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Gilgames
Dec 5, 2006, 05:39 AM
I need to prove by induction that for every n => 0,
8/1*3 + 8/5*7 +... + 8/(4n+1)*(4n+3) <= 4

Every help is welcome!

Capuchin
Dec 5, 2006, 05:45 AM
do you know how to calculate the sum of an infinite series?

If you can show that the sum to infinity of the progression is less than or equal to 4, then you can argue that every other sum is less than four (although this isn't induction)

Gilgames
Dec 5, 2006, 10:17 AM
do you know how to calculate the sum of an infinite series?

If you can show that the sum to infinity of the progression is less than or equal to 4, then you can argue that every other sum is less than four (although this isnt induction)

It is okay, I've found it! Thank you for your immediate reply! You can indeed solve it by induction. For n = 0, it's true, since 8/3 < 4. Let's suppose it holds true for n=k. Then we have to show that it's true for n=k+1. I had to rewrite the whole series, adding 8/[4(k+1)+1][4(k+1)+3], and get this on the other side. Then all that remains is calculating the result, which proves what we had supposed earlier! Thx anyway!