<s>[INST] How do prove $12^n - 4^n - 3^n +1$ is divisible by 6 using mathematical induction, where n is integral? So this question is very challenging because normally the bases of the exponents are the same. There are too many different bases for me to successfully subtitue in the assumption (when $n=k$)
I was hoping someone out there will have a super smart elegant solution to this!
Base step: test when n = 1 ...
Assume true for $n = 1$
ie . $12^k - 4^k - 3^k +1 = 6M$, where $m$ is an integer
RTP: also true for $n = k+1$
ie.  $12^{k+1} - 4^{k+1} - 3^{k+1} +1 = 6N$ where $N$ is an integer
LHS: $12^{k+1} - 4^{k+1} - 3^{k+1} +1$
$= 12( 4^k + 3^k  - 1 + 6M) - 4^{k}(4) - 3^{k}(3) +1$ (from assumption)
$= 6(12M) + 12(4^k) + 12(3^k) -12 -4^{k}(4) - 3^{k}(3) +1$
Here is where I break down and go around in circles.
 [/INST] We are going to replace $4^n=12^n-3^n+1-6M$
$\begin{align}12^{n+1}-4^{n+1}-3^{n+1}+1
&=12.12^n-4.4^n-3.3^n+1\\
&=12.12^n-4(12^n-3^n+1-6M)-3.3^n+1\\
&=8.12^n+3^n-3+24M
\end{align}$
$12^n$ and $24M$ are obviously divisible by $6$
Notice $3^n-3=3\times\underbrace{(3^{n-1}-1)}_{\text{even}}$ is also divisible by $6$ so you can finish your induction step.
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