9/25/2017 Best Examples of Mathematical Induction Inequality | iitutor

Best Examples of Mathematical Induction Inequality

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Mathematical Induction Inequality Proofs

Mathematical Induction Inequality is being used for proving inequalities. It is quite often applied for
the subtraction and/or greatness, using the assumption at the step 2. Lets take a look at the
following hand-picked examples.

Practice Questions for Mathematical Induction Inequality

Basic Mathematical Induction Inequality

Prove 4n1 > n2 for n 3 by mathematical induction.

Step 1: Show it is true for n = 3.

LHS = 431 = 16
RHS = 32 = 9
LHS > RHS
Therefore it is true for n = 3.
Step 2: Assume that it is true for n = k.
That is, 4k1 > k2 .
Step 3: Show it is true for n = k + 1.
That is, 4k > (k + 1)2 .

k
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9/25/2017 Best Examples of Mathematical Induction Inequality | iitutor

LHS = 4k
= 4k1+1
= 4k1 4
> k2 4 by the assumption 4k1 > k2
= k2 + 2k2 + k2 2k2 > 2k and k2 > 1 for k 3
> k2 + 2k + 1
= (k + 1)2
= RHS
LHS > RHS
Therefore it is true for n = k + 1 assuming that it is true for n = k.
Therefore 4n1 > n2 is true for n 3.

Mathematical Induction Inequality using the Difference

It is quite often used to prove A > B by A B > 0.

Prove n2 < 2n for n 5 by mathematical induction.

Step 1: Show it is true for n = 5.

LHS = 52 = 25
RHS = 25 = 32
LHS < RHS
It is true for n = 5.
Step 2: Assume that it is true for n = k.
That is, k2 < 2k .
Step 3: Show it is true for n = k + 1.
That is, (k + 1)2 < 2k+1 .

k+1
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9/25/2017 Best Examples of Mathematical Induction Inequality | iitutor

RHS LHS = 2k+1 (k + 1)2

= 2 2k (k2 + 2k + 1)
> 2 k2 (k2 + 2k + 1) by the assumption from Step 2
= k2 2k 1
= (k 1)2 2
>0 , since k 5 and so (k 1)2 16
2k+1 (k + 1)2 > 0
(k + 1)2 < 2k+1
Therefore it is true for n = k + 1 assuming it is true for n = k.
Therefore it is true for n = k + 1 is true for n 5.

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