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Induction working out... (1 Viewer)

HeroicPandas

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Hi, can someone please check my WORKING OUT?



This is what I did:

Step 1: Show true for n=3,





Hence true for n=3

Step 2: Assume true for n=k, (anything else I need to write?)

etc, etc

The question is, when do I need to sub in 2 or more values of 'n' for STEP 1?

For the STEP 2, the assumption, do I need to specify values of 'k'? The recurrence relation has values of 'n' that does not satisfy the thing im proving - do I just say 'assume true for all k graeter or equal to 1'?

Thanks in advance
 

Carrotsticks

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For your base cases, you could have used T_1 and T_2.

You need 2 base cases because you will be using two terms, each of which we are 'performing induction on'.

To do the question, you need 2 inductive hypothesis, n=k-1 and n=k, and use BOTH of these to prove n=k+1. Because you have 2 inductive hypotheses, you will need 2 base cases. One for each hypothesis.

Your recurrence relation is of second order, so you will need 2 base cases.
 

HeroicPandas

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For your base cases, you could have used T_1 and T_2.

You need 2 base cases because you will be using two terms, each of which we are 'performing induction on'.

To do the question, you need 2 inductive hypothesis, n=k-1 and n=k, and use BOTH of these to prove n=k+1. Because you have 2 inductive hypotheses, you will need 2 base cases. One for each hypothesis.

Your recurrence relation is of second order, so you will need 2 base cases.
Ah i see..
Will I lose marks if I dont clearly write out: assume true for n=k-1? (for step 2)

Can you assume n=k-1 when doing the n=k+1 step without saying that you assumed it?
 
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Carrotsticks

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Ah i see..
Will I lose marks if I dont clearly write out: assume true for n=k-1? (for step 2)

Can you assume n=k-1 when doing the n=k+1 step without saying that you assumed it?
If you're unlucky then yes because one of the core aspects of strong induction is the fact that you need more than 1 induction hypothesis.
 

Carrotsticks

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Do I need to mention values of 'k'? Or just forget about all that?

Because in the question, the recurrence relation is for n ≥3 and the thing im trying to prove is n≥1
Not essential.

Good to have, but not essential.
 

HeroicPandas

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Show true for n=1,

Show true for n=2,

Hence true for n=1 and n=2

Assume true for n=k-1 and n=k
i.e.



Prove true for n=k+1,
i.e.




Hence true by mathematical induction for all integers greater or equal to 1
 

Carrotsticks

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Looks good =)

Except ditch the very last line, that is unnecessary in the HSC. The markers don't even read the last line (conclusion).
 

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