# algebra odd numbers

A question states, using algebra, prove that when the square of any odd number is divided by four, the remainder is $$1$$

I managed to go up to $$4(n^{2}+n)+1$$, from $$(2n+1)^{2}$$ but I dont know how to prove it. Please help!

• Once you write $(2n+1)^2=4(n^2+n)+1$ it seems obvious to me.. – rae306 May 20 at 11:24

You say you managed to go from $$(2n+1)^2$$ to $$4(n^2+n)+1$$, but aren't sure how to continue from here.

The final step left (which depending on skill level of writer and reader can be omitted entirely) is to cite the quotient-remainder theorem which paraphrased states that for any integer $$a$$ and positive integer $$b$$ there exists a unique pair of integers $$\color{red}q,\color{blue}r$$ with $$0\leq \color{blue}r such that $$a=b\color{red}q+\color{blue}r$$. Here $$\color{red}q$$ is called the "quotient" and $$\color{blue}r$$ is called the "remainder" for the division

So, we recognize that $$(2n+1)^2 = 4\color{red}{(n^2+n)}+\color{blue}1$$, so by the quotient-remainder theorem, since we could write $$(2n+1)^2$$ as above it follows from the uniqueness part of the theorem that $$1$$ is in fact the remainder.

• Pardon my ignorance, so the format of a=bq+r , is where 'r' is the remainder. – Rishira Fernando May 20 at 12:34

When $$4(n^2+n)+1$$ is divided by $$4$$, the quotient is $$n^2+n$$ and the remainder is $$1$$.

(1) Let n be an odd number.

The goal is to show that n² is of the form : 4.k +1 , with k integer

(2) Since n is odd , n = m+1 ( with m even)

(3) n² = (m+1) ² = m² + 2m+1

(4) since m is even , m = 2 k’ ( with k’ integer)

(5) So, substitutiong 2k' for m in (3), we get :

     n² = (2k’)²+ 2(2k’) +1 = 4 (k’)²+4 k’ +1 = 4 [ (k’)²+k’ ] +1


(6) since k’ is an integer, the number [ (k’)²+k’ ] is also an integer , and therefore, the number n² is of the form 4.k +1 , with k integer

Remark: the reason why the number : (k’)²+k’ is an integer is that (k')² is an integer ( since the set of integers is closed under the operation of multiplication) so that (k’)²+k’ is the sum of two integers; but the set of integers is also closed under the operation of addition