PAST IB EXAM QUESTIONS
CHAPTER 5 PROOF [101 marks]
1. (a) Show that (2# − 1)! + (2# + 1)! = 8#! + 2, where # ∈ ℤ.
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(b) Hence, or otherwise, prove that the sum of the squares of any two consecutive
odd integers is even.
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2. (a) Explain why any integer can be written in the form 4- or 4- + 1 or 4- + 2 or 4- + 3,
where - ∈ ℤ.
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(b) Hence prove that the square of any integer can be written in the form 4/ or 4/ + 1,
where / ∈ ℤ" .
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3. Consider any three consecutive integers, # − 1, # and # + 1.
(a) Prove that the sum of these three integers is always divisible by 3.
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(b) Prove that the sum of the squares of these three integers is never divisible by 3.
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4. Consider integers ! and " such that !! + " ! is exactly divisible by 4. Prove by
contradiction that ! and " cannot both be odd.
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5. Prove by contradiction that the equation 2& # + 6& + 1 = 0 has no integer roots.
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% %!
6. Using mathematical induction and the definition of +$ = $!(%($)! , prove
%
$ %"+
that Σ ++ = +! for all - ∈ ℤ" .
$*+
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7. Prove by mathematical induction that 5!% − 2#% is divisible by 17 for all - ∈ ℤ" .
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% $ +
8. Use mathematical induction to prove that Σ = 1 − (%"+)! for all integers - ≥ 1.
$*+ ($"+)!
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9. Prove by contradiction that 4! − 86 − 11 ≠ 0, for any 4, 6 ∈ ℤ.
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10. (a) Solve the inequality & ! > 2& + 1.
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(b)Use mathematical induction to prove that 2%"+ > -! for - ∈ ℤ, - ≥ 3.
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11.
Use mathematical induction to prove that ∑%$*+ >(>!) = (- + 1)! − 1, for - ∈ ℤ" .
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12. Use the principle of mathematical induction to prove that
+ + ! + # + %(+ %"!
1 + 2 C!D + 3 C!D + 4 C!D + … + * C!D = 4 − !!"# , where * ∈ ℤ" .
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13. Use mathematical induction to prove that (1 − 0)% > 1 − *0 for {* : * ∈ ℤ" , * ≥ 2}
where 0 < 0 < 1.
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14. Use the method of mathematical induction to prove that 4% + 15* − 1 is divisible by 9
for * ∈ ℤ" .
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2 3 4 *−1 *
15. Prove by mathematical induction that C D + C D + C D + ⋯ + C D = C D, where
2 2 2 2 3
* ∈ ℤ, * ≥ 3.
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