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smc

number theory intermediate

Problem

The largest number by which the expression is divisible for all possible integral values of , is:
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Solution
Factoring the polynomial gives According to the factorization, one of those factors must be a multiple of two because there are more than 2 consecutive integers. In addition, because there are three consecutive integers, one of the integers must be a multiple of 3. Therefore must divide the given expression. Plugging in yields . So the largest possibility is . Clearly the answer is
Final answer
E