Loading [MathJax]/jax/output/HTML-CSS/jax.js
Now you are in the subtree of Math public knowledge tree. 

Problem #5

Question: Prove that for any integer n, at least one of the integers n, n+2, n+4 is divisible by 3.


Claim: for any integer n, at least one of the integers n, n+2, n+4 is divisible by 3.
Proof: by the General Division Theorem, every integer number n can be presented as 3q+r, where 0r<3, so n can be in one of those forms:
3q+0
3q+1
3q+2
Suppose we get an arbitrary n in the form 3q+0. It's clear that in this case n is divisible by 3, by the divisibility property.
Suppose we get an arbitrary n in the form 3q+1. n is not divisible by 3. But n+2=(3q+1)+2=3q+3=3(q+1) is, by divisibility property.
Suppose we get an arbitrary n in the form 3q+2. n is not divisible by 3. n+2=(3q+2)+2=3q+4 is not divisible by 3. But n+4=(3q+2)+4=3q+6=3(q+2) is, by divisibility property.
We have got an integer n in all forms it can be and proved that at least one of the integers n, n+2, n+4 is divisible by 3, thus for any integer n the initial claim has been proved.