4.1 Induction[27J]

Proposition 133 Induction Principle

[1XC] Let \(A⊇ ℕ\) and \(P(n)\) be a logical proposition that can be evaluated for \(n∈ A\). Suppose the following two assumptions are satisfied:

  • \(P(n)\) is true for \(n=0\) and

  • \(∀ n∈ ℕ, P(n)⇒ P(S(n))\) ;

then \(P\) is true for every \(n∈ ℕ\).

Proof

Let \(U=\{ n∈ ℕ:P(n)\} \), we know that \(0∈ U\) and that \(∀ x, x ∈ U⇒ S(x)∈ U\) , then from (N5) we conclude that \(U=\mathbb {N}\).

The verification of \(P(0)\) is called the ”basis of induction”, while the verification of \(∀ n∈ ℕ, P(n)⇒ P(S(n))\) it is called ”inductive step” (in which \(P(n)\) is taken as a hypothesis, and is called "inductive hypothesis").

E133

[1XF] Prove that \(∀ n∈ ℕ, n≠ S(n)\).

Hidden solution: [UNACCESSIBLE UUID ’1XJ’]

E133

[1XG] Prove 1 by induction the following assertions:

  1. \(∑_{k=1}^ nk=\frac{n(n+1)} 2\);

  2. \(∑_{k=1}^ nk^ 2=\frac{n(n+1)(2n+1)} 6\);

  3. \(∑_{k=1}^ nk^ 3=\frac{n^ 2(n+1)^ 2} 4\);

  4. \(∑_{k=1}^ n\frac{1}{4k^ 2-1}=\frac{n}{2n+1}\);

  5. \(∑_{k=1}^ n\frac{k}{2^ k}=2-\frac{n+2}{2^ n}\);

  6. \(n!≥ 2^{n-1}\);

  7. If \(x{\gt}-1\) is a real number and \(n∈ ℕ\) then \((1+x)^ n≥ 1+nx\) (Bernoulli inequality).

Hidden solution: [UNACCESSIBLE UUID ’1XK’]

  1. In the following exercises we give for good knowledge of the operations typical of the natural numbers, and their order relation.