Does there exist an $a$ such that $a^n+1$ is divisible by $n^3$ for infinitely many $n$?
It is well known that there are infinitely many positive integers $n$ such that $2^n+1$ is divisible by $n$.
Also it is well known that there exist infinitely many positive integers $n$ such that $4^n+1$ is divisible by $n^2$.
But I still cannot find any positive integer $a$ for which there exist infinitely many positive integers $n$ such that $a^n+1$ (or $a^n-1$) is divisible by $n^3$.
How can I find such and $a$ or prove that it doesn't exist?
Solution 1:
When $a$ is even, it is not easy, but not difficult either, to prove that there exist an infinite number of $n$ such that $n \mid a^n + 1$, and all these $n$ are given by powers of $a+1$. Can this or its proof help you?