Lesson 8.

Proving Identities Using

Mathematical Induction

Precalculus
Capstone Project
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
How do lawyers prove
the guilt of a suspect?
How do judges weigh
the evidences and
proofs submitted by
lawyers to be able to
give an unbiased
judgment?
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In the field of law,
experts follow certain
principles to prove an
argument. In
mathematics,
mathematicians follow
a different principle in
proving a theorem,
statement, or
proposition.
3
In this lesson, you will learn a different method in
proving statements, especially summation
identities, following the principle of mathematical
induction.

4
How do we prove identity
equations using the Principle of
Mathematical Induction?

5
 Learning Competencies
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to do the following:

● Illustrate the Principle of Mathematical

Induction (STEM_PC11SMI-Ih-4).

● Apply mathematical induction in proving

identities (STEM_PC11SMI-Ih-i-1).

● Solve problems using mathematical

induction (STEM_PC11SMI-Ij-2). 6
 Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to do the following:

● Illustrate the Principle of Mathematical Induction.

● Prove identities by applying the Principle of

Mathematical Induction.

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 Identity Equation

 
An identity equation is an equation that is always true
for any value substituted into the variable.

Example:
a.

b.

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 Identity Equation

 
Example:
Verify if .
 
 

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 Identity Equation

 
Example:
Verify if .
 
 

 
The equation is an identity.
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Is an identity equation?

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 Principle of Mathematical Induction

 
Let be a statement for every integer from a subset of the
set of integers. is true for all integers in the set if the
following conditions are satisfied:
 
1. is true.

2. If is true, then is true for any integer .

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 Principle of Mathematical Induction

 
Mathematical Induction on Summation Identities

Let be a summation identity for every natural number . is

true for all if the following conditions are satisfied:
 
1. is true.

2. If is true, then is true for any .

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 Let’s Practice!
 
Prove that by mathematical induction, for all
positive integers .

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 Let’s Practice!
 
Prove that by mathematical induction, for all
positive integers .

 
By mathematical induction, the equation
is true for all positive integers .
15
Try It!
 

Prove that
by mathematical induction, for all
positive integers .

16
Tips

In proving summation identities, it is

sometimes easier to leave one side in
factored form. Looking for an
expression that can be simplified easier
by factoring can be helpful.

17
 Let’s Practice!
 
Use mathematical induction to prove
, for all positive integers .

18
 Let’s Practice!
 
Use mathematical induction to prove
, for all positive integers .

By mathematical induction, the equation

is true for all positive integers .

19
Try It!
 

Use mathematical induction to prove

, for all positive integers .

20
 Let’s Practice!
 
Show that is an identity using mathematical
induction, for all positive integers .

21
 Let’s Practice!
 
Show that is an identity using mathematical
induction, for all positive integers .

By mathematical induction,
is an identity for all positive integers .
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Try It!
 

Show that
is an identity using mathematical
induction, for all positive integers .

23
 Let’s Practice!
 
Prove that using mathematical induction, for all
positive integers .

24
 Let’s Practice!
 
Prove that using mathematical induction, for all
positive integers .

By mathematical induction, the equation

is true for all positive integers .

25
Try It!
 

Prove that
using mathematical induction, for all
positive integers .

26
 Let’s Practice!
 
Prove the statement below using mathematical
induction, for all positive integers .

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 Let’s Practice!
 
Prove the statement below using mathematical
induction, for all positive integers .

 
By mathematical induction, the statement
is true for all positive integers .
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Try It!
 

Prove the equation below using

mathematical induction, for all positive
integers .

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 Let’s Practice!
 
Prove by mathematical induction that the sum of the
first terms of the sequence is
.

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 Let’s Practice!
 
Prove by mathematical induction that the sum of the
first terms of the sequence is
.

By mathematical induction, the equation

is true for all positive integers .

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Try It!
 

Prove by mathematical induction that

the sum of the first terms of the
sequence is .

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 Check Your Understanding

Write TRUE if the statement is correct. Otherwise,

write FALSE.

 
1. The equation is an identity.
2. If an equation holds true for , then it is also true for .
3. Mathematical induction can be used to prove identities
for any real number greater than or equal to one.

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 Check Your Understanding
 
Prove by mathematical induction that the following
equations are true for all positive integers .

 
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

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 Let’s Sum It Up!

● An identity equation is an equation that is

always true for any value substituted into the
variable.

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 Let’s Sum It Up!
 
● Let be a summation identity for every natural
number . is true for all if the following conditions
are satisfied:
o is true.
o If is true, then is also true for all
.

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Challenge Yourself
 

Prove by mathematical induction

that the sum of the first terms of the
sequence is equal to
.

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Bibliography

Barnett, Raymond, Michael Ziegler, Karl Byleen, and David Sobecki. College Algebra with Trigonometry.

Boston: McGraw Hill Higher Education, 2008.

Bittinger, Marvin L., Judith A. Beecher, David J. Ellenbogen, and Judith A. Penna. Algebra and
Trigonometry: Graphs and Models. 4th ed. Boston: Pearson/Addison Wesley, 2009.

Blitzer, Robert. Algebra and Trigonometry. 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson/Prentice
Hall, 2007.

Larson, Ron. College Algebra with Applications for Business and the Life Sciences. Boston: MA:Houghton
Mifflin, 2009.

Simmons, George F. Calculus with Analytic Geometry. 2nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1996.

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