Show that product of three consecutive natural numbers is divisible by 6.

+2 votes
1,077 views
asked Apr 10, 2017 in Mathematics by Annu Priya (18,055 points) 24 45 84

1 Answer

+1 vote
answered Apr 10, 2017 by sarthaks (25,122 points) 9 24 36
 
Best answer

Solution:

Let three consecutive positive integers be, n, n + 1 and n + 2. 

When a number is divided by 3, the remainder obtained is either 0 or 1 or 2.  

∴ n = 3p or 3p + 1 or 3p + 2, where p is some integer.

If n = 3p, then n is divisible by 3. 

If n = 3p + 1, ⇒ n + 2 = 3p + 1 + 2 = 3p + 3 = 3(p + 1) is divisible by 3. 

If n = 3p + 2, ⇒ n + 1 = 3p + 2 + 1 = 3p + 3 = 3(p + 1) is divisible by 3. 

So, we can say that one of the numbers among n, n + 1 and n + 2 is always divisible by 3.  

⇒ n (n + 1) (n + 2) is divisible by 3. 

Similarly, when a number is divided 2, the remainder obtained is 0 or 1. 

∴ n = 2q or 2q + 1, where q is some integer. 

If n = 2q ⇒ n and n + 2 = 2q + 2 = 2(q + 1) are divisible by 2. 

If n = 2q + 1 ⇒ n + 1 = 2q + 1 + 1 = 2q + 2 = 2 (q + 1) is divisible by 2. 

So, we can say that one of the numbers among n, n + 1 and n + 2 is always divisible by 2. 

⇒ n (n + 1) (n + 2) is divisible by 2. 

Hence n (n + 1) (n + 2) is divisible by 2 and 3.

∴ n (n + 1) (n + 2) is divisible by 6. 

Welcome to Sarthaks eConnect: A unique platform where students can interact with teachers/experts/students to get solutions to their queries. Students (upto class 10+2) preparing for All Government Exams, CBSE Board Exam, ICSE Board Exam, State Board Exam, JEE (Mains+Advance) and NEET can ask questions from any subject and get quick answers by subject teachers/ experts/mentors/students.

One Thought Forever

“There is a close connection between getting up in the world and getting up in the morning.“
– Anon
~~~*****~~~

...