- #1
mikky05v
- 53
- 0
Homework Statement
Prove by induction that the sum of the first n "squares" is n(n+1)(2n+1)/6
In other words prove ([itex]\forall[/itex]n) P(n) where P (n) is [itex]\sum[/itex][itex]^{n}_{i=1}[/itex]¡[itex]^{2}[/itex]=[itex]\frac{n(n+1)(2n+1)}{6}[/itex]
Homework Equations
This is just not clicking for me right now. I have no idea if i am just epic failing at factoring or doing something else wrong.
The Attempt at a Solution
I did the base case and proved P (1) true easily enough.
Induction case: suppose P (k), then [itex]\sum[/itex][itex]^{k}_{i=1}[/itex]i[itex]^{2}[/itex]=[itex]\frac{k (k+1)(2k+1)}{6}[/itex] show P (k+1) is true, then ∑[itex]^{k+1}_{i=1}[/itex]i[itex]^{2}[/itex]=[itex]\frac{(k+1)(k+1)(2k+1)}{6}[/itex]
[itex]\sum[/itex][itex]^{k+1}_{i=1}[/itex]i[itex]^{2}[/itex]=[itex]\sum[/itex][itex]^{k}_{i=1}[/itex]i[itex]^{2}[/itex]+(k+1)[itex]^{2}[/itex]
=[itex]\frac{k (k+1)(2k+1)}{6}[/itex] + (k+1)[itex]^{2}[/itex]
Now i know i need to get itto work out to the [itex]\frac{(k+1)(k+1)(2k+3)}{6}[/itex] but i can't manage to get itto work out at all.