College Algebra 7th Edition

Published by Brooks Cole
ISBN 10: 1305115546
ISBN 13: 978-1-30511-554-5

Chapter 8, Sequences and Series - Chapter 8 Review - Exercises - Page 641: 69

Answer

Prove that $p(1)$ is true. Prove that $p(k)$ true implies $p(k+1)$ true.

Work Step by Step

Let's note by $p(n)$ the property we want to prove: $$p(n):\text{ } \left(1+\dfrac{1}{1}\right)\left(1+\dfrac{1}{2}\right)\left(1+\dfrac{1}{3}\right)\cdots\left(1+\dfrac{1}{n}\right)=n+1.$$ $\textbf{Step 1:}$ Prove $p(1)$ is true. Set $n=1$ on each side and check if the property is verified: $$\begin{align*} 1+\dfrac{1}{1}&\stackrel{?}{=}1+1\\ 2&=2\checkmark. \end{align*}$$ Therefore $p(1)$ is true. $\textbf{Step 2:}$ Prove that if $p(k)$ is true, then $p(k+1)$ is true. We assumed $p(k)$ is true: $$p(k):\text{ } \left(1+\dfrac{1}{1}\right)\left(1+\dfrac{1}{2}\right)\left(1+\dfrac{1}{3}\right)\cdots\left(1+\dfrac{1}{k}\right)=k+1.\tag1$$ We have to prove: $$p(k+1):\text{ } \left(1+\dfrac{1}{1}\right)\left(1+\dfrac{1}{2}\right)\left(1+\dfrac{1}{3}\right)\cdots\left(1+\dfrac{1}{k}\right)\left(1+\dfrac{1}{k+1}\right)=(k+1)+1.$$ $$p(k+1):\text{ } \left(1+\dfrac{1}{1}\right)\left(1+\dfrac{1}{2}\right)\left(1+\dfrac{1}{3}\right)\cdots\left(1+\dfrac{1}{k}\right)\left(1+\dfrac{1}{k+1}\right)=k+2.\tag2$$ In Eq. $(1)$ multiply each side by $\left(1+\dfrac{1}{k+1}\right)$: $$\begin{align*} \left(1+\dfrac{1}{1}\right)\left(1+\dfrac{1}{2}\right)\left(1+\dfrac{1}{3}\right)\cdots\left(1+\dfrac{1}{k}\right)\left(1+\dfrac{1}{k+1}\right)&=(k+1)\left(1+\dfrac{1}{k+1}\right)\\ \left(1+\dfrac{1}{1}\right)\left(1+\dfrac{1}{2}\right)\left(1+\dfrac{1}{3}\right)\cdots\left(1+\dfrac{1}{k}\right)\left(1+\dfrac{1}{k+1}\right)&=(k+1)\left(\dfrac{k+2}{k+1}\right)\\ \text{ } \left(1+\dfrac{1}{1}\right)\left(1+\dfrac{1}{2}\right)\left(1+\dfrac{1}{3}\right)\cdots\left(1+\dfrac{1}{k}\right)\left(1+\dfrac{1}{k+1}\right)&=k+2. \end{align*}$$ We got Eq. $(2)$, therefore if $p(k)$ is true, then $p(k+1)$ is also true. Both steps being proved, the given formula is true for any natural number $n$.
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