Find all positive integers n such that 3n+4n+⋯+(n+2)n=(n+3)n.
Solution
Notice first that 32+42=52,and33+43+53=63. However 34+44+54+64=2258<2401=74 Assume that 3n+4n+⋯+(n+2)n<(n+3)n for some n≥4. We have 3n+1+4n+1+⋯+(n+2)n+1+(n+3)n+1<(n+2)(3n+4n+⋯+(n+2)n)+(n+3)n+1<(n+2)(n+3)n+(n+3)n+1<2(n+3)n+1 For n=4, we have (n+2)(n+3)n+(n+3)n+1=31213<32768=(n+4)n+1. For n≥5, we have (n+3n+4)n+1=(1+n+31)n+1>1+n+3n+1+2(n+3)2n(n+1)>2+2(n+3)2(n−5)(n+2)+2>2 Therefore, 3n+1+4n+1+⋯+(n+2)n+1+(n+3)n+1<(n+4)n+1. Hence, we have proved by induction that 3n+4n+⋯+(n+2)n<(n+3)n for all n≥4.
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