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Exercise 1331Number theory › Divisibility and gcdOlympiadAdded 5 Nov 2026

Infinitely many n dividing 2ⁿ + 1

#induction#lifting the exponent#infinitely many#factorisation

Statement

Prove that for every integer k≥0k\ge0, 3k+1∣23k+13^{k+1}\mid2^{3^k}+1. Deduce that n=3kn=3^k satisfies n∣2n+1n\mid2^n+1, so there are infinitely many positive integers nn with n∣2n+1n\mid2^n+1.

Hint

Use induction and the factorisation x3+1=(x+1)(x2−x+1)x^3+1=(x+1)(x^2-x+1) with x=23kx=2^{3^k}.

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Solution

Base case. k=0k=0: 31∣21+1=33^1\mid2^1+1=3 ✓.

Induction step. Assume 3k+1∣23k+13^{k+1}\mid2^{3^k}+1, and let x=23kx=2^{3^k}. Then
23k+1+1=x3+1=(x+1)(x2−x+1).2^{3^{k+1}}+1=x^3+1=(x+1)(x^2-x+1).
The first factor is divisible by 3k+13^{k+1}. For the second, x≡−1(mod3)x\equiv-1\pmod3, so x2−x+1≡1+1+1=3≡0(mod3)x^2-x+1\equiv1+1+1=3\equiv0\pmod3. Therefore 3k+23^{k+2} divides the product.

Conclusion. So 3k+1∣23k+13^{k+1}\mid2^{3^k}+1, in particular 3k∣23k+13^k\mid2^{3^k}+1: with n=3kn=3^k, n∣2n+1n\mid2^n+1. There are infinitely many such nn.

Check. k=2k=2: 29+1=513=27⋅192^9+1=513=27\cdot19 ✓.

Lesson. To gain one more power of a prime, factor xp±1x^p\pm1 and show that the cofactor is divisible by pp exactly once.