math homework
1. (1.4) (a) n = 1, 1 = 1. n = 2, 1 + 3 = 4. n = 3, 1 + 3 + 5 = 9. n = 4,
1 + 3 + 5 + 7 = 16. Our guess is 1 + 3 + … + (2n - 1) =
n^2
(b) Prove that 1 + 3 + … + (2n - 1) = n^2 for every n ∈ N.
Proof: Let
be the
nth proposition.
We check the basis for induction P1 is true since P1 : 1 = 1^2. For the
induction step , assume that Pn is true. We want to prove Pn+1 is true.
To verify it we write:

Thus Pn+1 is true. By mathematical induction Pn is true for every n ∈ N.
2. (1.6) Prove that
is divisible by 7 when n ∈
N
Proof: Let Pn :
is
divisible by 7, be the nth proposition. We
check the basis for induction P1 is true since:
which is divisible by 7.
For the induction step, we assume that Pn is true. We want to prove that Pn+1 is true.

By hypothesis of induction
is divisible by
7, in other words
for some integer k.
Then we have that
Thus
Pn+1 is true. Applying mathematical
induction we have that Pn is true for every natural number n.
3. (1.9) see the back of the book
4. (2.4) Setting
we find that
is
a solution for
the polynomial equation
If there were a
rational
solution r = p/q for
then the Rational Zeros
Theorem would imply that p divides 22 and q divides 1.We would
have that
Thus the only possible
rational solutions for
would be
But
is a solution and it is not equal to any
of the possible
values for r . Therefore
is not a rational
number .
5. (2.6) If b rational then 4-7b^2 is rational.
Proof: b is rational then b = p/q for some p, q ∈
Z and q ≠ 0. We
wanto to prove that 4-7b^2 is rational. We write;

The top and bottom parts are integers. ( We know that integers are
closed under multiplication and sum ). Also q^2 ≠ 0. Thus
4-7b^2 is a
rational number .
6. (1.12) (a) you can do it!
(b) Show that

Proof:

(c) Prove the binomial theorem using mathematical induction and part
(b) Proof: Let
be
the nth statement. We check the basis of induction P1 is true, since
For the induction step we assume that Pn
is
true. We want to prove that Pn+1 is true.
(By hypothesis of induction we can write)
(using distributive law )

(we associate the terms containing the same aibj)

Now we use part (b)

This proves that Pn+1 is true
7. Try: Indicate what is wrong in the following "proof". This problem is known as Polya's Paradox.
Theorem: For each n ∈ N, let P(n) be the statement
"Any collection
of n marbles consists of marbles of the same color." Then P(n) is true
for all n ∈ N.
Proof: Clearly, P(1) is a true statement. Now
suppose that P(k) is a
true statement for some k ∈ N. Let S be a collection of k+1 marbles. If
one marble, call it x, is removed , then the induction hypothesis applied
to the remaining k marbles implies that these k marbles all have the
same color. Call this color C . Now if x is returned to the set S and a
different marble is removed, then again the remaining k marbles must
all be of the same color C . But one of these marbles is x, so in fact
all k + 1 marbles have the same color C . Thus P(k + 1) is true, and
by induction we conclude that P(n) is true for all n ∈ N.
Solution: If n = 2, then the two sets dont overlap.
This paradox is
meant to illustrate that sometimes there are special cases that must be
proved separately, like n = 2 here. Since we cannot prove all pairs of
horses have the same color, the proof does not work (as it shouldnt,
because the claim that all horses are the same color is false!).
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