Mathematical Induction

Yue Kwok Choy

Question
Prove, by Mathematical Induction, that
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
( ) ( )
6
1 n 7 1 n 2 n
n 2 ... 3 n 2 n 1 n
2 2 2 2
+ +
= + + + + + + +
is true for all natural numbers n.
Discussion
Some readers may find it difficult to write the .!.S. in P"# $ 1%. Some cannot factori&e
the .!.S. and are forced to e'(and everythin).
*or P"1%,
.!.S. + 2
2
+ ,, -.!.S. + ,
6
. 3 1
=

. P"1% is true.
/ssume that P"#% is true for some natural number #, that is
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
( )( )
6
1 # 7 1 # 2 #
# 2 ... 3 # 2 # 1 #
2 2 2 2
+ +
= + + + + + + + 0. "1%
*or P"# $ 1% ,
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
2 2 2 2 2
2 # 2 1 # 2 # 2 ... 3 # 2 # + + + + + + + + + "1here is a missin) term in front
and two more terms at the bac#.%
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
2 2 2 2 2
1 # , 1 # 2 # 2 ... 3 # 2 # + + + + + + + + + =
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
2 2 2 2 2 2
1 # 3 1 # 2 # 2 ... 3 # 2 # 1 # + + + + + + + + + + + =
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
2 2
1 # 3 1 # 2
6
1 # 7 1 # 2 #
+ + + +
+ +
= , by "1%
( )
( ) ( ) [ ] ( )
2
1 # 3 1 # 2 6 1 # 7 #
6
1 # 2
+ + + + +
+
= "2ombine the first two terms%
( )
[ ] ( )
2 2
1 # 3 6 # 13 # 7
6
1 # 2
+ + + +
+
=
( )
( )( ) ( )
2
1 # 3 1 # 6 # 7
6
1 # 2
+ + + +
+
=
( )
( )( ) ( ) [ ] 1 # 1. 6 # 7 1 # 2
6
1 #
+ + + +
+
=
( )
[ ] 2, # 37 # 1,
6
1 #
2
+ +
+
=
( )
( ) ( )
( ) ( ) [ ] ( ) [ ]
6
1 1 # 7 1 1 # 2 1 #
. # 7 3 # 2
6
1 # + + + + +
= + +
+
=
P"# $ 1% is true.
3y the Princi(le of Mathematical Induction, P"n% is true for all natural numbers, n .
Question
1
Prove, by Mathematical Induction, that
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) 2 n 1 n n
6
1
1 n 2 2 n ... 2 n 3 1 n 2 n 1 + + = + + + + +
is true for all natural numbers n.
Discussion
1he 4u( and down4 of the .!.S. ma#es it difficult to find the middle term, but you can
avoid this.
Solution
et P"n% be the (ro(osition5 ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) 2 n 1 n n
6
1
1 n 2 2 n ... 2 n 3 1 n 2 n 1 + + = + + + + +
*or P"1%,
.!.S. + 1, -.!.S. + 1 3 2 1
6
1
= . P"1% is true.
/ssume that P"#% is true for some natural number #, that is
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) 2 # 1 # #
6
1
1 # 2 2 # ... 2 # 3 1 # 2 # 1 + + = + + + + + 0. "1%
*or P"# $ 1% ,
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) 1 1 # 2 # 3 1 # ... 1 # 3 # 2 1 # 1 + + + + + + + +
( ) ( ) [ ] ( ) [ ] ( ) [ ] [ ] ( ) 1 1 # 1 1 # 1 2 1 # ... 1 2 # 3 1 1 # 2 1 # 1 + + + + + + + + + + + + =
( ) ( ) ( )
( ) ( ) 1 # # 1 # ... 3 2 1
1 # 2 2 # ... 2 # 3 1 # 2 # 1
+ + + + + + + +
+ + + + + =
"1he bottom series is arithmetic%
( ) ( ) ( )( ) 2 # 1 #
2
1
2 # 1 # #
6
1
+ + + + + = , by "1%
( )( )[ ] ( ) ( ) [ ] ( ) [ ] 2 1 # 1 1 # 1 #
6
1
3 # 2 # 1 #
6
1
+ + + + + = + + + =
P"# $ 1% is true.
3y the Princi(le of Mathematical Induction, P"n% is true for all natural numbers, n .
Question
Prove, by Mathematical Induction, that n"n $ 1%"n $ 2%"n $ 3% is divisible by 2,, for all natural
numbers n.
Discussion
Mathematical Induction cannot be a((lied directly. !ere we brea# the (ro(osition into three
(arts. /lso note that 2, + ,321 + ,6
Solution
2
et P"n% be the (ro(osition5
1. n"n $ 1% is divisible by 26 +2.
2. n"n $ 1%"n $ 2% is divisible by 36 + 6.
3. n"n $ 1%"n $ 2%"n $ 3% is divisible by ,6 + 2,.
*or P"1%,
1. 12 + 2 is divisible by 2.
2. 123 + 6 is divisible by 3.
3. 123, + 2, is divisible by 2,. P"1% is true.
/ssume that P"#% is true for some natural number #, that is
1. #"# $ 1% is divisible by 2, that is, #"# $ 1% + 2a 0. "1%
2. #"# $ 1%"# $ 2% is divisible by 6 , that is, #"# $ 1%"# $ 2% + 6b 0. "2%
3. #"# $ 1%"# $ 2%"# $ 3% is divisible by 2, ,
that is, #"# $ 1%"# $ 2%"# $ 3% + 2,c 0. "3%
where a, b, c are natural numbers.
*or P"# $ 1% ,
1. "# $ 1%"# $ 2% + #"# $ 1% $ 2"# $ 1% + 2a $ 2"# $ 1% , by "1%
+ 2 7a $ # $ 18 0. ",%
, which is divisible by 2.
2. "# $ 1%"# $ 2%"# $ 3% + #"# $ 1%"# $ 2% $ 3"# $ 1%"# $ 2%
+ 6b $ 3 27a $ # $ 18 , by "2%, ",%
+ 6 7b $ a $ # $ 18 0. "9%
, which is divisible by 6.
3. "# $ 1%"# $ 2%"# $ 3%"# $ ,% + #"# $ 1%"# $ 2%"# $ 3% $ ,"# $ 1%"# $ 2%"# $ 3%
+ 2,c $ , 67b $ a $ # $ 18 , by "3% , "9%
+ 2, 7c $ b $ a $ # $ 18
, which is divisible by 2, .
P"# $ 1% is true.
3y the Princi(le of Mathematical Induction, P"n% is true for all natural numbers, n .
Harder Problem :
Prove, by Mathematical Induction, that n"n $ 1%"n $ 2%"n $ 3% 0"n $ r : 1% is divisible by r 6 , for
all natural numbers n, where r + 1, 2, 0.
3