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2.MATHEMATICAL INDUCTION
Principle of finite Mathematical Induction:
Let {P(n) / n N} be a set of statements. If (i) p(1) is true
p (m+1) is true ;

(ii) p (m) is true

then p (n) is true for every n N.

Principle of complete induction:

Let {P (n) / n N} be a set of statements. If p (1) is true and p(2), p(3) .... p (m-1) are true =>
p(m) is true, then p (n) is true for every n N.
Note:
(i) The principle of mathematical induction is a method of proof of a statement.
(ii) We often use the finite mathematical induction, hence or otherwise specified the
mathematical induction is the finite mathematical induction.
Some important formulae:
n ( n + 1)
1. n =
2
2.

n ( n + 1)( 2n + 1)
;
6

3.

n 2 ( n + 1)
n
=

4.

a, ( a + d ) , ( a + 2d ) ,.............. are in a.p

n th term tn = a + ( n 1) d , sum of n terms Sn =

5.

n
n
2a + ( n 1) d = [ a + l ] ,
2
2

a = first term, l= last term.

a, ar , ar 2 ,........ is a g.p.
Nth term tn = a.r n1 . a = 1st term, r = common ratio.
Sum of n terms

sn

(r
=a

1)

r 1

; r > 1,

1 rn
= a
;r < 1
1 r

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Using mathematical induction prove the following
1.
Sol:

n(n + 1)(2n + 1)
6
Let Sn be the given statement
For n = 1
L.H.S = 1
1(1 + 1)(2 + 1)
R.H .S =
=1
6
L.H.S = R.H.S
S (1) is true
12 + 22 + 32 + ..... + n 2 =

Assume Sk is true
k (k + 1)(2k + 1)
6
Adding (k + 1)th term on both sides i.e. (k + 1) 2 on both sides
k (k + 1)(2k + 1)
12 + 22 + 32 + .... + k 2 + (k + 1)2 =
+ (k + 1)2
6
k (2k + 1) + 6(k + 1)
= (k + 1)

2
(k + 1){2k + 7k + 6}
=
6
(k + 1) (k + 2) (k + 3)
=
6
(k + 1) {(k + 1) + 1}{2(k + 1) + 1}
=
6
Sk +1 is true
11 + 22 + 32 + .... + k 2 =

Sn is true
n(n 2 + 6n + 11)
3
tn = 2 + (n 1)1 = n + 1

2.

Prove that 2.3+ 3.4 + 4.5+ . Up to n terms

Sol:

2, 3, 4 n terms
3, 4, 5.. n terms

tn = 3 + (n 1)1 = n + 2

2.3 + 3.4 + 4.5 + ......... + (n + 1)(n + 2) =

n(n 2 + 6n + 11)
3

Let Sn be the given statement

For n = 1
L.H.S = 2.3 = 6
1(1 + 6 + 11)
R.H .S =
=6
3
L. H.S = R.H.S
S (1) is true
Assume Sk is true
k (k 2 + 6k + 11)
2.3 + 3.4 + 4.5 + ....... + (k + 1)(k + 2) =
+ (k + 2)(k + 3)
3

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k (k 2 + 6k + 11) + 3(k 2 + 5k + 6)
=
3
k 3 + 9k 2 + 26k + 18
=
3

(k + 1) {k 2 + 8k + 18}

k = 1

3
(k + 1) {(k + 1) + 6(k + 1) + 11}

26

18

0 1 8 18
1

18

Sk +1 is true
Hence S ( n ) is true for all n N
3.
Sol:

1
1
1
1
n
+
+
+ ..... +
=
1.3 3.5 5.7
(2n 1)(2n + 1) 2n + 1
Let S ( n ) be the given statement
1 1
=
1.3 3
1
1
R.H.S =
=
2 +1 3
Assume Sk is true
1
1
1
1
k
+
+
+ ..... +
=
1.3 3.5 5.7
(2k 1)(2k + 1) 2k + 1
1
Adding (k + 1)th term i.e.
on both sides
(2k + 1)(2k + 3)
1
1
1
1
1
k
1
+
+
+ ...... +
+
=
+
1.3 3.5 5.7
(2k 1)(2k + 1) (2k + 1)(2k + 3) 2k + 1 (2k + 1) (2k + 3)
k (2k + 3) + 1
=
(2k + 1)(2k + 3)

For n = 1

L.H.S

2k 2 + 3k + 1
(2k + 1)(2k + 3)
k +1
=
2k + 3
Sk +1 is true
Hence S ( n ) is true for all n N
=

4.
Sol:

43 + 83 + 123 + .... up to n terms = 16n 2 (n + 1) 2

Let S ( n ) be the given statements

For n = 1

L.H .S = 43 = 64

R.H.S = 16(1)2 (1 + 1) 2 = 64
L.H.S = R.H.S
Hence S (1) is true
Assume S ( k ) is true

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43 + 83 + 123 + .... + (4k )3 = 16 k 2 (k + 1) 2

Adding {4( k + 1)} on both sides

3

43 + 83 + 123 + ... + (4k )3 + {4(k + 1)} = 16k 2 (k + 1)2 + 64(k + 1)3

3

43 + 83 + 123 + ..... + {4(k + 1)} = 16(k + 1) 2 {k 2 + 4k + 4}

3

= 16(k + 1) 2 (k + 2) 2
Sk +1 is true
Hence S ( n ) is true for all n N
5.

a + (a +d) +(a +2d) + .up to n terms a =

Sol:

a + (a + d ) + (a + 2d ) + .... + [ a + (n 1)d ] =

n
[ 2a + (n 1)d ]
2

n
[ 2a + (n 1)d ]
2

Let S ( n ) be the given statement

For n = 1
L.H.S. = a
1
R.H.S = [ 2a + (1 1)d ] = a
2
L.H.S. = R.H.S
Assume Sk is true
a + (a + d ) + (a + 2d ) + ..... + a + (k 1)d + (a + kd ) =

k
[ 2a + (k 1)d ] + (a + kd )
2

k
a + (a + d ) + .... + a + kd = ak + (k 1)d + a + kd
2
k

= a ( k + 1) + d ( k 1) + k
2

k 1+ 2
= a ( k + 1) + kd

2
k +1
=
{2a + ( kd )}
2
Sk +1 is true

Hence Sn is true for all n N

6.

a + ar + ar 2 + .......... upto n terms =

Sol:

a + ar + ar 2 + .......ar n1 =

a(r n 1)
(r 1)
r 1

a(r n 1)
r 1
be the given statement

Let S ( n )
For n = 1
L.H.S = a
a(r 1)
R.H.S =
=a
(r 1)
L.H.S = R.H.S
S (1) is true

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Assume Sk is true
a + ar + ar 2 + .......ar k 1 =

a(r k 1)
r 1

Adding a.r k on both sides

a(r k 1)
+ ar k
r 1
a {r k 1 + r k +1 r k }

a + ar + ar 2 + ............ + ar k 1 + ar k =
a + ar + ar 2 + ............ + ar k =

r 1

a(r k +1 1)
=
r 1
is true

Hence Sk +1
Sn is true n N

n( Sn 1)
2
be the given statement

7.

2 + 7 + 12 + ......... + (5n 3) =

Sol:

Let S ( n )
For n = 1
L.H.S =2
1(5 1)
R.H.S =
=2
2
L.H.S = R.H.S
Hence S (1) is true

for n = 1

Assume S ( k ) is true
k (5k 1)
2
(k + 1) {5(k + 1) 1}

2 + 7 + 12 + ...... + (5k 3) =

5k 2 + 9k + 4
=
2
S k +1 is true
Hence S ( n ) is true n N
=

8.
Sol:

4 n 3n 1 is divisible by 9
Let S ( n ) be the given statement i.e. S( n) = 4n 3n 1

For n = 1 S (1) = 4 3 1 = 0 is divisible by 9

Assume S ( k ) is true i.e. 4k 3k 1 is divisible by 9
S k +1 = 4 k +1 3( k +1) 1 = 4 k .4 3k 4

= {9m + 3k + 1} 4 3k 4

= 36 m + 12 k + 4 3k 4
= 36m + 9k = 9{4m + k} this is

Divisible by 9
Hence Sk +1 is divisible by 9
Sn is divisible by 9 n N

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9.
Sol:

Show that 3.52 n +1 + 23n +1 + 23n +1 is divisible by 17

Let S( n ) = 3.52 n+1 + 23n+1 be the given statement

S(1) = 3.53 + 24 = 375 + 16 = 391= 17 23

This is divisible by 17
Assume Sk is true
S k = 3.5 2 k +1 + 23 k +1 is divisible by 17
Let 3.52 k +1 + 23k +1 = 17 m
3.52 k +1 = 17m 23k +1
S k +1 = 3.52 k + 3 + 23 k + 4

= 3.52 k +1.2 + 23k +1.23

= 25 {17 m 23k +1} + 23k +1.8

= 25 17m 17(23k +1 ) = 17 {25 m 23k +1} is divisible by 17

Hence Sk +1 is true
Sn is true for all n N
10.
Sol:

n(n + 1)(n + 2)(n + 3)

4
n(n + 1)(n + 2)(n + 3)
1.2.3 + 2.3.4 + 3.4.5 + .......... + n(n + 1)(n + 2) =
4
Let S ( n ) be the given statement

1.23.+2.3.4+3.4.5+.up to n terms =

For n = 1
L.H.S = 1.2.3 = 6
1(2)(3)(4)
R.H.S =
=6
4
Assume S ( k ) is true
k (k + 1)(k + 2)(k + 3)
4
Adding (k + 1) (k + 2) (k + 3) on both sides

1.2.3 + 2.3.4 + 3.4.5 + ......... + k (k + 1)(k + 2) =

1.2.3 + 2.3.4 + 3.4.5 + ......... + k ( k + 1)( k + 2) + ( k + 2)( k + 2)(k + 3) =

k (k + 1)(k + 2)(k + 3)
4

Sk +1 is true
Hence S ( n ) is true n N
11.
Sol:

13 13 + 23 13 + 23 + 33
n
+
+
+ ...... upto n terms = [2n 2 + 9n + 13]
1 1+ 3
1+ 3 + 5
24
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
1 1 +2 1 +2 +3
1 + 2 + 33 + ..... + n3
n
2n 2 + 9n + 13
+
+
+ .............. +
=
1 1+ 3
1+ 3 + 5
1 + 3 + 5 + .... + (2n 1) 24
Let S ( n ) be the given statement

For n = 1
13
L.H.S = = 1
1

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1
R.H.S = = [2 + 9 + 13] = 1
24
L.H.S = R.H.S
Hence S (1) is true

Assume Sk is true

13 13 + 23 13 + 23 + 33
13 + 23 + 33 + ....... + k 3 k
+
+
+ .... +
= 2k 2 + 9k + 13
1 1+ 3
1+ 3 + 5
1 + 3 + 5 + .....2(k 1) 24

13 13 + 23 13 + 23 + 33
k 2 (k + 1) 2
k
2k 2 + 9k + 13
+
+
+ .... +
=
2
1 1+ 3
1+ 3 + 5
4k
24
2
(k + 2)
Adding
on both sides
4
13 13 + 23 13 + 23 + 33
(k + 1) 2 (k + 2) 2 k
(k + 2) 2
+
+
+ ..... +
+
= {2k 2 + 9k + 13} +
1 1+ 3
13 + 5
4
4
24
4
2
2
13 13 + 23 13 + 23 + 33
(k + 2) 2 k {2k + 9k + 13} + 6(k + 4k + 4)
+
+
+ .... +
=
1 1+ 3
13 + 5
4
24
2
2
2k + 9k + 13 + 6k + 24k + 24
=
24
2k 2 + 15k 2 + 37 k + 24
=
24
2 15 37
2
k = 1
0 2 13 24
2

13

24

(k + 1) {(2k + 13k + 24}

2

24
(k + 1) {2(k + 2k + 1) + 9(k + 1) + 13}
2

24
(k + 1) {2(k + 1) + 9(k + 1) + 13}
2

Sk +1 is true
Sn is true n N
12.
Sol:

24

n(n + 1) 2 (n + 2)
12
n(n + 1) 2 (n + 2)
12 + (12 + 22 ) + (12 + 22 + 32 ) + ........ + (12 + 22 + 32 + .....n 2 ) =
12
2
n(n + 1)(2n + 1) n(n + 1) (n + 2)
12 + (12 + 22 ) + (12 + 22 + 32 ) + ........ =
=
6
12
Let S ( n ) be the given statement

12 + (12 + 22 ) + (12 + 22 + 33 ) + .......... up to n terms =

For n = 1
L.H.S = 1
1(1 + 1)2 (1 + 2)
R.H.S =
12

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Assume Sk is true
k (k + 1)(2k + 1) k (k + 1) 2 (k + 2)
=
6
12
(
1)(
2)(2
3)
k
+
k
+
k
+
Adding (k + 1)th term i.e. =
on both sides
6
12 + (12 + 22 ) + (12 + 22 + 32 ) + ... +

12 + (12 + 22 ) + (12 + 22 + 32 ) + .....+ =

=
=

(k + 1)(k + 2)(2k + 3) k (k + 1)2 (k + 2) (k + 1)(k + 2)(2k + 3)

=
+
6
12
6

k (k + 1) 2 (k + 2) + 2(k + 1)(k + 2)(2k + 3)

12
2
(k + 1)(k + 2) {k + k + 4k + 6}

12
(k + 1)(k + 2) {k 2 + 5k + 6}

12
(k + 1)(k + 2) (k + 2) (k + 3)
=
12
(k + 1)(k + 2) 2 (k + 3)
=
12

***

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