INTRODUCTION EXAMPLES EXERCISES

Outline

1 INTRODUCTION

2 EXAMPLES

3 EXERCISES
INTRODUCTION EXAMPLES EXERCISES

INTRODUCTION

This is a set pattern in which natural induction can be carried out.

It is a technique for proving the validity of statements about the integer n

that are suspected to be true for all integers greater than or equal to
some starting integer n.

Suppose we have a sequence of identities or theorems or rules and we

wish to prove that they are all true.
INTRODUCTION EXAMPLES EXERCISES

Let us call the nth term of the sequence Pn . For the simple form of
mathematical induction, the pattern is that we have to show that:
1 P1 is true
2 If P1 , P2 , . . . , Pn for any n are true, then Pn+1 is also true.

For a general form of mathematical induction, the pattern is that we

have to show that
1 If P1 is true
2 And if Pn is true for any n, then Pn+1 is true.
INTRODUCTION EXAMPLES EXERCISES

Outline

1 INTRODUCTION

2 EXAMPLES

3 EXERCISES
INTRODUCTION EXAMPLES EXERCISES

EXAMPLE 1

Prove by mathematical induction that

1 + 3 + 5 + . . . + (2n − 1) = n2
INTRODUCTION EXAMPLES EXERCISES

SOLUTION

Let Pn = 1 + 3 + 5 + . . . + (2n − 1) = n2
For P1 : LHS = 1 ; RHS = 12 = 1 which is true.
For P2 : LHS = 1 + 3 = 4 ; RHS = 22 = 4 which is true.
..
.
⇒ Pn is true.
INTRODUCTION EXAMPLES EXERCISES

If Pn is true then Pn+1 is also true.

Pn+1 = Pn + (n + 1)th term

= 1 + 3 + 5 + . . . + (2n − 1) + (2[n + 1] − 1) = n2 + 2[n + 1] − 1
= 1 + 3 + 5 + . . . + (2n − 1) + 2n + (2n + 1) = n2 + 2n + 1
= 1 + 3 + 5 + . . . + (2n − 1) + 2n + (2n + 1) = (n + 1)(n + 1)
Pn+1 = (n + 1)2

=⇒ The formula holds for integral values of n.

INTRODUCTION EXAMPLES EXERCISES

EXAMPLE 2

Prove by mathematical induction that

 2
n(n + 1)
13 + 23 + 33 + . . . + n3 =
2
INTRODUCTION EXAMPLES EXERCISES

SOLUTION

h i2
n(n+1)
Let Pn = 13 + 23 + 33 + . . . + n3 = 2

h i2
1(1+1)
For P1 LHS = 13 = 1 ; RHS = 2 =1 which is true

h i2
2(2+1)
For P2 LHS = 23 = 1 ; RHS = 2 = 32 = 9 which is true
..
.
=⇒ Pn is true.

If Pn is true, then Pn+1 is also true.

INTRODUCTION EXAMPLES EXERCISES

 2
n(n + 1)
Pn+1 = 13 + 23 + 33 + . . . + n3 + (n + 1)3 = + (n + 1)3
2
n2 (n + 1)2
Pn+1 = + (n + 1)3
4
n2 (n + 1)2 + 4(n + 1)3
=
4
(n + 1)2 2
= [n + 4(n + 1)]
4
(n + 1)2 2
= (n + 4n + 4)
4
(n + 1)2
= (n + 2)2
4
 2
(n + 1)(n + 2)
Pn+1 =
2

which holds for all positive integral vaues of n

INTRODUCTION EXAMPLES EXERCISES

EXAMPLE 3

Prove by mathematical induction that

n
X n(n + 1)
r=
r =1
2
INTRODUCTION EXAMPLES EXERCISES

SOLUTION

Pn n(n+1)
r =1 r = 1 + 2 = 3 + ··· + n = 2

n(n+1)
Let Pn = 1 + 2 = 3 + · · · + n = 2

1(1+1)
For P1 : LHS = 1 ; RHS = 2 =1 which is true

2(2+1)
For P2 : LHS = 1 + 2 = 3 ; RHS = 2 =3 which is true
..
.
=⇒ Pn istrue

If Pn is true, then Pn+1 is also true

INTRODUCTION EXAMPLES EXERCISES

Pn+1 = Pn + (n + 1)th term

n(n + 1)
Pn+1 = 1 + 2 = 3 + · · · + n + (n + 1) = + (n + 1)
2
n(n + 1) + 2(n + 1)
Pn+1 =
2
(n + 1)(n + 2)
=
2
INTRODUCTION EXAMPLES EXERCISES

EXAMPLE 4

Prove by mathematical induction that

1 + 7 + 13 + . . . + (6n − 5) = n(3n − 2)
INTRODUCTION EXAMPLES EXERCISES

SOLUTION

Let Pn = 1 + 7 + 13 + . . . + (6n − 5) = n(3n − 2)

For P1 : LHS = 1 ; RHS = 1(3(1) − 2) = 3 − 2 = 1 which is true

For P2 : LHS = 1 + 7 = 8 ; RHS = 2(3(2) − 2) = 2(4) = 8 which is

true
..
.
=⇒ Pn is true

If Pn is true, then Pn+1 is also true

INTRODUCTION EXAMPLES EXERCISES

Pn+1 = Pn + (n + 1)th term

Pn+1 = 1 + 7 + 13 + . . . + (6n − 5) + [6(n + 1) − 5] = n(3n − 2) + [6(n + 1) −
Pn+1 = 1 + 7 + 13 + . . . + (6n − 5) + (6n + 1) = n(3n − 2) + 6n + 1
Pn+1 = 3n2 − 2n + 6n + 1
= 3n2 + 4n + 1
= (n + 1)(3n + 1)
Pn+1 = (n + 1)[3(n + 1) − 2]

=⇒ The formula holds for all positive integral values of n.

INTRODUCTION EXAMPLES EXERCISES

EXAMPLE 5

Prove by mathematical induction that

n(n + 1)(n + 2)
1 · 2 + 2 · 3 + 3 · 4 + . . . + n(n + 1) = .
3
INTRODUCTION EXAMPLES EXERCISES

SOLUTION

n(n+1)(n+2)
Let Pn = 1 · 2 + 2 · 3 + 3 · 4 + . . . + n(n + 1) = 3

(1)(2)(3)
For P1 : LHS = 1 · 2 = 2 ; RHS = 3 =2 which is true

(2)(3)(4)
For P2 : LHS = 1 · 2 + 2 · 3=8 ; RHS = 3 =8 which is true
..
.
=⇒ Pn is true

If Pn is true, then Pn+1 is also true

INTRODUCTION EXAMPLES EXERCISES

Pn+1 = Pn + (n + 1)th term

Pn+1 = 1 · 2 + 2 · 3 + 3 · 4 + . . . + n(n + 1) + (n + 1)(n + 2)

n(n + 1)(n + 2)
= + (n + 1)(n + 2)
3
n(n + 1)(n + 2) + 3(n + 1)(n + 2)
Pn+1 =
3
(n + 1)(n + 2)
= [n + 3]
3
(n + 1)(n + 2)(n + 3)
Pn+1 =
3
=⇒ The formula holds for all positive integral values of n.
INTRODUCTION EXAMPLES EXERCISES

EXAMPLE 6

Prove by mathematical induction that the sum of the first n terms of an

AP is
1
Sn = n{2a + (n − 1)d}
2
INTRODUCTION EXAMPLES EXERCISES

SOLUTION

Let Sn = a + (a + d) + (a + 2d) + . . . + [a + (n − 1)d] = n2 [2a + (n − 1)d]

When n = 1; S1 : LHS = a;RHS = 21 [2a + (1 − 1)d] = a (which is true)

When n = 2; S2 :
LHS = a + (a + d) = 2a + d;RHS = 22 [2a + (2 − 1)d] = 2a + d (which is
true)
=⇒ Pn is true
If Pn is true, then Pn+1 is also true.
INTRODUCTION EXAMPLES EXERCISES

Pn+1 = Pn + (n + 1)th term

Pn+1 = a + (a + d) + . . . + [a + (n − 1)d] + [a + ([n + 1] − 1)d]

n
= [2a + (n − 1)d] + a + dn
2
n
= [2a + dn − d] + a + dn
2
n(2a + dn − d) + 2(a + dn)
=
2
INTRODUCTION EXAMPLES EXERCISES

2an + dn2 − dn + 2a + 2dn

=
2
2an + dn2 + 2a + dn
=
2
(2an + 2a) + (dn2 + dn)
=
2
2a(n + 1) + dn(n + 1)
=
2
n+1 n+1
= [2a + dn] = [2a + [(n + 1) − 1]d]
2 2
This holds for all positive integral values of n.
INTRODUCTION EXAMPLES EXERCISES

EXAMPLE 7

Prove by mathematical induction that

n  
X 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 1
= + + +. . .+ = − −
r =1
r (r + 2) 1·3 2·4 3·5 n(n + 2) 2 2 n+1 n+2
INTRODUCTION EXAMPLES EXERCISES

SOLUTION

h i
1 1 1 1 1 3 1 1
Let Pn = 1·3 + 2·4 + 3·5 + ... + n(n+2) = 2 2 − n+1 − n+2

1
For n = 1 , P1 : LHS = 1·3 = 31 ;

1
3 1 1
 1 9−3−2

2 1
RHS = 2 2 − 2 − 3 = 2 6 = 6 = 3 True.

1 1 1 1 8+3 11
For n = 2 , P2 : LHS = 1·3 + 2·4 = 3 + 8 = 24 = 24 ;

RHS = 12 23 − 13 − 14 = 1
   18−4−3  1
 11  11
2 12 = 2 12 = 24 (True)
..
.
=⇒ Pn is true
INTRODUCTION EXAMPLES EXERCISES

If Pn is true, then Pn+1 is also true.

Pn+1 = Pn + (n + 1)th term

1 1 1 1 1
Pn+1 = 1·3 + 2·4 + 3·5+ . . . + n(n+2) + (n+1)(n+3)
h i
1 3 1 1 1
= 2 2 − n+1 − n+2 + (n+1)(n+3)

1
Expressing in partial fractions
(n + 1)(n + 3)
INTRODUCTION EXAMPLES EXERCISES

1 1
h i
1 1 1 1
(n+1)(n+3) = 2
n+1 − 2
n+3 = 2 n+1 − n+3

h i h i
1 3 1 1 1 1 1
= 2 2 − n+1 − n+2 + 2 n+1 − n+3

h i
1 3 1 1 1 1
= 2 2 − n+1 − n+2 + n+1 − n+3

h i
1 3 1 1
= 2 2 − n+2 − n+3 which is true for all n.
INTRODUCTION EXAMPLES EXERCISES

Outline

1 INTRODUCTION

2 EXAMPLES

3 EXERCISES
INTRODUCTION EXAMPLES EXERCISES

EXERCISES

Pn h i2
3 n(n+1)
1. r =1 r = 2

Pn n(n+1)(4n−13)
2. r =1 r (2r − 5) = 6

Pn 1 n(n+3)
3. r =1 r (r +1)(r +2) = 4(n+1)(n+2)

Pn 1 n
4. r =1 r (r +1) = n+1

Pn n(n+1)(n+2)
5. r =1 r (r + 1) = 3
INTRODUCTION EXAMPLES EXERCISES

EXERCISES

Pn 1 n
6. r =1 (3r −1)(3r +2) = 6n+4

7. 13 + 33 + 53 + · · · + (2n − 1)3 = 2n4 − n2

8. 1 + 3 + 5 + · · · + (2n − 1) = n2

Pn
9. r =1 r (r + 1)(r + 2) = n4 (n + 1)(n + 2)(n + 3)

5 6 7 n+4 n(3n + 7)
10. 1·2·3 + 2·3·4 + 3·4·5 + ··· + n·n+1·n+2 =
2(n + 1)(n + 2)