Chapter Three

Number Theory

Section 3.0

Formal Definitions of Number Systems

These solutions use information found in the Reading Section.

Exercise 3.0.1:  Examples

1. Beside each step of the following proof, state which definitions and properties of the integers have been used.

Prove that for all integers m, n, p and r, if m < n and p < r, then m + p < n + r.

Proof Suppose that m, n, p and r are integers and m < n and p < r.

Since m < n and p < r,
n + (-m) is positive and r + (-p) is positive by definition of <
(n + (-m)) + (r + (-p)) is positive by closure of Z+ (observation 1)
[(n + (-m)) + r] + (-p) is positive by associativity
[n + ((-m) + r)] + (-p) is positive by associativity
[n + (r + (-m))] + (-p) is positive by commutativity
[(n + r) + (-m)] + (-p) is positive by associativity
(n + r) + ((-m) + (-p)) is positive by associativity
(n + r) + (-(m + p)) is positive by distributivity (by -1)
Hence m + p < n + r by definition of <

Section 3.1

Odds and Evens: Proofs and Counterexamples

These solutions use information found in pages 112 - 124 of the textbook.

Exercise 3.1.1:  Definitions

Fill in the blanks to complete the following sentences.

  1. An integer n is even if, and only if, there exists an integer k such that n = 2k.
  2. An integer n is  odd if, and only if, there exists an integer k such that n = 2k + 1.
  3. An integer n is  prime if, and only if, n > 1 and for all positive integers r and s such that rs = n, then either r = 1 or s = 1.
  4. An integer n >1 is composite if, and only if, n > 1 and there exist positive integers r and s such that rs = n and r noteqred.jpg (905 bytes)1 and s noteqred.jpg (905 bytes)1.
  5. Method of Direct Proof
    To show that ``" x in.jpg (595 bytes)D, if P(x) then Q(x)'' is  true: Suppose that for a particular but arbitrarily chosen element of D, P(x) is true. Show that Q(x) is also true.
  6. Method of Disproof by Counterexample
    To show that ``" x in.jpg (595 bytes)D, if P(x) then Q(x)'' is false, find a value of  x in.jpg (595 bytes)D  for which P(x) is true and Q(x) is false. 

Exercise 3.1.2:  Examples

You should attempt all these exercises yourself, using the textbook as an aid. Once you have attempted each question, check your answers by following the appropriate links. If you are stuck on a question, choose the link that gives you a hint and then try the question again.

1. Prove that there exists an integer which can be written as a product of primes.

Hint
Full solution

2. Prove that for all xin.jpg (595 bytes){0,1,2,3,4,5}, x2 + x + 41 is a prime number.

Hint
Full solution

3. Prove that for all integers a, b, c and m, if  a - b = rm  and  b - c = sm,  then  a - c = tm  for some integers  r,  s  and   t.

Hint
Full solution

4. Prove that for all integers a, b, c and m, if  a = d + rm  and  b = d + sm,  then  a + c = b + c + tm  where d, r, s, t in.jpg (595 bytes) Z.

Hint
Full solution

5. On page 121 of your textbook, in the section on Begging the question, an incorrect proof is given of the fact that the product of any two odd integers is odd. Fill in the steps to correctly prove that the product of any two odd integers is odd.

Hint
Full solution

6. Disprove the following statement. If n is an even integer then       1 + 2 + 3 + ... + (n - 1) = kn         for some integer k. (Note that this statement is true for odd integers).

To disprove this statement, we need only find ONE value of n (an even integer) for which the statement does not hold.

Full solution


Section 3.2

Rational numbers: Proofs and Counterexamples

These solutions use information found in pages 125 - 130 of the textbook.

Exercise 3.2.1:  Definitions

Fill in the blanks to complete the following sentences.

  1. A real number r is rational if, and only if,  r = a/b for some integers a and b with b noteqred.jpg (905 bytes)0.
  2. A real number that is not rational is called irrational.

Exercise 3.2.2:  Examples

You should attempt all these exercises yourself, using the textbook as an aid. Once you have attempted each question, check your answers by following the appropriate links. If you are stuck on a question, choose the link that gives you a hint and then try the question again.

1. Determine the truth values of the following statements (remember your logical connectives from Chapter 1).

a) (0 is rational) L (0.377777... is rational).

Hint
Full solution

b) (sqrt7.jpg (651 bytes) is rational) V (sqrt25.jpg (679 bytes) is rational).

Hint
Full solution 

c) " x in.jpg (595 bytes)R, if 3 leq.jpg (599 bytes) x leq.jpg (599 bytes) 4 then x is rational.

Hint
Full solution  

In Section 3.0 we discussed the properties of the integers. You may wish to refer back to that section and use the properties of the integers to prove the following properties of the rationals.

2. Prove that the product of two rational numbers is a rational number.

Hint
Full solution

3. Prove that every rational number r has an additive inverse.

Hint
Full solution

Not all integers have a multiplicative inverse; in other words if a is an integer, we may not be able to find another integer a' such that a · a' = 1. However, the non-zero rational numbers do have multiplicative inverses.

4. Prove that every non-zero rational number has a multiplicative inverse.

Hint
Full solution 


Section 3.3

Divisibility: Proofs and Counterexamples

These solutions use information found in pages 131 - 138 of the textbook.

Exercise 3.3.1:  Definitions

Fill in the blanks to complete the following sentences.

  1. If n and d are integers and d noteq.jpg (604 bytes) 0, then n is divisible by d if, and only if, n = d·k for some integer k.
  2. The notation d | n is used to represent the statement "d divides n".
  3. does not divide n (denoted  notdivred.jpg (852 bytes)) if, and only if, n/d is not an integer.
  4. An alternative definition to the definition of a prime number given in Section 3.1 is that an integer n > 1 is  prime if, and only if, its only positive divisors are 1 and itself.
  5. The Unique Factorization Theorem states that: given any integer  n > 1, there exists a unique set of k distinct prime numbers   p1, p2, ..., pk  and k positive integers e1, e2, ..., ek  such that
    n = p1e1 · p2e2 · ... · pkek.

Exercise 3.3.2:   Examples

You should attempt all these exercises yourself, using the textbook as an aid. Once you have attempted each question, check your answers by following the appropriate links. If you are stuck on a question, choose the link that gives you a hint and then try the question again.

1. a) Does 4 | 72? Explain.

b) Is 24 a multiple of 48? Explain. 

c) Does 0 | 5? Explain.

d) Is  -3 a factor of 9? Explain.

Hint
Full solution 

2. Suppose a and b are negative integers and  a | b. Prove that b leq.jpg (599 bytes) a.

Hint
Full solution  

3. a) Does  6 | 2a(3b + 3), " a,bin.jpg (595 bytes)Z? Explain.

Full solution 

b) Is  2a(4b + 1)  a multiple of 4,  " a,bin.jpg (595 bytes)Z? Explain.

Full solution 

4. Find the unique factorization of the following integers.

a) 5440

Hint
Full solution 

b) 43560

Hint
Full solution 

5. Suppose that k, a and b are integers. If  k | a and  k | b , prove that   k | (a+b).

Hint
Full solution 


Section 3.4

Quotient-Remainder Theorem: Proofs and Counterexamples

These solutions use information found in pages 140 - 146 of the textbook.

Exercise 3.4.1: Definitions

Fill in the blanks to complete the following sentences.

  1. The Quotient-Remainder Theorem states that given any integer n and positive integer d, there exist unique integers q and r such that
    n = d·q + r  where  0 leqred.jpg (898 bytes) r < d.
  2. Given a non-negative integer n and a positive integer d such that   n = dq + r,  where   0 leq.jpg (599 bytes) r < d,   n div d = q and  n mod d = r.
  3. If n is divisible by d then n mod d = 0.
  4. For non-negative integers a and b, and a positive integer d, if  a mod d = r   and  b mod d = r, that is, a and b leave the same remainder upon division by d, then we say that "a is congruent to b modulo d" and write  a equiv.jpg (592 bytes)b (mod d). Note that this is the same as saying  a - b = kd  for some integer k or equivalently d | (a - b). 

Exercise 3.4.2:  Examples

You should attempt all these exercises yourself, using the textbook as an aid. Once you have attempted each question, check your answers by following the appropriate links. If you are stuck on a question, choose the link that gives you a hint and then try the question again.

1. Given the following values for n and d, find integers q and r such that n = d · q + r and 0 leq.jpg (599 bytes) r < d.

a) n = 102 and d = 11.

b) n = -4 and d = 5.

Full solution 

2. Given an amount of money A between 5 cents and 95 cents, the following steps can be used to determine one possible combination of 50 cent (f), 20 cent (t), 10 cent (n) and 5 cent (v) pieces which equal A.

Round the given amount of money to the nearest multiple of five (since we do not have one cent coins). Then evaluate the steps in the order listed.

f = A div 50
B = A mod 50
t = B div 20
C = B mod 20
n = C div 10
D = C mod 10
v = D div 5

Use the steps above to find a set of coins which will be equivalent to 95 cents.

Full solution 

3. If a and b are integers such that a = 4x + 1 and b = 4y + 1 for some x,y in.jpg (595 bytes)Z, then prove that the product a·b is of the the form  4m + 1, for some integer m.

Hint
Full solution 

4. Determine whether each of the following statements is true or false.

i)   2 equiv.jpg (592 bytes) 7 (mod 5)      ii)   112 equiv.jpg (592 bytes)12 (mod 9)         iii)   112 equiv.jpg (592 bytes) 7 (mod 3)

Hint
Full solution 

5. For positive integers u, v, w, x and d, if   u equiv.jpg (592 bytes) v (mod d)    and   w equiv.jpg (592 bytes) x (mod d),  prove the following two statements.

a) u + w equiv.jpg (592 bytes) v + x (mod d)

Hint
Full solution 

b)  u·w equiv.jpg (592 bytes) v·x (mod d)

Hint
Full solution 


Section 3.5

Floor and Ceiling: Proofs and Counterexamples

These solutions use information found in pages 148 - 153 of the textbook.

Exercise 3.5.1:  Definitions

Fill in the blanks to complete the following sentences.

  1. Given any x in.jpg (595 bytes)R, the  floor of x, denoted lfloor.jpg (533 bytes)xrfloor.jpg (530 bytes), is defined to be that integer n such that n leqred.jpg (898 bytes) x < n + 1.
  2. Given any x in.jpg (595 bytes)R, the  ceiling of x, denoted lceil.jpg (551 bytes)xrceil.jpg (532 bytes), is  defined to be that integer n such that  n - 1 < x leqred.jpg (898 bytes) n.

Exercise 3.5.2:  Examples

You should attempt all these exercises yourself, using the textbook as an aid. Once you have attempted each question, check your answers by following the appropriate links. If you are stuck on a question, choose the link that gives you a hint and then try the question again.

1. Compute the values of  lfloor.jpg (533 bytes)-3.5rfloor.jpg (530 bytes)lceil.jpg (551 bytes)4rceil.jpg (532 bytes) and  lceil.jpg (551 bytes)26/5rceil.jpg (532 bytes).

Full solution 

2. Suppose you were working in a job where you were only paid for full hours of work. If you worked for 441 minutes, how many hours of work would you be paid for?

Full solution 

3. Is the following statement true or false? Support your answer by either proving the statement or giving a counterexample.
lfloor.jpg (691 bytes)x · yrfloor.jpg (530 bytes) = lfloor.jpg (691 bytes)xrfloor.jpg (530 bytes)· lfloor.jpg (691 bytes)yrfloor.jpg (530 bytes)

Hint
Full solution 

4. Suppose that n is an even integer. Prove that lceil.jpg (551 bytes)n / 2rceil.jpg (532 bytes) = lfloor.jpg (533 bytes)n / 2rfloor.jpg (530 bytes)

Hint
Full solution 

5. Suppose that n is an odd integer. Prove that lceil.jpg (551 bytes)n / 2rceil.jpg (532 bytes) = lfloor.jpg (533 bytes)n / 2rfloor.jpg (530 bytes)+ 1.

Hint
Full solution 


Section 3.6 

Contradiction and Contraposition

These solutions use information found in pages 154 - 160 of the textbook.

Exercise 3.6.1:  Definitions

Fill in the blanks to complete the following sentences.

  1. Method of Proof by Contradiction
    1. Suppose the statement to be proved is false. In other words, assume that the negation is true.
    Recall that the negation of  " x in.jpg (595 bytes) D, if P(x) then Q(x) is $ x inred.jpg (890 bytes)D such that P(x) and ~Q(x).
    2. Show that this supposition leads logically to a  contradiction.
    3. Conclude that the statement to be proved is true.
  2. Method of Proof by Contraposition 
    1. Express the statement to be proved in the form " x in.jpg (595 bytes) D, if P(x) then Q(x).
    2. Rewrite this statement in the contrapositive form:  " x inred.jpg (890 bytes)D, if ~Q(x) then ~P(x).
    3. Prove the contrapositive by a direct proof.

Exercise 3.6.2:  Examples

You should attempt all these exercises yourself, using the textbook as an aid. Once you have attempted each question, check your answers by following the appropriate links. If you are stuck on a question, choose the link that gives you a hint and then try the question again.

1. Prove the following statement by contradiction. For all integers n and all prime numbers p, if n2 is divisible by p, then n is divisible by p.

Hint
Full solution 

2. Prove the following statement by contraposition. For all integers n, if n2 is odd, then n is odd.

Hint
Full solution 

3. Prove the following statement using your favourite proof technique. The product of any non-zero rational number and any irrational number is irrational.

Proof by contradiction
Proof by contraposition
Why a direct proof doesn't work


Section 3.7

Two Classical Theorems

These solutions use information found in pages 161 - 165 of the textbook.

Exercise 3.7.1:  Examples

You should attempt all these exercises yourself, using the textbook as an aid. Once you have attempted each question, check your answers by following the appropriate links. If you are stuck on a question, choose the link that gives you a hint and then try the question again.

1. Prove or disprove the following statements.

a) sqrt25.jpg (679 bytes) is irrational.

Full solution 

b) 1 +sqrt8.jpg (686 bytes) is irrational.

Hint
Full solution 

2. Theorem 3.7.4 states that the set of prime numbers is infinite but the actual process of determining whether or not a large number is a prime number is very time-consuming. Use the Web to find the largest known prime number. You might like to investigate other facts about prime numbers at http://www.utm.edu/research/primes.

What is the largest known prime number???

 


Section 3.8

The Euclidean Algorithm

These solutions use information found in the Reading Section and on pages 173 - 175 of the textbook.

Exercise 3.8.1:  Definitions

Fill in the blanks to complete the following sentences.

  1. Let a and b be integers that are not both zero. The  greatest common divisor of a and b, denoted  gcd(a,b), is the integer d satisfying the following two properties:
    1. d | a and d | b;
    2. for all integers c, if c | a and c | b, then cleqred.jpg (898 bytes)d.

Exercise 3.8.2:  Examples

You should attempt all these exercises yourself, using the textbook as an aid. Once you have attempted each question, check your answers by following the appropriate links. If you are stuck on a question, choose the link that gives you a hint and then try the question again.

1. Use the Euclidean Algorithm to calculate the gcd of the following pairs of integers.

a) 186, 403

Hint
Full solution 

b) 90, 37

Hint
Full solution 

c) 36, 102

Hint
Full solution 

d) 114, 19

Hint
Full solution 


Section 3.9

Linear Diophantine Equations

These solutions use information found in the Reading Section.

Exercise 3.9.1:  Definitions

Fill in the blanks to complete the following sentences.

  1. State Theorem 3.9.1 from the Reading Section.
    The linear Diophantine equation   ax + by = c,  where a, b, c inred.jpg (890 bytes)Z, has a solution if, and only if, gcd(a, b) | c.

Exercise 3.9.2:  Examples

You should attempt all these exercises yourself, using the textbook as an aid. Once you have attempted each question, check your answers by following the appropriate links. If you are stuck on a question, choose the link that gives you a hint and then try the question again.

For each of the following Linear Diophantine equations, determine whether or not a solution exists. If a solution does exist, find one such solution.

1. Find, if they exist,  integers x and y which satisfy  91x + 221y = 676.

Hint
Full solution 

2. Find, if they exist,  integers m and n which satisfy  105m + 56n = -14.

Hint
Full solution 

3. Find, if they exist, integers x and y which satisfy  115x + 35y = 11.

Hint
Full solution 

 

Extra Practice Problems
For each of the following Linear Diophantine equations, determine whether or not a solution exists. If a solution does exist, find one such solution. Once you have finished all three of these problems, click here to check your answers.

1. 21x + 15y = 9

2. 158m + 57n = 20000

3. 354a + 258b = 45


Section 3.10

The General Solution to Linear Diophantine Equations

The following solutions use information found in the Reading Section.

Exercise 3.10.1:  Definitions

Fill in the blanks to complete the following sentences.

State Theorem 3.10.1 from the Reading Section.
If x0 and y0 are one solution to the linear Diophantine equation   ax + by = c, where a, b, c inred.jpg (890 bytes)Z, and d = gcd(a, b), then the general solution to the
linear Diophantine equation ax + by = c is given by

x = x0 + (b / d) · t

and

y = y0 - (a / d) · t

where t inred.jpg (890 bytes)Z.

Exercise 3.10.2:  Examples

You should attempt all these exercises yourself, using the textbook as an aid. Once you have attempted each question, check your answers by following the appropriate links. If you are stuck on a question, choose the link that gives you a hint and then try the question again.

In the previous section you found one solution to each of the following linear Diophantine equations. For each equation, use the solution you found in the previous section to find the general solution. Then list all solutions which involve only positive integers.

1. Find a formula for all integers x and y, given that x and y satisfy the linear Diophantine equation 91x + 221y = 676.
List all the solutions which involve positive values for x and y.

Hint
Full solution 

2. Find a formula for all integers m and n, given that m and n satisfy the linear Diophantine equation 105m + 56n = - 14.
List all the solutions which involve positive values for m and n.

Hint
Full solution 

 

Extra Practice Problems
In the previous section you found one solution to each of the following linear Diophantine equations. For each equation, use the solution you found in the previous section to find the general solution. Then list all solutions which involve only positive integers. Once you have finished both of these problems, click here to check your answers.

1. 21x + 15y = 9

2. 158m + 57n = 20000



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