Discrete Mathematics with Applications 4th Edition

Published by Cengage Learning
ISBN 10: 0-49539-132-8
ISBN 13: 978-0-49539-132-6

Chapter 4 - Elementary Number Theory and Methods of Proof - Exercise Set 4.4 - Page 190: 36

Answer

See below.

Work Step by Step

Let the four consecutive numbers be $n, n+1, n+2, n+3$, we have: case1: it is even, $n=2k$, thus $n(n+2)=2k(2k+2)=4k(k+1)$, as one of $k$ or $k+1$ must be even, $n(n+2)$ is divisible by 8; case2: it is odd, $n=2k+1$, thus $(n+1)(n+3)=(2k+2)(2k+4)=4(k+1)(k+2)$, as one of $k+1$ or $k+2$ must be even, $(n+1)(n+3)$ is divisible by 8; thus, in any case, the product of any four consecutive numbers is divisible by 8.
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