OCR Further Additional Pure 2023 June — Question 8

Exam BoardOCR
ModuleFurther Additional Pure (Further Additional Pure)
Year2023
SessionJune
TopicNumber Theory

8 Let \(f ( n )\) denote the base- \(n\) number \(2121 _ { n }\) where \(n \geqslant 3\).
    1. For each \(n \geqslant 3\), show that \(\mathrm { f } ( n )\) can be written as the product of two positive integers greater than \(1 , \mathrm { a } ( n )\) and \(\mathrm { b } ( n )\), each of which is a function of \(n\).
    2. Deduce that \(\mathrm { f } ( n )\) is always composite.
  1. Let \(h\) be the highest common factor of \(\mathrm { a } ( n )\) and \(\mathrm { b } ( n )\).
    1. Prove that \(h\) is either 1 or 5 .
    2. Find a value of \(n\) for which \(h = 5\).