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Proof by mathematical induction practice questions — IB Maths AA

10 free multiple-choice problems on proof by mathematical induction, ordered to match IB Maths AA difficulty, each with a full worked solution. No account needed — and there's a fresh problem set every day.

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Problem #0349 International
Advancedlogic
By induction one can show that is divisible by for every . Compute .

Problems & worked solutions

Problem #0349 International

Problem 1 — Proof by mathematical induction

By induction one can show that n3−n is divisible by 6 for every n∈N. Compute 103−106.

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 165✓ correct
  2. B. 166
  3. C. 100
  4. D. 200

103−10=990, and 990/6=165. The induction proof factors n3−n=(n−1)n(n+1), which is the product of three consecutive integers and is therefore divisible by both 2 and 3, hence by 6.

Problem #0350 International

Problem 2 — Proof by mathematical induction

Show by induction that 1⋅2+2⋅3+⋯+n(n+1)=n(n+1)(n+2)3 for every n≥1. Using this, compute 1⋅2+2⋅3+3⋅4+4⋅5.

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 30
  2. B. 40✓ correct
  3. C. 50
  4. D. 60

4⋅5⋅63=1203=40. (Direct: 2+6+12+20=40.)

Problem #0343 International

Problem 3 — Proof by mathematical induction

Which statement is logically equivalent to "if n2 is even, then n is even"?

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. If n is even, then n2 is even
  2. B. If n is odd, then n2 is odd✓ correct
  3. C. If n2 is odd, then n is even
  4. D. n is even if and only if n2 is odd

The contrapositive of "n2 even ⇒ n even" is "n odd ⇒ n2 odd". A statement and its contrapositive always have the same truth value.

Problem #0348 International

Problem 4 — Proof by mathematical induction

By induction, 1+3+5+⋯+(2n−1)=n2. Compute this sum for n=9.

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 49
  2. B. 64
  3. C. 81✓ correct
  4. D. 100

1+3+5+⋯+17=92=81. (Direct check: 1+3+5+7+9+11+13+15+17=81.)

Problem #0342 International

Problem 5 — Proof by mathematical induction

The negation of "for every real number x, x2+1>0" is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. For every real x, x2+1≤0
  2. B. There exists a real x such that x2+1≤0✓ correct
  3. C. There exists a real x such that x2+1>0
  4. D. For every real x, x2+1<0

Negation of ∀ is ∃; negation of > is ≤. So the negation is ∃x∈R: x2+1≤0. (This statement is itself false, but the question asked for the negation, not its truth value.)

Problem #0346 International

Problem 6 — Proof by mathematical induction

Assume 1+2+⋯+k=k(k+1)2 (induction hypothesis). To complete the inductive step we must show that 1+2+⋯+(k+1) equals:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. (k+1)(k+2)2✓ correct
  2. B. k(k+1)2+1
  3. C. (k+1)22
  4. D. (k+1)(k+2)

The target formula at n=k+1 is (k+1)((k+1)+1)2=(k+1)(k+2)2. (And indeed k(k+1)2+(k+1)=(k+1)(k+2)2, completing the step.)

Problem #0347 International

Problem 7 — Proof by mathematical induction

The formula 13+23+⋯+n3=[n(n+1)2]2 holds for all n≥1. Compute 13+23+33+43.

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 100✓ correct
  2. B. 144
  3. C. 36
  4. D. 1024

[4⋅52]2=102=100. (Verify directly: 1+8+27+64=100.)

Problem #0341 International

Problem 8 — Proof by mathematical induction

Let p: "every prime number is odd" and q: "3+4=7". The truth value of p∧q is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. True
  2. B. False✓ correct
  3. C. Cannot be determined
  4. D. Both true and false

p is false (since 2 is prime and even), q is true. From the truth table for conjunction, false∧true=false.

Problem #0345 International

Problem 9 — Proof by mathematical induction

Verify the base case n=1 for the formula 1+2+⋯+n=n(n+1)2. What is the value of the right-hand side at n=1?

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 0
  2. B. 1✓ correct
  3. C. 2
  4. D. n+1

At n=1: 1⋅22=1, which equals the left-hand side 1. The base case holds.

Problem #0344 International

Problem 10 — Proof by mathematical induction

Let A={1,2,3,5} and B={2,3,5,7}. Then A∩B equals:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. {1,2,3,5,7}
  2. B. {2,3,5}✓ correct
  3. C. {1,7}
  4. D. ∅

A∩B contains the elements common to both sets: {2,3,5}.

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