Are $n^2-1$ and $N$ always relatively prime?

Question

Consider $n = 2,3,4,5$ for which we have the corresponding $N=3,8,15,24$.

In fact, so are the numbers up to 15: Their GCD is 1.

How can I prove that these expressions are always relatively prime to each other (or not)?

Answer 1

Hint $:$

$a,b \in \Bbb Z$ with $ax+by = 1$ for some integers $x,y \in \Bbb Z \implies \text {gcd}\ (a,b)=1.$

Proof $:$

Let $\text {gcd} (a,b) = d$ then $d \mid a,d \mid b$ $\implies d \mid ax+by = 1$ $\implies d=1.$

Now use the hint given by Bill Dubuque in his comment above to complete the proof.

Answer 2

You have $gcd(n,n-1) = 1$ and $gcd(n,n+1)=1$.

So, it follows $gcd(n,(n+1)(n-1)) = gcd(n,n^2-1)= 1$.

Answer 3

If a prime number $p$ divides $n$ then $p$ divides $n^2$ and $p$ does not divide $n^2 - 1$.

So $n$ and $n^2 - 1$ can't have any prime divisors in common.