Question

x²ⁿ⁻¹ + y²ⁿ⁻¹ is divisible by x + y for all n ∈ N.

 

Answer 1

Let P(n) be the given statement.
Now, 

\[P(n): x^{2n - 1} + y^{2n - 1} \text{ is divisible by }  x + y . \]
\[\text{ Step1:}  \]
\[P(1): x^{2 - 1} + y^{2 - 1} = x + y \text{ is divisible by } x + y\]
\[\text{ Step2: } \]
\[\text{ Let P(m) be true } . \]
\[\text{ Also } , \]
\[ x^{2m - 1} + y^{2m - 1} \text{ is divisible by } x + y . \]
\[\text{ Suppose:}  \]
\[ x^{2m - 1} + y^{2m - 1} = \lambda\left( x + y \right) \text{ where}  \lambda \in N . . . (1)\]
\[\text{ We shall show that } P\left( m + 1 \right) \text{ is true whenever } P\left( m \right) \text{ is true }  . \]
\[\text{ Now } , \]
\[P\left( m + 1 \right) = x^{2m + 1} + y^{2m + 1} \]
\[ = x^{2m + 1} + y^{2m + 1} - x^{2m - 1} . y^2 + x^{2m - 1} . y^2 \]
\[ = x^{2m - 1} \left( x^2 - y^2 \right) + y^2 \left( x^{2m - 1} + y^{2m - 1} \right) \left[ \text{ From } (1) \right]\]
\[ = x^{2m - 1} \left( x^2 - y^2 \right) + y^2 . \lambda\left( x + y \right) \]
\[ = \left( x + y \right)\left( x^{2m - 1} \left( x - y \right) + \lambda y^2 \right) [\text{ It is divisible by } (x + y) . ]\]
\[\text{ Thus, } P\left( m + 1 \right) \text{ is true } . \]
\[\text{ By the principle of mathematical induction, P(n) is true for all n } \in N .\]