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If A is a positive integer, then which of the following statements is true?
1.  A2 + A -1 is always even. 
2.  (A4+1)(A4+2) + 3A is even only when A is even. 
3.  (A-1)(A+2)(A+4) is never odd. 
  • a)
    1
  • b)
    2
  • c)
    3
  • d)
    1 and 2
  • e)
    2 and 3
Correct answer is option 'E'. Can you explain this answer?
Verified Answer
If A is a positive integer, then which of the following statements is ...
Step 1: Question statement and Inferences
We are given that A is a positive integer. A may be odd or even.
Step 2: Analyzing the given statements
1.       A2 + A -1 is always  even
 Case (i) A is Odd
  • A2 is also odd    (Odd × Odd = Odd)
  • A2 + A is even   (Odd + Odd = Even)
  • A2 + A -1 is odd   ( Even – Odd = Odd)
We don’t even need to consider the case when A is even, because Statement 1 has already been proven FALSE.
2.       (A4+1)(A4+2) + 3A is even only when A is even
 Case (i): A is odd
  • 3A is odd    (Odd × Odd = Odd)
 Now, an odd number multiplied with itself any number of times will give an odd product
  • A4 is odd
  • A4 + 1 is even     (Odd + Odd = Even)
  • A4 + 2 is odd       (Odd + Even = Odd)
  • (A4+1)(A4+2) + 3A = Even × Odd + Odd
  • (A4+1)(A4+2) + 3A = Even  + Odd
  • (A4+1)(A4+2) + 3A = Odd
 Thus, when A is odd, (A4+1)(A4+2) + 3A is odd
 Case (ii): A is even
3A is even                (Odd × Even = Even)
An even number multiplied with itself any number of times will give an even product
  • A4 is even
  • A4 + 1 is odd    (Even + Odd = Odd)
  • A4 + 2 is even    (Even + Even = Even) 
  • (A4+1)(A4+2) + 3A = Odd × Even + Even
  • (A4+1)(A4+2) + 3A = Even  + Even
  • (A4+1)(A4+2) + 3A = Even
 Thus, when A is even, (A4+1)(A4+2) + 3A is even
 Thus, Statement 2 is TRUE. 
 3.       (A-1)(A+2)(A+4) is never odd
 Case (i): A is odd
  •  A-1 is even                                       (Odd -Odd = Even)
  • A + 2 is odd                                       (Odd + Even = Odd)
  • A + 4 is odd                                       (Odd + Even = Odd)
  • (A-1)(A+2)(A+4) = Even × Odd × Odd
  • (A-1)(A+2)(A+4) = Even
 Thus, when A is odd, (A-1)(A+2)(A+4) is even
 Case (ii): A is even
  • A-1 is odd                                          (Even -Odd = Odd)
  • A + 2 is even                                     (Even + Even = Even)
  • A + 4 is even                                     (Even + Even = Even)
  • (A-1)(A+2)(A+4) = Odd × Even × Even
  • (A-1)(A+2)(A+4) = Even
 
Thus, when A is even, (A-1)(A+2)(A+4) is even
 Thus, Statement 3 is TRUE.
 Answer: Option (E)
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Most Upvoted Answer
If A is a positive integer, then which of the following statements is ...
To determine which of the given statements is true, let's evaluate each option one by one:

1. A^2 - A - 1 is always even:
- Let's test this statement with some positive integer values of A:
- A = 1: 1^2 - 1 - 1 = 1 - 1 - 1 = -1, which is odd.
- A = 2: 2^2 - 2 - 1 = 4 - 2 - 1 = 1, which is odd.
- A = 3: 3^2 - 3 - 1 = 9 - 3 - 1 = 5, which is odd.
- Based on these evaluations, we can conclude that the statement is not always true.

2. (A^4 + 1)(A^4 + 2) - 3A is even only when A is even:
- Let's evaluate this statement with some positive integer values of A:
- A = 1: (1^4 + 1)(1^4 + 2) - 3(1) = (1 + 1)(1 + 2) - 3 = 2 * 3 - 3 = 3, which is odd.
- A = 2: (2^4 + 1)(2^4 + 2) - 3(2) = (16 + 1)(16 + 2) - 6 = 17 * 18 - 6 = 306, which is even.
- A = 3: (3^4 + 1)(3^4 + 2) - 3(3) = (81 + 1)(81 + 2) - 9 = 82 * 83 - 9 = 6805, which is odd.
- Based on these evaluations, we can conclude that the statement is true.

3. (A-1)(A^2)(A^4) is never odd:
- Let's evaluate this statement with some positive integer values of A:
- A = 1: (1-1)(1^2)(1^4) = 0 * 1 * 1 = 0, which is even.
- A = 2: (2-1)(2^2)(2^4) = 1 * 4 * 16 = 64, which is even.
- A = 3: (3-1)(3^2)(3^4) = 2 * 9 * 81 = 1458, which is even.
- Based on these evaluations, we can conclude that the statement is true.

Therefore, the correct answer is option 'E' (2 and 3).
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Community Answer
If A is a positive integer, then which of the following statements is ...
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