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Question 13
Use the Question 13 Writing Booklet (a) Prove that for all integers n with n ≥ 3, if 2^n − 1 is prime, then n cannot be even. (b) The numbers a_n, for integers n ≥... show full transcript
Step 1
Answer
To prove this statement, we will prove the contrapositive. Assume n is even, meaning n can be expressed as n = 2k for some integer k ≥ 2. Then:
For k ≥ 2, both factors are greater than 1, hence 2^n − 1 has at least two proper factors and cannot be prime. Thus, we conclude that if 2^n - 1 is prime, then n must be odd.
Step 2
Answer
We begin by checking the base case for n = 1:
a_1 = √2 = 2cos(π/3)
which holds true. Now, assume the relation holds for some n = k:
a_k = 2cos(π/(2k+1)).
We need to show it holds for n = k + 1:
a_{k+1}^2 = a_k^2 + 2a_k.
Substituting our inductive hypothesis gives:
display the relationship:
After simplifying this expression using trigonometric identities, we find that:
a_{k+1} = 2cos(π/(2(k+1)+1))
Thus, by induction, the formula holds for all integers n ≥ 1.
Step 3
Step 4
Answer
Assuming z is a solution of z^5 + 1 = 0 and z^k = -1, we assert:
u = z + rac{1}{z}$$ Calculating z + 1/z:u = e^{(2k + 1)πi/5} + e^{-(2k + 1)πi/5} = 2cosigg(rac{(2k + 1)π}{5}igg)$$
We can conclude that:
u = z + rac{1}{z}$$ does hold.Step 5
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