# Homework Help: Proving a Series by induction

1. Dec 6, 2011

### mtayab1994

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data(

Given: U0=2 and :

(U)n+1=(Un^2+Un)/(1+Un)

2. Relevant equations

prove that for every n in N : Un>1

3. The attempt at a solution

ok for n=0 i got Un+1=2 and 2>1 therefore for n=0 its true.

now we assume its true for U=0 and we want to show that Un+1>Un

((Un+1)^2+Un+1)/(1+(Un+1)^2) > Un

am i correct so far?

2. Dec 6, 2011

### mtayab1994

sorry ((Un+1)^2+Un+1)/(1+(Un+1)^2)>1

3. Dec 6, 2011

### lanedance

can't you just go
(U)n+1=(Un^2+Un)/(1+Un) = Un(Un+1)/(1+Un)=Un?

4. Dec 6, 2011

### vela

Staff Emeritus
Nope. With induction proofs, you have some statement P(n) that is either true or false for some value of n. In this case, your statement P(n) is "Un is greater than 1." You first want to establish that P(n) is true for some specific value of n. Then you want to show that if P(k) is true, then P(k+1) is true.
For n=0, you're given Un=2, which is obviously greater than 1. In other words, P(0) is true. You're not trying to show (at this step) that
$$U_{n+1} = \frac{U_n^2+U_n}{1+U_n} > 1$$
Now you assume P(n) is true for n=k and show that this implies that it's true for n=k+1.

Your induction hypothesis is P(k) is true, that is, Uk>1, and you want to prove now that Uk+1>1. According to the recursion relation, you have
$$U_{k+1} = \frac{U_k^2+U_k}{1+U_k}$$You want to show the righthand side is greater than 1 because that means P(k+1) is also true.

5. Dec 6, 2011

### mtayab1994

ok i did:

(Un^2+Un)/(1+Un^2)>1 then:

Un+1-1=(Un-1)/(1+Un^2) and since we know that Un>1 therefor Un-1>0 and 1+Un^2>0 so therefore Un+1>0

Is this correct?

6. Dec 6, 2011

### vela

Staff Emeritus
It would really help if you would typeset subscripts and superscripts as appropriate. It's really hard to understand what you've written. If you go in advanced more, there are tools to typeset your text. You could also use LaTeX.

Where did (Un2+Un)/(1+Un2)>1 come from? Note that in your original post, Un wasn't squared in the denominator.

7. Dec 6, 2011

### mtayab1994

sorry that was my fault Un is squared in the denominator. sorry. so that means thats true then.

8. Dec 6, 2011

### vela

Staff Emeritus
You don't start off with this. This is what you're trying to prove.
This is fine because it only depends on the definition of Un+1.
Yes, that's right.

For the actual proof you write down, you may want to start with something like
\begin{align*}U_{n+1} &= \frac{U_n^2+U_n}{1+U_n^2} \\
&= \frac{U_n^2+1+U_n-1}{1+U_n^2} \\
&= 1+\frac{U_n-1}{U_n^2+1}
\end{align*}And then explain as you did why that last term is positive. It makes it a bit clearer what your argument is, starting from a definition and ending with what you're trying to prove.

Last edited: Dec 6, 2011