My Math Forum verify by induction that $5^{2n} - 1$ is divisible by 24.
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December 9th, 2016, 03:48 PM   #1
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verify by induction that $5^{2n} - 1$ is divisible by 24.

Hi,

I have done this exercise and kindly I would want to receive some possible corrections and suggestions!

Also I have looked at the Peano Postulates or Axioms:
Quote:
 Let there exists a non-empty set $\mathbb{N}$ such that Postulate I: $1 \in \mathbb{N}$; Postulate II: For each $n \in \mathbb{N}$ there exists a unique $n^{*} \in \mathbb{N}$, called the successor of n; Postulate III: For each $n \in \mathbb{N}$ we have $n^* \ne 1$; Postulate IV: If $m,n \in \mathbb{N}$ and $m^* = n^*$, then $m = n$; Postulate V: Any subset $K$ of $\mathbb{N}$ having the properties (a) $1 \in K$ (b) $k^* \in K$ whenever $k \in K$ is equal to $\mathbb{N}$.

Exercise:
Using the principle of mathematical induction, check the truth of
$24 | 5^{2n} - 1$
for each $n \in \mathbb{N}$

My own development:
$P(n) : 5^{2n} - 1$ is divisible by 24, for each $n \in \mathbb{N}$

Consider a set $K = \left \{ k : k \in \mathbb{N}, P(k) \mbox{ is true } \right \}$ i.e. a set $K$ containing all the $k$ numbers that makes $P(n)$ true when $n=k$

Consider $1 \in \mathbb{N}$ for the first Peano Axiom.
Let's check if $P(n)$ is true for $n=1$. If so, $1$ will be an element to include in the set $K$ defined above:
$P(1) : 5^{2(1)} - 1 = \\ = 5^2 - 1 = \\ = 25 - 1 = \\ = 24$
is divisible by $24$.

And the value $24$ we just obtained, is divisible by $24$ .
so $P(1)$ seems to be true!
Therefore we have $1 \in K$. And the Postulate V (a) is fulfilled.

Consider now, $k$ any other element in $K$, we suppose that is true the following proposition:
$P(k) : 5^{2k} - 1$ is divisible by $24$ for each $k \in \mathbb{N}$
we want to know if also the successor of $k$, will be in $K$.

So we consider $k^{*}$ as the successor of $k$. We want to check the truth of:
$P(k^{*}) : 5^{2k^{*}} - 1$ is divisible by $24$, for each $k \in \mathbb{N}$

for one definition of addition in $\mathbb{N}$ we have that
$k + 1 = k^{*}$
i.e. the successor of a number is that number added with $1$

so going to substituting we obtain:
$P(k+1) : 5^{2(k+1)} - 1 = \\ = 5^{2k + 2} - 1 = \\ = 5^{2k} \cdot 5^{2} - 1 = \\ = 5^{2k} \cdot 25 - 1 = \\ = 5^{2k} \cdot (24 + 1) - 1 = \\ = ( 5^{2k} \cdot 24 ) + (5^{2k} - 1),$
is divisible by $24$.

We can see that $( 5^{2k} \cdot 24 )$ is divisible by $24$,
and also $(5^{2k} - 1)$ is is divisible by $24$ by inductive hypotesis,
hence $( 5^{2k} \cdot 24 ) + (5^{2k} - 1)$ is divisible by $24$.
So $P(k+1)$ is true.

Since also $k^{*} \in K$, for each $k \in \mathbb{N}$, the Postulate V (b) is fulfilled. It follows that $K = \mathbb{N}$, the Postulate V is fullfilled, and the proposition is valid for every $n \in \mathbb{N}$

What do you think about it?
Many thanks!

 December 9th, 2016, 04:04 PM #2 Senior Member     Joined: Sep 2015 From: CA Posts: 595 Thanks: 319 I think you can make it about a fifth of its length. You can assume your audience understands how induction works. $P_1: 5^2 - 1 \pmod{24} = (25-1)\pmod{24}= 24\pmod{24}=0$ $P_1 =True$ $5^{2(n+1)}-1 = 5^2(5^{2n})-1$ We assume $P_n$ so $5^2(5^{2n})-1 = 5^2(24k+1)-1 = (25)(24)k + 25-1 = (25k+1)(24)$ $(25k+1)(24) \pmod{24} = 0$ so $P_{n+1} = True$ QED Thanks from beesee and topsquark Last edited by skipjack; December 13th, 2016 at 03:07 AM.
December 9th, 2016, 04:50 PM   #3
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Yes it's clear thanks!

Quote:
 Originally Posted by romsek You can assume your audience understands how induction works.
Yes, but, I want to share this topic with step by step passages, also with beginner people that now starts to understand how induction works! (like me).

December 9th, 2016, 05:28 PM   #4
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Math Focus: Wibbly wobbly timey-wimey stuff.
Quote:
 Originally Posted by beesee Yes it's clear thanks! Yes, but, I want to share this topic with step by step passages, also with beginner people that now starts to understand how induction works! (like me).
And I, for one, am glad you did. I've never seen it broken down like that.

-Dan

 December 9th, 2016, 08:42 PM #5 Member   Joined: Oct 2016 From: Melbourne Posts: 37 Thanks: 18 My method: The statement "24 divides \displaystyle \begin{align*} 5^{2\,n} - 1 \end{align*} for all \displaystyle \begin{align*} n \in \mathbf{N} \end{align*}" is equivalent to "\displaystyle \begin{align*} 5^{2\,n} - 1 = 24\,p \end{align*} where \displaystyle \begin{align*} n, p \in \mathbf{N} \end{align*}". Base Step: \displaystyle \begin{align*} 5^{2 \cdot 1} - 1 &= 5^2 - 1 \\ &= 25 - 1 \\ &= 24 \\ &= 24 \cdot 1 \end{align*} The base step is true. Inductive Step: Assume that \displaystyle \begin{align*} 5^{2\,k} - 1 = 24\,m \end{align*} is a true statement for some \displaystyle \begin{align*} k, m \in \mathbf{N} \end{align*}. Then \displaystyle \begin{align*} 5^{2\,\left( k + 1 \right) } - 1 &= 5^{2\,k + 2} - 1 \\ &= 5^{2\,k} \cdot 5^2 - 1 \\ &= 25 \cdot 5^{2\,k} - 1 \\ &= 24 \cdot 5^{2\,k} + 5^{2\,k} - 1 \\ &= 24 \cdot 5^{2\,k} + 24\,m \\ &= 24 \,\left( 5^{2\,k} + m \right) \\ &= 24\,p \textrm{ where } p = 5^{2\,k} + m \end{align*} The inductive step is true. Thus we have proved that 24 divides \displaystyle \begin{align*} 5^{2\,n} - 1 \end{align*} for all \displaystyle \begin{align*} n \in \mathbf{N} \end{align*}. Thanks from beesee
 December 10th, 2016, 06:08 PM #6 Senior Member   Joined: Dec 2015 From: Earth Posts: 114 Thanks: 17 $\displaystyle 5^{2n} -1=25^n-1=25^n-1^n=24(25^{n-1}+25^{n-2}+....+1)$ $\displaystyle 24|24(25^{n-1}+25^{n-2}+....+1)$ Thanks from beesee and topsquark
December 13th, 2016, 02:15 AM   #7
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Quote:
 Originally Posted by idontknow $\displaystyle =25^n-1^n=24(25^{n-1}+25^{n-2}+....+1)$
please can you explain me better what are the calculations used between these two passages? Thanks!

December 13th, 2016, 03:15 AM   #8
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Quote:
 Originally Posted by beesee What do you think about it?
It contains various slips. For example, your reference to "any other element" is inappropriate (as you intend to show that such an element exists, you shouldn't assume it does).

 December 13th, 2016, 06:20 AM #9 Member   Joined: Jun 2014 From: Alberta Posts: 55 Thanks: 2 I was taught a slightly different but easier way. If (base case) 5^(2(1)) - 1 = 24, 5^(2n) - 1 = 24m, m,n E N ---> 5^(2n+2) - 1 = 24p = 25*5^(2n) - 1 = 25(24m + 1) - 1, p E N Then 5^(2n) - 1 = 24m That should be all you need, except maybe add a little more work to show that 24p = 25(24m + 1) - 1 = 25*24m + 24, which is just trivial arithmetic.
December 13th, 2016, 06:37 AM   #10
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Quote:
 Originally Posted by beesee can you explain the calculations used between these two passages?
This relates to a direct method, not one that uses mathematical induction.
To understand it, expand $(25 - 1)(25^{n-1} + 25^{n-2} + \,.\,.\,. + 1)$.

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