Mathematical Induction Fundamentals

The Mathematical Induction Fundamentals are defined for applying 3 steps: step 1 for showing its initial ignite, step 2 for making an assumption, and step 3 for showing it is true based on the assumption. Make sure the Mathematical Induction Fundamentals should be used only when the question asks to use it.

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Basic Mathematical Induction Fundamentals

Prove \( 2+4+6+\cdots+2n = n(n+1) \) by mathematical induction.

Step 1: Show it is true for \( n=1 \).
LHS \( = 2 \times 1 = 2 \)
RHS \( = 1 \times ( 1+1) = 2 \)
LHS \( = \) RHS
It is true for \( n = 1 \).
Step 2: Assume that it is true for \( n=k \).
That is, \( 2+4+6+\cdots+2k = k(k+1) \).
Step 3: Show it is true for \( n = k+1 \).
That is, \( 2+4+6+\cdots+2k+2(k+1) = (k+1)(k+2) \).
\( \begin{aligned} \displaystyle \require{AMSsymbols} \require{color}
\text{LHS } &= 2+4+6+\cdots+2k+2(k+1) \\
&= k(k+1) + 2(k+1) &\color{green} \text{replaced by the assumption in Step 2}\\
&= (k+1)(k+2) &\color{green} \text{factorise by } (k+1) \\
&= \text{ RHS}
\end{aligned} \)
Therefore it is true for \( n=k+1 \).
Therefore the statement is true for \( n\ge 1 \).

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Mathematical Induction with Indices

Prove \( 1 \times 2 + 2 \times 2^2 + 3 \times 2^3 + \cdots + n \times 2^n = (n-1) \times 2^{n+1} + 2 \) by mathematical induction.

Step 1: Show it is true for \( n=1 \).
LHS \( = 1 \times 2 = 2 \)
RHS \( = (1-1) \times 2^{1-1} + 2 = 2 \)
LHS \( = \) RHS
Therefore it is true for \( n=1 \).
Step 2: Assume that it is true for \( n=k \).
That is, \( 1 \times 2 + 2 \times 2^2 + 3 \times 2^3 + \cdots + k \times 2^k = (k-1) \times 2^{k+1} + 2 \).
Step 3: Show it is true for \( n=k+1 \).
That is \( 1 \times 2 + 2 \times 2^2 + 3 \times 2^3 + \cdots + k \times 2^k + (k+1) \times 2^{k+1} = k \times 2^{k+2} + 2 \)
\( \begin{aligned} \displaystyle \require{AMSsymbols} \require{color}
\text{LHS } &= 1 \times 2 + 2 \times 2^2 + 3 \times 2^3 + \cdots + k \times 2^k + (k+1) \times 2^{k+1} \\
&= (k-1) \times 2^{k+1} + 2 + (k+1) \times 2^{k+1} &\color{green} \text{replaced by the assumption in Step 2} \\
&= [(k-1)+(k+1)] \times 2^{k+1} + 2 &\color{green} \text{factorise by } 2^{k+1} \\
&= 2k \times 2^{k+1} + 2 \\
&= k \times 2^{k+2} + 2 \\
&= \text{RHS}
\end{aligned} \)
Therefore it is true for \( n=k+1 \).
Therefore the statement is true for \( n \ge 1 \).

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Mathematical Induction with Factorials

Prove \( 2 \times 1! + 5 \times 2! + 10 \times 3! + \cdots + (n^2+1)n! = n(n+1)! \) by mathematical induction.

Note that \( \require{AMSsymbols} \require{color} \color{red} (n+1)n! = (n+1)! \)
Step 1: Show it is true for \( n=1 \).
LHS \( = (1^2+1) \times 1! = 2 \)
RHS \( = 1 \times (1+1)! = 2 \)
LHS \( = \) RHS
It is true for \( n = 1 \).
Step 2: Assume that it is true for \( n=k \).
That is, \( 2 \times 1! + 5 \times 2! + 10 \times 3! + \cdots + (k^2+1)k! = k(k+1)! \).
Step 3: Show it is true for \( n=k+1 \).
That is, \( 2 \times 1! + 5 \times 2! + 10 \times 3! + \cdots + (k^2+1)k!+ (k^2+2k+2)(k+1)! = (k+1)(k+2)! \)
\( \begin{aligned} \displaystyle \require{AMSsymbols} \require{color}
\text{LHS } &= 2 \times 1! + 5 \times 2! + 10 \times 3! + \cdots + (k^2+1)k!+ (k^2+2k+2)(k+1)! \\
&= k(k+1)!+ (k^2+2k+2)(k+1)! &\color{green} \text{replaced by the assumption in Step 2}\\
&= [k + (k^2+2k+2)](k+1)! &\color{green} \text{factorise by } (k+1)! \\
&= (k^2 + 3k + 2)(k+1)! \\
&= (k+1)(k+2)(k+1)! \\
&= (k+1)(k+2)! &\color{green} (k+2)(k+1)! = (k+2)! \\
&= \text{RHS}
\end{aligned} \)
Therefore it is true for \( n=k+1 \).
Therefore the statement is true for \( n \ge 1 \).

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Mathematical Induction with Sigma \( \displaystyle \sum \) Notations

Prove \( \displaystyle \sum_{a=1}^{n} a^2 = \frac{1}{6}n(n+1)(2n+1) \) by mathematical induction.

Before proving the statement in sigma notation, it is highly recommended to expand to series format to avoid silly mistakes.
\( \displaystyle \sum_{a=1}^{n} a^2 = 1^2 + 2^2 + 3^2 + \cdots + n^2 \)
So the question becomes now as follows.
Prove \( \displaystyle 1^2 + 2^2 + 3^2 + \cdots + n^2 = \frac{1}{6}n(n+1)(2n+1) \) by mathematical induction.
Step 1: Show it is true for \( n=1 \).
LHS \( = 1^2 = 1 \)
RHS \( = \frac{1}{6} \times 1 \times (1+1) \times (2+1) = 1 \)
LHS \( = \) RHS
It is true for \( n = 1 \).
Step 2: Assume that it is true for \( n=k \).
That is, \( \displaystyle 1^2 + 2^2 + 3^2 + \cdots + k^2 = \frac{1}{6}k(k+1)(2k+1) \).
Step 3: Show it is true for \( n=k+1 \).
That is, \( \displaystyle 1^2 + 2^2 + 3^2 + \cdots + k^2 + (k+1)^2 = \frac{1}{6}(k+1)(k+2)(2k+3) \).
\( \begin{aligned} \displaystyle \require{AMSsymbols} \require{color}
\text{LHS } &= 1^2 + 2^2 + 3^2 + \cdots + k^2 + (k+1)^2 \\
&= \frac{1}{6}k(k+1)(2k+1) + (k+1)^2 &\color{green} \text{replaced by the assumption in Step 2} \\
&= (k+1)\Big[\frac{1}{6}k(2k+1) + (k+1)\Big] &\color{green} \text{factorised by (k+1)} \\
&= (k+1) \times \frac{2k^2 + k + 6k + 6}{6} \\
&= \frac{1}{6}(k+1)(2k^2 + 7k + 6) \\
&= \frac{1}{6}(k+1)(k+2)(2k+3) \\
&= \text{RHS}
\end{aligned} \)
Therefore it is true for \( n=k+1 \).
Therefore the statement is true for \( n \ge 1 \).

 

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