(a) Prove algebraically that 5(n + 7) + 3(n + 3) is always a multiple of 4
5(n + 7) + 3(n + 3) = 5n + 35 + 3n + 9
= 8n + 44
= 4(2n + 11)
This shows a factor of 4 so the result is a multiple of 4.

(b) Prove algebraically that 8(n + 7) – 5(n + 4) is always a multiple of 3

8(n + 7) − 5(n + 4) = 8n + 56 − 5n − 20
= 3n + 36
= 3(n + 12)
This shows a factor of 3 so the result is a multiple of 3.

(c) Prove algebraically that 7(n + 8) + 5(n – 4) is always a multiple of 12

7(n + 8) + 5(n − 4) = 7n + 56 + 5n − 20
= 12n + 36
= 12(n + 3)
This shows a factor of 12 so the result is a multiple of 12.

(d) Prove algebraically that (m + 2)2 – m2 – 12 is always a multiple of 4

(m + 2)2 − m2 − 12 = ⎡⎣ m2 + 4m + 4 ⎤⎦ − m2 − 12
= 4m − 8
= 4(m − 2)
This shows a factor of 4 so the result is a multiple of 4.

(e) Prove algebraically that (n + 6)2 – (n + 2)2 is always a multiple of 8, for all positive integer
values of n.
(n + 6)2 − (n + 2)2 = ⎡⎣ n2 + 12n + 36 ⎤⎦ − ⎡⎣ n2 + 4n + 4 ⎤⎦
= n2 + 12n + 36 − n2 − 4n − 4
= 8n + 32
= 8(n + 4)
This shows a factor of 8 so the result is a multiple of 8.

(f) Prove algebraically that (5n – 3)2 – 3(3 – 10n) is always a multiple of 5
(5n − 3)2 − 3(3− 10n) = ⎡⎣ 25n2 − 30n + 9 ⎤⎦ − 9 + 30n
= 25n2
= 5 × 5n2
This shows a factor of 5 so the result is a multiple of 5.
(g) Prove algebraically that (4n + 2)2 – 12(n + 1) is always a multiple of 4
(4n + 2)2 − 12(n + 1) = ⎡⎣16n2 + 16n + 4 ⎤⎦ − 12n − 12
= 16n2 + 4n − 8
= 4(4n2 + n − 2)
This shows a factor of 4 so the result is a multiple of 4.

(h) Prove algebraically that (4n + 1)2 – (4n – 1)2 is always a multiple of 8, for all positive integer
values of n.
(4n + 1)2 − (4n − 1)2 = ⎡⎣16n2 + 8n + 1⎤⎦ − ⎡⎣16n2 − 8n + 1⎤⎦
= 16n2 + 8n + 1− 16n2 + 8n − 1
= 16n
= 8(2n)
This shows a factor of 8 so the result is a multiple of 8.

(i) Show that when x is a whole number 7(2x + 1) + 6(x+ 3) is always a multiple of 5
7(2x + 1) + 6(x + 3) = 14x + 7 + 6x + 18
= 20x + 25
= 5(4x + 5)
This shows a factor of 5 so the result is a multiple of 5.

(j) Prove algebraically that the sum of three consecutive odd numbers is always a multiple of 3
Let the first odd number be 2n + 1.
This means that the next two odd numbers will be 2n + 3 and 2n + 5 and their sum will be:
(2n + 1) + (2n + 3) + (2n + 5) = 6n + 9
= 3(2n + 3)
This shows a factor of 3 so the result is a multiple of 3.

(k) Prove that (2n + 1)2 – (2n – 1)2 – 2 is not a multiple of 4 for all positive integer values of n.
(2n + 1)2 − (2n − 1)2 − 2 = ⎡⎣ 4n2 + 4n + 1⎤⎦ − ⎡⎣ 4n2 − 4n + 1⎤⎦ − 2
= 4n2 + 4n + 1− 4n2 + 4n − 1− 2
= 8n − 2
Thus the expression does not have a factor of 4, so the result is not a multiple of 4.
MIXED QUESTIONS
(a) Prove algebraically that the sum of the squares of any two odd positive integers is
always even.
If the first odd integer is 2n + 1 and the second odd integer is 2m + 1, then
the sum of their squares will be:
(2n + 1)2 + (2m + 1)2 = ⎡⎣ 4n2 + 4n + 1⎤⎦ + ⎡⎣ 4m2 + 4m + 1⎤⎦
= 4n2 + 4m2 + 4n + 4m + 2
= 2(2n2 + 2m2 + 2n + 2m + 1)
This shows a factor of 2 so the result is always even.

(b) Prove that the sum of the squares of two consecutive odd numbers is always 2 more than a
multiple of 8.
If the first odd integer is 2n + 1, then the second odd integer will be 2n + 3, and
the sum of their squares will be:
(2n + 1)2 + (2n + 3)2 = ⎡⎣ 4n2 + 4n + 1⎤⎦ + ⎡⎣ 4n2 + 12n + 9 ⎤⎦
= 8n2 + 16n + 10
= 8n2 + 16n + 8 + 2
= 8(n2 + 2n + 1) + 2
Which is two more than a multiple of 8.

(c) Prove algebraically that the sum of any two consecutive odd numbers is always a
multiple of 4.
If the first odd integer is 2n + 1, then the second odd integer will be 2n + 3, and
their sum will be:
(2n + 1) + (2n + 3) = 4n + 4
= 4(n + 1)
This shows a factor of 4 so the result is a multiple of 4.

(d) Prove that the sum of the squares of any three consecutive odd numbers is always 11 more
than a multiple of 12.
If the first odd integer is 2n + 1, then the second odd integer will be 2n + 3, and the third will
be 2n +5. The sum of their squares will be:
(2n + 1)2 + (2n + 3)2 + (2n + 5)2 = ⎡⎣ 4n2 + 4n + 1⎤⎦ + ⎡⎣ 4n2 + 12n + 9 ⎤⎦ + ⎡⎣ 4n2 + 20n + 25⎤⎦
= 12n2 + 36n + 35
= 12n2 + 36n + 24 + 11
= 12(n2 + 3n + 2) + 11
Which is 11 more than a multiple of 12.
(e) Prove algebraically that n2 − 2 − (n − 2)2 is always an even number.
n2 − 2 − (n − 2)2 = n2 − 2 − ⎡⎣ n2 − 4n + 4 ⎤⎦
= n2 − 2 − n2 + 4n − 4
= 4n − 6
= 2(2n − 3)
This shows a factor of 2 so the result is an even number.

(f) Prove that (3n + 1)2 – (3n – 1)2 is always a multiple of 12, for all positive integer values of n.
(3n + 1)2 − (3n − 1)2 = ⎡⎣9n2 + 6n + 1⎤⎦ − ⎡⎣9n2 − 6n + 1⎤⎦
= 9n2 + 6n + 1− 9n2 + 6n − 1
= 12n
This shows a factor of 12 so the result is a multiple of 12.

(g) Prove that (8n + 2)2 – (8n – 3)2 is always a multiple of 5

(8n + 2)2 − (8n − 3)2 = ⎡⎣64n2 + 32n + 4 ⎤⎦ − ⎡⎣64n2 − 48n + 9 ⎤⎦
= 64n2 + 32n + 4 − 64n2 + 48n − 9
= 80n − 5
= 5(16n − 1)
This shows is a factor of 5 so the result is a multiple of 5.

(h) Prove algebraically that the sum of four consecutive integers is not divisible by 4.
If the first integer is n, then the next three integers will be n + 1, n + 2 and n + 3
Their sum will be:
n + (n + 1) + (n + 2) + (n + 3) = 4n + 6
4n + 6 does not have a factor of 4 so the result is not a multiple of 4 and is therefore not
divisible by 4.

(i) Prove that (n – 1)2 + n2 + (n + 1)2 = 3n2 + 2

(n − 1)2 + n2 + (n + 1)2 = ⎡⎣ n2 − 2n + 1⎤⎦ + n2 + ⎡⎣ n2 + 2n + 1⎤⎦
= 3n2 + 2
EXTENSION 1
(a) Prove that an odd number cubed is also odd.
Let the odd number be 2n + 1 so cubing it will give:
(2n + 1)3 = (2n + 1)(2n + 1)(2n + 1)
= (2n + 1) ⎡⎣ 4n 2 + 4n + 1⎤⎦
= 8n3 + 8n2 + 2n + 4n2 + 4n + 1
= 8n3 + 12n2 + 6n + 1
= 2(4n3 + 6n2 + 3n) + 1
This is one more than a multiple of 2 so it is odd.

(b) Prove that the sum of two consecutive multiples of 5 is always an odd number.
Let the first multiple of five be 5n.
This means that the next multiple of five will be 5n + 5 and their sum will be:
5n + (5n + 5) = 10n + 5
= 10n + 4 + 1
= 2(5n + 2) + 1
This is one more than a multiple of 2 so it is odd.

(c) Given that 2(x – n) = x + 5 where n is an integer, prove that x must be an odd number.
2(x − n) = x + 5
⇒ 2x − 2n = x + 5
⇒ x = 2n + 5
⇒ x = 2n + 4 + 1
⇒ x = 2(n + 2) + 1
This shows that x is one more than a multiple of 2 so x is odd.

(d) Given that 4(x + n) = 3x + 10 where n is an integer, prove that x must be an even number.
4(x + n) = 3x + 10
⇒ 4x + 4n = 3x + 10
⇒ x = 4n + 10
⇒ x = 2(2n + 5)
This shows that x has a factor of 2 so x is even.
(e) Prove that if the difference of two integers is 4, then the difference of their squares is a
multiple of 8
Let the integers be n and m.
If their difference if 4, then:
n− m= 4
⇒ n = m+ 4
⇒ n2 − m2 = (m + 4)2 − m2
= m2 + 8m + 16 − m2
= 8m + 16
= 8(m + 2)
This shows a factor of 8 so the answer is always a multiple of 8.

(f) Prove that for any three consecutive numbers, the difference between the squares of the first
and last numbers is 4 times the middle number.
Let the first integer be n.
This means that the middle integer will be n + 1 and the last integer will be n + 2
So the difference between the squares of the first and last numbers will be:
(n + 2)2 − n2 = n2 + 4n + 4 − n2
= 4n + 4
= 4(n + 1)
Which is 4 times the middle number.

(g) If n is a positive integer greater than 1, prove that n3 − n is a multiple of 6 for all possible
values of n.
n3 − n = n(n2 − 1)
= n(n + 1)(n − 1)
This is the product of three consecutive integers.
With three consecutive integers, at least one of them must be even and so the result must
be a multiple of 2.
With three consecutive integers, exactly one will be a multiple of three so the result
must also be a multiple of 3.
If the result is both a multiple of 2 and a multiple of 3, then it must be a multiple of 6.
(h) Prove that the difference between the squares of any two consecutive integers is equal to the
sum of the two integers.
Let the first integer be n.
This means the next integer will be n + 1 and the difference between their squares will be:
(n + 1)2 − n2 = n2 + 2n + 1− n2
= 2n + 1
= n + n +1
= n + (n + 1)
Which is the sum of the two integers.

(i) Prove that the sum of the squares of two consecutive odd numbers is always 2 more than a
multiple of 8
Let the first odd number be 2n + 1
This means that the next odd number will be 2n + 3 and the sum of their squares will be:
(2n + 1)2 + (2n + 3)2 = ⎡⎣ 4n2 + 4n + 1⎤⎦ + ⎡⎣ 4n2 + 12n + 9 ⎤⎦
= 8n2 + 16n + 10
= 8n2 + 16n + 8 + 2
= 8(n2 + 2n + 1) + 2
Which is two more than a multiple of 8.

(j) The product of two consecutive positive integers is added to the larger of the two integers.
Prove that the result is always a square number.
Let the first integer be n.
This means that the next (larger) integer will be n + 1 and so:
n(n + 1) + (n + 1) = n2 + n + n + 1
= n2 + 2n + 1
= (n + 1)2
Which is the square of the larger number.
EXTENSION 2
(a) If a, b and c are three consecutive integers, prove that c2 – a2 = 4b
If the smallest integer is a then b = a + 1 and c = a + 2
Therefore:
c 2 − a 2 = (a + 2)2 − a 2
= ⎡⎣ a 2 + 4a + 4 ⎤⎦ − a 2
= 4a + 4
= 4(a + 1)
= 4b

(b) Given that n is an integer, prove algebraically that the sum of (n + 2)(n + 1) and n + 2 is
always a square number.
(n + 1)(n + 2) + (n + 2) = ⎡⎣ n2 + 3n + 2 ⎤⎦ + (n + 2)
= n2 + 4n + 4
= (n + 2)2
Which is a square number.

(c) Prove that for any two numbers the product of their difference and their sum is equal to the
difference of their squares.
Let the first number be n and the second number be m.
This means that the product of their difference and sum is:
(m − n)(m + n) = m2 + mn − mn − n2
= m2 − n 2
Which is the difference of their squares.

(d) If a, b, c and d are four consecutive integers, show that the product of the first and last is two
less than the product of the second and third.
If the smallest integer is a then b = a + 1, c = a + 2 and d = a + 3
Therefore the product of the first and last is:
ad = a(a + 3)
= a 2 + 3a
= a 2 + 3a + 2 − 2
= (a + 1)(a + 2) − 2
= bc − 2
Which is two less than the product of the second and third.
(e) Given that n is an integer, prove that (n – 2)(n + 3) + (6 – n) is a square number.
(n − 2)(n + 3) + (6 − n) = ⎡⎣ n2 + 3n − 2n − 6 ⎤⎦ + 6 − n
= n2
So the result is a square number.

n(n + 1)
(f) Given that triangle numbers can be represented by Tn = .
2
Prove that eight times any triangle number is one less than a square number.
n(n + 1)
8× = 4n(n + 1)
2
= 4n2 + 4n
= ⎡⎣ 4n2 + 4n + 1⎤⎦ − 1
= (2n + 1)(2n + 1) − 1
= (2n + 1) 2 − 1
Which is one less than a square number.

(g) n is an integer.
1 1
Prove algebraically that the sum of n(n + 1) and (n + 1)(n + 2) is always a square number.
2 2
1 1 1 1
n(n + 1) + (n + 1)(n + 2) = ⎡⎣ n2 + n ⎤⎦ + ⎡⎣ n2 + 3n + 2 ⎤⎦
2 2 2 2
1 1 1 3
= n2 + n + n2 + n + 1
2 2 2 2
= n + 2n + 1
2

= (n + 1)(n + 1)
= (n + 1) 2
Which is a square number.

(h) x is a positive whole number.

Explain why the expression 2x2 + 5x + 2 can never have a value that is a prime number.
2x 2 + 5x + 2 = (2x + 1)(x + 2)
Thus, the expression can be written as the product of two integers both of which are
greater than one. This means that it will only ever evaluate to a composite number,
never a prime.

(i) 261 − 1 is a prime number. Explain why 261 + 1 must be a multiple of 3.

261 – 1, 261 and 261 + 1 are three consecutive integers so one of them must be a multiple of 3
261 – 1 is not the multiple of 3 because it is prime.
61
2 is not the multiple of 3 because it only has factors which are powers of 2
This means that 261 – 1 must be the multiple of 3