- #1
spanker1
- 1
- 0
help guys i am really stumped on this question.
prove that
if "n" is an integer , then n^2-n+2 is even
prove that
if "n" is an integer , then n^2-n+2 is even
lizzie said:to prove by principle of mathemetical induction
step 1:
put n=1
1^2-1+2=1^3=1
which is false
spanker1 said:help guys i am really stumped on this question.
prove that
if "n" is an integer , then n^2-n+2 is even
spanker1 said:help guys i am really stumped on this question.
prove that
if "n" is an integer , then n^2-n+2 is even
Mathematical induction is a mathematical proof technique used to prove statements about integers or other recursively defined objects. It involves proving a base case, usually for the smallest possible value, and then showing that if the statement holds for a certain value, it also holds for the next value.
Mathematical induction works by breaking a larger problem into smaller, simpler parts. It starts with a base case, which is usually the smallest value for which the statement is true. Then, it is shown that if the statement is true for a certain value, it must also be true for the next value. This process is repeated until the statement is proven to be true for all values.
The main difference between weak and strong induction is the number of hypotheses used in the proof. In weak induction, the statement is only assumed to be true for the previous value, while in strong induction, it is assumed to be true for all previous values. Strong induction can be thought of as a generalization of weak induction.
Mathematical induction is most commonly used to prove statements about integers or other recursively defined objects. It is particularly useful for proving statements that involve sums, products, or other patterns. It is not always the most efficient proof technique, so it is important to consider other methods as well.
One common mistake when using mathematical induction is assuming that the statement is true for all values without properly proving it for each value. It is also important to make sure that the base case is actually the smallest value, as starting with a larger value can lead to incorrect conclusions. Additionally, it is important to clearly state the inductive hypothesis and explain how it is used in the proof.