Chapter 6: Problem 12
Prove or disprove the following: (a) The sum of two even integers is an even integer. (b) The sum of two odd integers is an odd integer (c) The sum of two primes is never a prime. (d) The sum of three consecutive integers is divisible by 3 Indicate the methods of proof where appropriate.
Short Answer
Expert verified
(a) True; (b) False; (c) False; (d) True.
Step by step solution
01
Understanding Even Integers
An even integer is one that can be expressed as \( 2k \), where \( k \) is an integer.
02
Prove the Sum of Two Even Integers (a)
Let \( a = 2m \) and \( b = 2n \), where \( m \) and \( n \) are integers. Their sum is \( a + b = 2m + 2n = 2(m + n) \). Since \( 2(m+n) \) is of the form \( 2k \), the sum is even. This is a direct proof.
03
Understanding Odd Integers
An odd integer is one that can be expressed as \( 2k + 1 \), where \( k \) is an integer.
04
Disprove (b) The Sum of Two Odd Integers
Let \( c = 2p + 1 \) and \( d = 2q + 1 \), where \( p \) and \( q \) are integers. Their sum is \( c + d = (2p + 1) + (2q + 1) = 2p + 2q + 2 = 2(p + q + 1) \). Thus, the sum is even, disproving the statement that the sum of two odd integers is odd.
05
Understanding Prime Numbers
A prime number is an integer greater than 1 with no positive divisors other than 1 and itself.
06
Disproving (c) Statement Using Counterexample
Consider the prime numbers 2 and 3; their sum is 5, which is a prime. This counterexample disproves the statement that the sum of two primes is never a prime.
07
Understanding Consecutive Integers
Three consecutive integers can be expressed as \( n, n+1, n+2 \), where \( n \) is an integer.
08
Proof for (d) Using Algebraic Representation
The sum of three consecutive integers \( n, n+1, n+2 \) is \( n + (n+1) + (n+2) = 3n + 3 = 3(n + 1) \). Since \( 3(n + 1) \) is clearly divisible by 3, the statement is proven using an algebraic proof.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Even Integers
Even integers are numbers that can be divided by 2 without leaving a remainder. A number is even if it can be expressed in the form of \( 2k \), where \( k \) is an integer. Consider numbers like 2, 4, 6, and so on—their common characteristic is that you can split them into two equal parts.
For example:
For example:
- When you take the number 8, you can think of it as \( 2 \times 4 \). This confirms that 8 is even.
- The number 14 can be represented as \( 2 \times 7 \), which is also even.
Odd Integers
An odd integer is a number that cannot be divided by 2 evenly. These numbers are in the form \( 2k + 1 \), where \( k \) is an integer. This can be numbers like 1, 3, 5, etc. Each of these numbers has a remainder of 1 when divided by 2.
Consider:
Consider:
- The number 9 can be written as \( 2 \times 4 + 1 \), hence it is odd.
- The number 15 fits the equation \( 2 \times 7 + 1 \).
Prime Numbers
Prime numbers are special. They have exactly two distinct natural number divisors: 1 and the number itself. Examples include 2, 3, 5, and 7. The unique property of prime numbers is a core concept of number theory, used in various applications such as cryptography.
It's important to note:
It's important to note:
- The number 2 is the only even prime number.
- All other prime numbers are odd.
Consecutive Integers
Consecutive integers are numbers that follow each other in order without any gaps. A clear way to think about them is as \( n, n+1, n+2 \), where \( n \) is any given integer.
An example:
An example:
- If you take 4 as \( n \), the consecutive integers are 4, 5, and 6.
- When choosing 7, you have 7, 8, and 9 as consecutive integers.