Question

Show that n(n+1)(n+2) is divisible by 6Solution(​

Answer 1

Proof by induction

Base case:

n=1: 1*2*3=6 is obviously divisible by six.

Assumption: For every n>1 n(n+1)(n+2) is divisible by 6.

For n+1:

(n+1)(n+2)(n+3)=

(n(n+1)(n+2)+3(n+1)(n+2))

We have assumed that n(n+1)(n+2) is divisble by 6.

We now only need to prove that 3(n+1)(n+2) is divisible by 6.

If 3(n+1)(n+2) is divisible by 6, then (n+1)(n+2) must be divisible by 2.

The "cool" part about this proof.

Since n is a natural number greater than 1 we can say the following:

If n is an odd number, then n+1 is even, then n+1 is divisible by 2 thus (n+1)(n+2) is divisible by 2,so we have proved what we wanted.

If n is an even number" then n+2 is even, then n+1 is divisible by 2 thus (n+1)(n+2) is divisible by 2,so we have proved what we wanted.

Therefore by using the method of mathematical induction we proved that for every natural number n, n(n+1)(n+2) is divisible by 6. QED.