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ExamsJEE MainMaths

If n is a natural number and n is odd, which of the following must divide n(n² - 1)?

  1. 24
  2. 16
  3. 32
  4. 19

Correct answer: 24

Solution

Since n is an odd natural number, n can be expressed as 2k + 1 for some integer k. The expression n(n² - 1) can be factored as n(n - 1)(n + 1), which includes three consecutive integers: n (odd), n - 1 (even), and n + 1 (even). Among these, one of the even numbers is divisible by 4, and the other is divisible by 2, ensuring that the product is divisible by 8. Additionally, since one of the three integers is odd, the product is also divisible by 3. Therefore, the overall product is divisible by 24 (8 from the even numbers and 3 from the odd number).

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