CAIE
FP1
2002
November
Q3
6 marks
Standard +0.8
3 It is given that, for \(n = 0,1,2,3 , \ldots\),
$$a _ { n } = 17 ^ { 2 n } + 3 ( 9 ) ^ { n } + 20$$
Simplify \(a _ { n + 1 } - a _ { n }\), and hence prove by induction that \(a _ { n }\) is divisible by 24 for all \(n \geqslant 0\).
CAIE
FP1
2004
November
Q8
9 marks
Challenging +1.8
8 The sequence of real numbers \(a _ { 1 } , a _ { 2 } , a _ { 3 } , \ldots\) is such that \(a _ { 1 } = 1\) and
$$a _ { n + 1 } = \left( a _ { n } + \frac { 1 } { a _ { n } } \right) ^ { \lambda }$$
where \(\lambda\) is a constant greater than 1 . Prove by mathematical induction that, for \(n \geqslant 2\),
$$a _ { n } \geqslant 2 ^ { \mathrm { g } ( n ) }$$
where \(g ( n ) = \lambda ^ { n - 1 }\).
Prove also that, for \(n \geqslant 2 , \frac { a _ { n + 1 } } { a _ { n } } > 2 ^ { ( \lambda - 1 ) \mathrm { g } ( n ) }\).
CAIE
FP1
2009
November
Q11 EITHER
Challenging +1.2
Prove by induction that
$$\sum _ { n = 1 } ^ { N } n ^ { 3 } = \frac { 1 } { 4 } N ^ { 2 } ( N + 1 ) ^ { 2 }$$
Use this result, together with the formula for \(\sum _ { n = 1 } ^ { N } n ^ { 2 }\), to show that
$$\sum _ { n = 1 } ^ { N } \left( 20 n ^ { 3 } + 36 n ^ { 2 } \right) = N ( N + 1 ) ( N + 3 ) ( 5 N + 2 ) .$$
Let
$$S _ { N } = \sum _ { n = 1 } ^ { N } \left( 20 n ^ { 3 } + 36 n ^ { 2 } + \mu n \right)$$
Find the value of the constant \(\mu\) such that \(S _ { N }\) is of the form \(N ^ { 2 } ( N + 1 ) ( a N + b )\), where the constants \(a\) and \(b\) are to be determined.
Show that, for this value of \(\mu\),
$$5 + \frac { 22 } { N } < N ^ { - 4 } S _ { N } < 5 + \frac { 23 } { N }$$
for all \(N \geqslant 18\).
CAIE
FP1
2012
November
Q5
8 marks
Challenging +1.2
5 Let \(I _ { n }\) denote \(\int _ { 0 } ^ { \infty } x ^ { n } \mathrm { e } ^ { - 2 x } \mathrm {~d} x\). Show that \(I _ { n } = \frac { 1 } { 2 } n I _ { n - 1 }\), for \(n \geqslant 1\).
Prove by mathematical induction that, for all positive integers \(n , I _ { n } = \frac { n ! } { 2 ^ { n + 1 } }\).
CAIE
FP1
2013
November
Q9
11 marks
Challenging +1.2
9 Prove by mathematical induction that, for every positive integer \(n\),
$$( \cos \theta + i \sin \theta ) ^ { n } = \cos n \theta + i \sin n \theta$$
Express \(\sin ^ { 5 } \theta\) in the form \(p \sin 5 \theta + q \sin 3 \theta + r \sin \theta\), where \(p , q\) and \(r\) are rational numbers to be determined.
CAIE
FP1
2014
November
Q3
7 marks
Standard +0.8
3 It is given that \(u _ { r } = r \times r !\) for \(r = 1,2,3 , \ldots\). Let \(S _ { n } = u _ { 1 } + u _ { 2 } + u _ { 3 } + \ldots + u _ { n }\). Write down the values of
$$2 ! - S _ { 1 } , \quad 3 ! - S _ { 2 } , \quad 4 ! - S _ { 3 } , \quad 5 ! - S _ { 4 }$$
Conjecture a formula for \(S _ { n }\).
Prove, by mathematical induction, a formula for \(S _ { n }\), for all positive integers \(n\).
CAIE
FP1
2019
November
Q2
6 marks
Challenging +1.2
2 It is given that \(y = \ln ( a x + 1 )\), where \(a\) is a positive constant. Prove by mathematical induction that, for every positive integer \(n\),
$$\frac { \mathrm { d } ^ { n } y } { \mathrm {~d} x ^ { n } } = ( - 1 ) ^ { n - 1 } \frac { ( n - 1 ) ! a ^ { n } } { ( a x + 1 ) ^ { n } }$$
CAIE
FP1
2017
Specimen
Q3
6 marks
Challenging +1.2
3 Given that \(a\) is a constant, prove by mathematical induction that, for every positive integer \(n\),
$$\frac { \mathrm { d } ^ { n } } { \mathrm {~d} x ^ { n } } \left( x \mathrm { e } ^ { a x } \right) = n a ^ { n - 1 } \mathrm { e } ^ { a x } + a ^ { n } x \mathrm { e } ^ { a x }$$
CAIE
FP1
2007
November
Q3
6 marks
Challenging +1.2
3 Prove by induction that, for all \(n \geqslant 1\),
$$\frac { \mathrm { d } ^ { n } } { \mathrm {~d} x ^ { n } } \left( \mathrm { e } ^ { x ^ { 2 } } \right) = \mathrm { P } _ { n } ( x ) \mathrm { e } ^ { x ^ { 2 } } ,$$
where \(\mathrm { P } _ { n } ( x )\) is a polynomial in \(x\) of degree \(n\) with the coefficient of \(x ^ { n }\) equal to \(2 ^ { n }\).