<s>[INST] Proving $19 \mid 2^{2^n} + 3^{2^n} + 5^{2^n}$ Theorem. $19 \mid 2^{2^n} + 3^{2^n} + 5^{2^n}$, for all positive integers $n$.

I'm tasked with proving the given theorem by induction. Here's where I've gotten so far...
Proof. Clearly, the theorem is true for $n=1$, establishing the base case. Moreover, it can easily be shown that the theorem works for $n=2,3,4,5,\ldots, 18$.
Suppose, now, that $k$ is an integer for which the given theorem holds. Consider, then, $k+18$.
$$2^{2^{k+18}} + 3^{2^{k+18}} + 5^{2^{k+18}}$$
By Fermat's Little Theorem, if $n \equiv m \pmod{p-1}$, then $a^m \equiv a^n \pmod{p}$. Clearly, $k+18 \equiv k \pmod{18}$. Then,
$$2^{2^{k+18}} \equiv 2^{2^k} \pmod{19}$$
$$3^{2^{k+18}} \equiv 3^{2^k} \pmod{19}$$
$$5^{2^{k+18}} \equiv 5^{2^k} \pmod{19}$$
Hence, $2^{2^{k+18}}$ may be expressed as $\;2^{2^k} + 19n$ for some integer $n$, $\;3^{2^{k+18}}$ as $\;3^{2^k}+ 19m$ for some integer $m$, and $\;5^{2^{k+18}}$ as $\;5^{2^k} + 19q$ for some integer $q$.
Thus, $2^{2^{k+18}} + 3^{2^{k+18}} + 5^{2^{k+18}} = (2^{2^{k}} + 3^{2^{k}} + 5^{2^{k}}) + 19(m+n+q)$, a sum of integers divisible by $19$, and thus clearly divisible by $19$.
By the principle of induction, we've thus shown that $19 \mid 2^{2^n} + 3^{2^n} + 5^{2^n}$, for all positive integers $n$, concluding the proof.
$\blacksquare$

Is this approach valid?
 [/INST] Your approach seems valid, but, rather than checking $18$ cases,
you could note that $a^{2^7}=a^{128}=(a^{18})^7a^2\equiv a^2\bmod19$ when $\gcd(a,19)=1$,
so $a^{2^8}=(a^{2^7})^2\equiv a^{2^2},$ etc., so you would have to check only $n=1,2,3,4,5,6.$
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