Assignment 1 MA 341

Due at the beginning of class: Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011

Numbered exercises are taken from the textbook (Elementary number theory, Jones &
Jones).

To be handed in
(1) Use the basic properties of the integers to show that the multiplicative identity is
unique in Z.
(2) Let a, b, r Z. Use the definition of < to show that
(a) if a < b and r > 0, then ar < br.
(b) if a < b and r < 0, then ar > br.
(3) Let a, b Z. Use the definition of < to show that a < b if, and only if, a + r < b + r
for all r Z.
(4) Let a, b Z. Show that if ab = 1, then a = b = 1 (i.e. the only integers with
multiplicative inverses are 1).
(5) Use induction to prove that

n
X
i=1

i2 =

n(n + 1)(2n + 1)
.
6

(6) Use induction to prove that 2n < n! for all n 4.

(7) Show that if n is a square, then the remainder of n divided by 3 is either 0 or 1.
(8) What are the possible remainders when a cube is divided by 3? Prove your assertion.

Practice problems (not to be handed in)

Chapter 1: Exercise 1.2
(P1) Prove that the well-ordering property of N implies the principle of induction.
(Hint: Appendix A of the textbook has a proof of this.)