Quick question on Mathematical Induction

In summary, in mathematical induction, two variables are often given: positive integers n and real numbers x >= -1. When solving problems, x remains as it is and is treated as an arbitrary real number. In a proof, the fact that x >= -1 is important. An example of this is shown in the equation |x^n| = |x|^n, where n is any positive integer and x is any real number. This concept may seem confusing at first, but it has been proven to work in various examples.
  • #1
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In mathematical Induction, sometimes two variables are given, such as:
"All positive integers n and all real numbers x >= -1."

My question is do you solve this normally and just keep x as itself or do you have to expand it like you do with n, making it k + 1 etc etc.

Thanks in advanced
 
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  • #2
You leave $x$ as it is, it is an arbitrary real number >= -1. In the proof it is like that you will need the fact x >= -1.
A little more context would help, but if I am guessing your issue correctly the answer is no.
 
  • #3
Well an example would be:

|x^n| = |x|^n for every positive integer n and real number x.
 
  • #4
You show for any given n, x works.

Which kind of makes sense, don't you think?
 
  • #5
I have done a few examples and they all worked nicely.

Thanks.
 

What is mathematical induction?

Mathematical induction is a proof technique used to establish the truth of a statement for all natural numbers. It involves proving that the statement is true for the first natural number (usually 0 or 1) and then proving that if the statement is true for a particular natural number, it is also true for the next one.

Why is mathematical induction important?

Mathematical induction is important because it allows us to prove statements about infinite sets, such as the natural numbers, by only considering a finite number of cases. It is also a fundamental part of many mathematical proofs and techniques, making it a valuable tool for solving complex problems.

What is the difference between strong and weak induction?

Strong induction is a variation of mathematical induction where the truth of a statement for a given natural number is established by assuming the statement is true for all previous natural numbers, not just the immediate predecessor. Weak induction, on the other hand, only assumes the statement is true for the immediate predecessor.

What are some common mistakes when using mathematical induction?

Some common mistakes when using mathematical induction include assuming the statement is true for all natural numbers without proving the base case, using the wrong variable in the induction hypothesis, and incorrectly applying the inductive step. It is important to carefully follow the steps of mathematical induction to avoid these errors.

What are some real-life applications of mathematical induction?

Mathematical induction has many real-life applications, particularly in computer science and algorithms. It is used to prove the correctness of recursive algorithms and to analyze the time complexity of algorithms. It is also used in various branches of mathematics, including number theory, combinatorics, and graph theory.

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