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Help me with this maths question?
Prove that (n+1)^2 - (n-1)^2 is always an even number if n is an integer greater than 2.
2 Answers
- Ms. WorthLv 710 years agoFavorite Answer
1) Subtracting an odd number from an odd number always results in an even number.
The definition of an odd number is ( 2n + 1 ), so
( 2n + 3 ) - ( 2n + 1 ) = 2
2) Subtracting even numbers from even numbers also always results in an even number.
( 2n + 2 ) - ( 2n ) = 2
3) Squaring an odd number always results in an odd number.
( 2n + 1 )^2 = 4n^2 + 4n + 1 <-- not factorable by 2
4) Squaring an even number always results in an even number
( 2n )^2 = 4n^2 <-- factorable by 2
5) So if n is odd, the expression calls for squaring two even numbers.
That produces 2 even perfect squares.
Their difference is even (see statement 2)
6) If n is even, the expression calls for squaring two odd numbers.
That produces 2 odd perfect squares.
Their difference is also even (see statement 1)
- jacob sLv 710 years ago
Difference between (n+1)^2 and (n-1)^2 can be written as 4n
(n+1)^2 - (n-1)^2=4n
So if n is odd number, 4n will be even, and their product is always divisible by 2 and therefore the product is a even number.
Further if n is an even number, 4n will be even, and their product will still be divisible by 2 and therefore the product is a even number.