Question:
For any positive integer n, prove that n3 – n divisible by 6.
Solution:
To Prove: For any positive integer n, n3 − n is divisible by 6.
Proof: Let n be any positive integer.
$\Rightarrow n^{3}-n=(n-1)(n)(n+1)$
Since any positive integer is of the form 6q or 6q + 1 or 6q + 2 or 6q + 3 or 6q + 4, 6q + 5
If n = 6q
Then, $(n-1) n(n+1)=(6 q-1) 6 q(6 q+1)$
which is divisble by 6
If n = 6q + 1
Then, $(n-1) n(n+1)=(6 q)(6 q+1)(6 q+2)$
$\Rightarrow$ which is divisble by 6
If n = 6q + 2
Then, $(n-1) n(n+1)=(6 q+1)(6 q+2)(6 q+3)$
$\Rightarrow(n-1) n(n+1)=6(6 q+1)(3 q+1)(2 q+1)$
which is divisble by 6
Similarly we can prove others.
Hence it is proved that for any positive integer n, n3 − n is divisible by 6.