Last updated at Dec. 16, 2024 by Teachoo
Example 1 For all n ≥ 1, prove that 12 + 22 + 32 + 42 +…+ n2 = (n(n+1)(2n+1))/6 Let P(n) : 12 + 22 + 32 + 42 + …..+ n2 = (𝑛(𝑛 + 1)(2𝑛 + 1))/6 Proving for n = 1 For n = 1, L.H.S = 12 = 1 R.H.S = (1(1+1)(2 × 1+ 1))/6 = (1 × 2 × 3)/6 = 1 Since, L.H.S. = R.H.S ∴ P(n) is true for n = 1 Proving P(k + 1) is true if P(k) is true Assume that P(k) is true, P(k): 1 + 22 + 32 +… …+ k2 = (𝑘 (𝑘 + 1)(2𝑘 + 1))/6 We will prove that P(k + 1) is true. P(k + 1): 1 + 22 + 32 +… …+ (k + 1)2 = ((𝑘 + 1)((𝑘 + 1)+ 1)(2 × (𝑘 + 1) +1))/6 P(k + 1): 1 + 22 + 32 +… …+ (k + 1)2 = ((𝑘 + 1)(𝑘 + 2)(2𝑘 + 2 +1))/6 P(k + 1): 1 + 22 + 32 +… …+ k2 + (k + 1)2 = ((𝒌 + 𝟏)(𝒌 + 𝟐)(𝟐𝒌 + 𝟑))/𝟔 We have to prove P(k + 1) is true Solving LHS 1 + 22 + 32 +… …+ k2 + (k + 1)2 From (1): 1 + 22 + 32 +… …+ k2 = (𝑘 (𝑘 + 1)(2𝑘 + 1))/6 = (𝒌 (𝒌 + 𝟏)(𝟐𝒌 + 𝟏))/𝟔 + (k + 1)2 = (𝑘(𝑘 + 1)(2𝑘 + 1) + 6(𝑘 + 1)2)/6 = ((𝑘 + 1)(𝑘(2𝑘 + 1) + 6(𝑘 + 1)))/6 = ((𝑘 + 1)(2𝑘2 + 𝑘 + 6𝑘 + 6))/6 = ((𝒌 + 𝟏)(𝟐𝒌𝟐 + 𝟕𝒌 + 𝟔))/𝟔 = ((𝑘 + 1)(2𝑘2 + 4𝑘 + 3𝑘 + 6))/6 = ((𝑘 + 1)(2𝑘(𝑘 + 2) + 3(𝑘 + 2)))/6 = ((𝒌 + 𝟏)(𝟐𝒌 + 𝟑)(𝒌 + 𝟐))/𝟔 = RHS ∴ P(k + 1) is true when P(k) is true Thus, By the principle of mathematical induction, P(n) is true for n, where n is a natural number
About the Author
Davneet Singh has done his B.Tech from Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. He has been teaching from the past 14 years. He provides courses for Maths, Science and Computer Science at Teachoo