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23 September, 12:42

Prove that 3 divides 2n^2 + 1 if and only if 3 does not divide n

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  1. 23 September, 13:58
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    We have the operation:

    (2n² + 1) / 3

    2n (n/3) + 1/3

    Since we are to use the condition that 3 does not divide n, we have:

    n/3 = q + r/3

    n = 3q + r

    where q is the quotient and r is the remainder and not divisible by 3 or equal to 0

    both q and r are whole numbers

    Substituting,

    2 (3q + r) (q + r/3) + 1/3

    6q² + 4qr + 2r²/3 + 1/3

    6q² + 4qr + (2r² + 1) / 3

    The term:

    (2r² + 1) / 3

    will only be a whole number if r is not divisible by 3 or equal to 0, which means that

    (2n² + 1) / 3

    is a whole number if and only if

    n/3 is not a whole number
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