# Proving that every third Fibonacci number is divisible by F2=2

In our notation we have that $F_{n-1}$ is the $n$th Fibonacci number since we start with $F_{0}=1$.
We want to prove that every third Fibonacci number is divisible by $F_{2}=2$.

The proof is the following using induction:
$F_{3n+2}=F_{3n+1}+F_{3n}$
$F_{3n+2}=F_{3n}+F_{3n-1}+F_{3n-1}+F_{3n-2}$ (A)
$F_{3n+2}=F_{3n-1}+F_{3n-2}+F_{3n-1}+F_{3n-2}$ (B)
$F_{3n+2}=2(F_{3n-1}+F_{3n-2})$
I don't understand how you go from step (A) to step (B) can anyone explain this to me?

There's a missing term in (B) as you noticed. A correct proof is by induction. Show that $F_2$ is even (immediate). Then write

\begin{align} F_{3n+2} &= F_{3n+1} + F_{3n} \\ &= 2F_{3n} + F_{3n-1} \\ &= 2F_{3n} + F_{3(n-1)+2} \enspace, \end{align}

which is even because it's the sum of two even numbers. ($F_{3(n-1)+2}$ is even by the induction hypothesis.)

There is a well-known property of Fibonacci numbers: $$\gcd(F_n,F_m)=F_{\gcd(n,m)} \tag{1}$$ Since $F_3=2$, $$\gcd(F_{3n},2)=\gcd(F_{3n},F_3)=F_{\gcd(3,3n)} = F_3 = 2 \tag{2}$$ hence every Fibonacci number of the form $F_{3n}$ is even.

Base case:

$F_1=1\\ F_2=1\\ F_3=2$

Inductive hypothesis: Suppose $F_{3k-2}$ is odd, and $F_{3k-1}$ is odd, and $F_{3k}$ even.

We must show that $F_{3(k+1)-2}$ and $F_{3(k+1)-1}$ are odd, and $F_{3(k+1)}$ is even

$F_{3(k+1)-2} = F_{3k-1}+F_{3k}$

Based on the inductive hypothesis, $F_{3(k+1)-2}$ must be odd as the sum of an odd number and an even number are odd.

I will leave it to you to finish from here.

The rank of apparition of $$2$$, denoted $$\omega(2)$$, in the Fibonacci sequence is $$3$$; that is, the first term in the Fibonacci sequence that contains $$2$$ as a divisor is $$F_{3} = 2$$.

Since the Fibonnacci sequence is a member of the family of Lucas sequences, divisibility properties of the Lucas sequences are inherited by the Fibonacci sequence. Hence, $$F_{3} | F_{k}$$ if and only if $$k = r\omega(2) = 3r$$, for any positive integer $$r$$.

Therefore $$2$$ divides $$F_{3}$$ and every third term thereafter (and no others) in the Fibonacci sequence.