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Tamil Nadu Board of Secondary EducationHSC Commerce Class 11

By the principle of mathematical induction, prove the following: n(n + 1) (n + 2) is divisible by 6, for all n ∈ N. - Business Mathematics and Statistics

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Question

By the principle of mathematical induction, prove the following:

n(n + 1) (n + 2) is divisible by 6, for all n ∈ N.

Sum

Solution

P(n): n(n + 1) (n + 2) is divisible by 6.

P(1): 1 (2) (3) = 6 is divisible by 6

∴ P(1) is true.

Let us assume that P(k) is true for n = k

That is, k (k + 1) (k + 2) = 6m for some m

To prove P(k + 1) is true i.e. to prove (k + 1) (k + 2)(k + 3) is divisible by 6.

P(k + 1) = (k + 1) (k + 2) (k + 3)

= (k + 1)(k + 2)k + 3(k + 1)(k + 2)

= 6m + 3(k + 1)(k + 2)

In the second term either k + 1 or k + 2 will be even, whatever be the value of k.

Hence second term is also divisible by 6.

∴ P (k + 1) is also true whenever P(k) is true.

By Mathematical Induction P (n) is true for all values of n.

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Mathematical Induction
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Chapter 2: Algebra - Exercise 2.5 [Page 41]

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