Induction Proof – Expression Divisible by 11

divisibilityelementary-number-theoryinduction

Prove, by induction that $2^{3n-1}+5\cdot3^n$ is divisible by $11$ for any even number $n\in\Bbb N$.

I am rather confused by this question. This is my attempt so far:

For $n = 2$

$2^5 + 5\cdot 9 = 77$

$77/11 = 7$

We assume that there is a value $n = k$ such that $2^{3k-1} + 5\cdot 3^k$ is divisible by $11$.

We show that it is also divisible by $11$ when $n = k + 2$

$2^{3k+5} + 5\cdot 3^{k+2}$

$32\cdot 2^3k + 5\cdot 9 \cdot3^k$

$32\cdot 2^3k + 45\cdot 3^k$

$64\cdot 2^{3k-1} + 45\cdot 3^k$ (Making both polynomials the same as when $n = k$)

$(2^{3k-1} + 5\cdot 3^k) + (63\cdot 2^{3k-1} + 40\cdot 3^k)$

The first group of terms $(2^{3k-1} + 5\cdot 3^k)$ is divisible by $11$ because we have made an assumption that the term is divisible by $11$ when $n=k$. However, the second group is not divisible by $11$. Where did I go wrong?

Best Answer

Keep going!

$64\cdot 2^{3k-1} + 45\cdot 3^k = 9(2^{3k-1} + 5\cdot3^k) + 55\cdot2^{3k-1}$