Scribd
Upload
32 views3 pages

UBC MATH 220 HW 1 Solutions

The document contains a homework assignment with several mathematical proofs and problems. It includes proofs related to divisibility, inequalities, and properties of integers, along with a discussion on the correctness of a friend's proof. Additionally, it defines 'funky numbers' and explores their properties through various mathematical averages.

Uploaded by

minhyeogj231
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
32 views3 pages

UBC MATH 220 HW 1 Solutions

The document contains a homework assignment with several mathematical proofs and problems. It includes proofs related to divisibility, inequalities, and properties of integers, along with a discussion on the correctness of a friend's proof. Additionally, it defines 'funky numbers' and explores their properties through various mathematical averages.

Uploaded by

minhyeogj231
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

Homework 1

• Please submit your answers to all questions.


• We will mark your answers to 3 questions.
• We will provide you with full solutions to all questions.

1. Let n ∈ Z. Prove that if 3 | n + 1 then 3 ∤ n2 + 5n + 5.

Proof. Assume that 3 | n + 1 and hence n + 1 = 3a, and so n = 3a − 1 for


some a ∈ Z.
Then we see that

n2 + 5n + 5 = (3a − 1)2 + 5(3a − 1) + 5 = 9a2 − 6a + 1 + 15a − 5 + 5


= 9a2 + 9a + 1
= 3(3a2 + 3a) + 1.

Since 3a2 + 3a ∈ Z, by division algorithm, it follows that 3 ∤ n2 + 5n + 5.

2. If −1 < x < 2, then x2 − x − 2 < 0.

Proof. Since −1 < x < 2, we have x + 1 > 0 and x − 2 < 0. So

x2 − x − 2 = (x + 1)(x − 2) < 0.

3. Let x and y be real numbers. Suppose that x < y and y 2 < x2 . Show that
x + y < 0.

Proof. Let x and y be real numbers and assume that x < y and y 2 < x2 .
Then, we have y 2 − x2 < 0 and y 2 − x2 = (y − x)(y + x) < 0. Since
1
y > x, we can multiply on both side by the positive number y−x , which
yields (y + x) < 0.

4. Let n, a, b, x, y ∈ Z. If n | a and n | b, then n | (ax + by).

Proof. : Assume n, a, b, x, y ∈ Z, n | a, and n | b. This implies that a = nk


and b = nl for some k, l ∈ Z. Thus, ax + by = nkx + nly = n(kx + ly). Since
kx + ly ∈ Z for k, x, l, y ∈ Z, then we see n | (ax + by).

5. Let a, b, c, d be integers. Suppose that a, c, b − d are all odd numbers. Prove


ab + cd is odd.
Homework 1
Proof. Let a, b, c, d be integers. Suppose that a, c, b + d are all odd numbers.
Then, since a, c, b + d are odd, we can write
a = 2k1 + 1
c = 2k2 + 1
b − d = 2k3 + 1
for some k1 , k2 , k3 ∈ Z. Then
ab+cd = (2k1 +1)b+(2k2 +1)d = 2(k1 b+k2 d)+(b+d) = 2(k1 b+2k2 d+k3 +d)+1
is an odd number by noting k1 b + k2 d + k3 + d is an integer.

6. We asked our friend to help with the proof of the problem:


”Let a ∈ Z. Prove that if 3a + 1 is odd then 5a + 2 is even.”
And they gave us their work:

Proof: Let a ∈ Z and assume that 3a + 1 is odd. Hence 3a + 1 = 2k + 1


for some k ∈ Z. Then we see that which implies that 3a = 2k, that is,
2k
a= . Hence,
3
 
10a 5a
5a + 2 = +2=2 +1 .
3 3

Therefore 5a + 2 is even.

Is your friend’s work correct? If not, how would you prove the statement?

Solution: The provided proof is wrong/incomplete for a couple of reasons.


2k
Reason one is that in the proof our friend wrote a = , and in the proof
3
10a 10k
wrote 5a + 2 = + 2 which should be + 2. We have to be careful with
3 3
our variables since one variable can be used in many places and such misuse
of the variable can cause confusions later on.
Reason two, at the end ofthe proof (with the corrected variable) our friend
5k
gets 5a + 2 = 2 + 1 to conclude that 5a + 2 is even. However, this
3  
5k
result would be correct only when + 1 is an integer. Our friend hasn’t
  3
5k
shown, or justified that + 1 ∈ Z.
3
The way we can prove the statement is as follows:

Page 2
Homework 1
Proof. Let Let a ∈ Z and assume that 3a + 1 is odd. Hence 3a + 1 = 2k + 1
for some k ∈ Z. Then we see that

5a + 2 = 3a + 1 + 2a + 1 = 2k + 1 + 2a + 1 = 2(k + a + 1).

Then, since k + a + 1 ∈ Z, we see that 5a + 2 is even.

7. Definition: Let n > 0. We will call n a funky number if nk = m for some


k ∈ N and m ∈ Z.
Which of the following options makes the following result correct? (You only
need to pick the one that makes the statement correct, and prove that it
works.)
Result: Given the definition of funky numbers above, if a > 0 and b > 0 are
funky, then so is .
a+b
ˆ the algebraic average of a and b, i.e. .
2
√
ˆ the geometric average of a and b, i.e. ab.
2
ˆ the harmonic average of a and b, i.e. 1 1 .
a
+b

Proof. We are going to prove that if a > 0 and b > 0 are funky, then so is
the geometric average. Assume that a, b > 0 are funky, then, by definition,
there are natural numbers and integers m, s such that ak = n and b√
√k, l2kl
l
= m.
kl l k
Therefore we see that ( ab) = √ (ab) = n m . Since 2kl ∈ N, ab is
defined, and nl mk ∈ Z, we see that ab is also funky.

Page 3

You might also like

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy