1956 AHSME Problems/Problem 34

Problem 34

If $n$ is any whole number, $n^2(n^2 - 1)$ is always divisible by

$\textbf{(A)}\ 12\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 24\qquad \textbf{(C)}\ \text{any multiple of }12\qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 12-n\qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 12\text{ and }24$

Solution

Suppose $n$ is even. So, we have $n^2(n+1)(n-1).$ Out of these three numbers, at least one of them is going to be a multiple of 3. $n^2$ is also a multiple of 4. Therefore, this expression is always divisible by $\boxed{\textbf{(A)} \quad 12}.$

-coolmath34

1956 AHSC (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by Problem 33	Followed by Problem 35
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 • 39 • 40 • 41 • 42 • 43 • 44 • 45 • 46 • 47 • 48 • 49 • 50
All AHSME Problems and Solutions

These problems are copyrighted © by the Mathematical Association of America, as part of the American Mathematics Competitions.

Page

Toolbox

Search

1956 AHSME Problems/Problem 34

Problem 34

Solution

See Also