if n is a positive integer, prove that, 1 cdot 2+2 cdot 3+3 cdot 4+⋯+n cdot (n+1) =(n(n+1)(n+2))/(3)

przesypkai4

przesypkai4

Answered question

2022-07-17

Discrete math induction problem.
if n is a positive integer, prove that,
1 2 + 2 3 + 3 4 + + n ( n + 1 ) = n ( n + 1 ) ( n + 2 ) 3
Basic step is 1, then assume k is true and we get,
1 2 + 2 3 + 3 4 + + k ( k + 1 ) = k ( k + 1 ) ( k + 2 ) 3
After that I am stuck because the answer key is telling me that the next step is to add ( k + 1 ) ( k + 2 ), but I don't know why we do that. Aren't we supposed to just plugin k + 1 into all k variables. Why are we adding ( k + 1 ) ( k + 2 ) to both sides?

Answer & Explanation

Bianca Chung

Bianca Chung

Beginner2022-07-18Added 16 answers

Step 1
So we want to prove that
1 2 + 2 3 + 3 4 + + n ( n + 1 ) = i = 1 n i ( i + 1 ) = n ( n + 1 ) ( n + 2 ) 3 n N
The base case n = 1:
Note that 1 2 = 2 and that 1 2 3 3 = 2. Thus the base case holds.
Suppose that k N such that
i = 1 k i ( i + 1 ) = k ( k + 1 ) ( k + 2 ) 3 . Now consider the case that n = k + 1
i = 1 k + 1 i ( i + 1 ) = ( n + 1 ) ( n + 2 ) + i = 1 k i ( i + 1 )
Step 2
By the induction hypothesis (we claimed that for n = k the formula held) we have:
i = 1 k + 1 i ( i + 1 ) = ( k + 1 ) ( k + 2 ) + k ( k + 1 ) ( k + 2 ) 3 = k 3 + 6 k 2 + 11 k + 6 3 = ( k + 1 ) ( k + 2 ) ( k + 3 ) 3
Therefore, by induction, the formula is true n N
Cristofer Graves

Cristofer Graves

Beginner2022-07-19Added 6 answers

Step 1
Based on hypothesis:
i = 1 k i ( i + 1 ) = 1 3 k ( k + 1 ) ( k + 2 )
it must be shown that:
i = 1 k + 1 i ( i + 1 ) = 1 3 ( k + 1 ) ( k + 2 ) ( k + 3 )
Here k + 1 is 'plugged in' for k.
Step 2
That is the inductionstep. How to do that? Well,
i = 1 k + 1 i ( i + 1 ) = i = 1 k i ( i + 1 ) + ( k + 1 ) ( k + 2 ) = 1 3 k ( k + 1 ) ( k + 2 ) + ( k + 1 ) ( k + 2 )
(in the last equality you are using the hypothesis)
So if you can show that the RHS of this indeed equals:
1 3 ( k + 1 ) ( k + 2 ) ( k + 3 )
then you are ready. Working out the RHS comes to adding ( k + 1 ) ( k + 2 ) to 1 3 k ( k + 1 ) ( k + 2 )

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