An Introduction to Mathematical Induction: The Sum of the First n Natural Numbers, Squares and Cubes.

Sigma Notation

In math, we frequently deal with large sums. For example, we can write

$1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9+10+11+12+13,$

which is a bit tedious. Alternatively, we may use ellipses to write this as

$1+2+\cdots +13.$

However, there is an even more powerful shorthand for sums known as sigma notation. When we write

${\displaystyle \sum _{i=1}^{13}\,i,}$

this means the same thing as the previous two mathematical statements. Here, the index below the capital sigma, $\left(\Sigma \right)$, is the letter $i$, and the $i$ that follows the $\Sigma$ is our rule to apply to each value of $i$ within the limits. The limits $1$ and $13$ tell us how many times to repeat the rule, i.e., to follow the rule for $i=1,$ then add the rule for $i=2,$ then for $i=3,$ and continue in this manner until you reach $i=13.$ In other words,

${\displaystyle \sum _{i=1}^{13}}\,i\,=\,1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9+10+11+12+13.$

Of course, we can change the rule and/or the index. For example,

${\displaystyle \sum _{i=1}^{5}}\,i^{2}\,=\,1^{2}+2^{2}+3^{2}+4^{2}+5^{2}.$

Most importantly, we frequently don't have the luxury of bounds that are actual values. We can also write something like

${\displaystyle \sum _{i=n}^{2n}}\,i\,=\,n+(n+1)+\cdots +(2n-1)+2n,$

or

${\displaystyle \sum _{i=1}^{n}}\,i^{3}\,=\,1^{3}+2^{3}+3^{3}+\cdots +n^{3}.$

These non-fixed indices allow us to find rules for evaluating some important sums.

Proof by (Weak) Induction

When we count with natural or counting numbers (frequently denoted $\mathbb {N}$), we begin with one, then keep adding one unit at a time to get the next natural number. We then add one to that result to get the next natural number, and continue in this manner. In other words,

${\text{The Natural Numbers}}\,=\,\mathbb {N} \,=\,\{1,2,3,\ldots \}\,=\,\{1,1+1,1+1+1,1+1+1+1,\ldots \}.$

This is the basis for weak, or simple induction; we must first prove our conjecture is true for the lowest value (usually, but not necessarily $1$), and then show whenever it's true for an arbitrary $n,$ it's true for $n+1$ as well. This mimics our development of the natural numbers.

It is also equivalent to prove that whenever the conjecture is true for $n-1,$ it's true for $n.$ Which approach you choose can depend on which is more convenient, or possibly which is more appealing to the teacher grading the work. We will use this style for the proofs on this page.

Although we won't show examples here, there are induction proofs that require strong induction. This occurs when proving it for the $(n+1)^{\mathrm {th} }$ case requires assuming more than just the $n^{\mathrm {th} }$ case. In such situations, strong induction assumes that the conjecture is true for ALL cases from $n$ down to our base case.

The Sum of the first n Natural Numbers

Claim. The sum of the first $n$ natural numbers is

${\displaystyle \sum _{i=1}^{n}i\,=\,1+2+\cdots +n\,=\,{\frac {n(n+1)}{2}}.}$

Proof. We must follow the guidelines shown for induction arguments. Our base step is $n=1,$  and plugging in we find that

${\displaystyle {\frac {n(n+1)}{2}}\,=\,{\frac {1(1+1)}{2}}\,=\,1,}$

Which is clearly the sum of the single integer $1$. This gives us our starting point. For the induction step, let's assume the claim is true for $n-1,$ so

${\displaystyle \sum _{i=1}^{n-1}i\,=\,{\frac {(n-1)\left(\left(n-1\right)+1\right)}{2}}\,=\,{\frac {(n-1)n}{2}}.}$

Now, we have

${\begin{array}{rcl}{\displaystyle \sum _{i=1}^{n}i}&=&{\displaystyle \sum _{i=1}^{n-1}i\,+\,n}\\\\&=&{\displaystyle {\frac {(n-1)n}{2}}\,+\,n\qquad \qquad {\mbox{(by the induction assumption)}}}\\\\&=&{\displaystyle {\frac {n^{2}-n}{2}}\,+\,{\frac {2n}{2}}}\\\\&=&{\displaystyle {\frac {n^{2}-n+2n}{2}}}\\\\&=&{\displaystyle {\frac {n^{2}+n}{2}}}\\\\&=&{\displaystyle {\frac {n(n+1)}{2}}},\end{array}}$

as required.

$\square$

The Sum of the first n Squares

Claim. The sum of the first $n$ squares is

${\displaystyle \sum _{i=1}^{n}i^{2}\,=\,1^{2}+2^{2}+\cdots +n^{2}\,=\,{\frac {n(n+1)(2n+1)}{6}}.}$

Proof. Again, our base step is $n=1,$  and plugging in we find that

${\displaystyle {\frac {n(n+1)(2n+1)}{6}}\,=\,{\frac {1(1+1)(2+1)}{6}}\,=\,1,}$

so the rule is certainly true when $n=1.$

This gives us our starting point. For the induction step, let's assume the claim is true for $n-1,$ so

${\displaystyle \sum _{i=1}^{n-1}i\,=\,{\frac {(n-1)\left(\left(n-1\right)+1\right)\left(2\left(n-1\right)+1\right)}{6}}\,=\,{\frac {(n-1)n(2n-1)}{6}}\,=\,{\frac {2n^{3}-3n^{2}+n}{6}}.}$

Now, we have

${\begin{array}{rcl}{\displaystyle \sum _{i=1}^{n}i^{2}}&=&{\displaystyle \sum _{i=1}^{n-1}i^{2}+n^{2}}\\\\&=&{\displaystyle {\frac {2n^{3}-3n^{2}+n}{6}}+n^{2}\qquad \qquad {\mbox{(by the induction assumption)}}}\\\\&=&{\displaystyle {\frac {2n^{3}-3n^{2}+n}{6}}+{\frac {6n^{2}}{6}}}\\\\&=&{\displaystyle {\frac {2n^{3}+3n^{2}+n}{6}}}\\\\&=&{\displaystyle {\frac {n(2n^{2}+3n+1)}{6}}}\\\\&=&{\displaystyle {\frac {n(n+1)(2n+1)}{6}}},\end{array}}$

as required.

$\square$

The Sum of the first n Cubes

Claim. The sum of the first $n$ cubes is

${\displaystyle \sum _{i=1}^{n}i^{3}\,=\,1^{3}+2^{3}+\cdots +n^{3}\,=\,{\frac {n^{2}(n+1)^{2}}{4}}.}$

Notice that the formula is really similar to that for the first $n$ natural numbers.

Proof. Plugging in $n=1,$ we find that

${\displaystyle {\frac {n^{2}(n+1)^{2}}{4}}\,=\,{\frac {1^{2}(1+1)^{2}}{4}}\,=\,1,}$

completing our base step.

For the induction step, let's assume the claim is true for $n-1,$ so

${\displaystyle \sum _{i=1}^{n-1}i^{3}\,=\,{\frac {(n-1)^{2}\left(\left(n-1\right)+1\right)^{2}}{4}}\,=\,{\frac {(n-1)^{2}n^{2}}{4}}.}$

Now, we have

${\begin{array}{rcl}{\displaystyle \sum _{i=1}^{n}i^{3}}&=&{\displaystyle \sum _{i=1}^{n-1}i^{3}+n^{3}}\\\\&=&{\displaystyle {\frac {(n-1)^{2}n^{2}}{4}}+n^{3}\qquad \qquad {\mbox{(by the induction assumption)}}}\\\\&=&{\displaystyle {\frac {n^{4}-2n^{3}+n^{2}}{4}}+{\frac {4n^{3}}{4}}}\\\\&=&{\displaystyle {\frac {n^{4}+2n^{3}+n^{2}}{4}}}\\\\&=&{\displaystyle {\frac {n^{2}(n^{2}+2n+1)}{4}}}\\\\&=&{\displaystyle {\frac {n^{2}(n+1)^{2}}{4}}},\end{array}}$

as required.

$\square$

Aside from being good examples of proof by simple or weak induction, these formulas are useful to find an integral as a limit of a Riemann sum.