Assignment 0 Solutions
Assignment 0 Solutions
Assignment 0 Solutions
Assignment 0 Solutions
This is a set of questions to give you a feel of the kind of problems that you would learn
to solve in this course. Attempt these as many times as you wish, with as much time as
you need. You DO NOT have to submit the solutions, and you will NOT be graded for this
assignment.
n(n + 1)(2n + 1)
12 + 22 + · · · + n2 = , for all n ∈ Z+ .
6
Solution. The statement is true for n = 1 (Check!). Now assume the statement is true
1
for some n ∈ Z+ . Then we get
n(n + 1)(2n + 1)
12 + · · · + n2 + (n + 1)2 = + (n + 1)2
6
(n + 1)(n(2n + 1) + 6(n + 1))
=
6
(n + 1)(n + 2)(2n + 3)
=
6
(n + 1)((n + 1) + 1)(2(n + 1) + 1)
= .
6
So by induction, the statement is true, for all n ∈ Z+ .
x2 ≥ x, if x ∈ [1, ∞)
x2 < x, if x ∈ (0, 1).
Solution. Consider any x ∈ (0, ∞). Suppose x ∈ [1, ∞), that is, x ≥ 1. So x2 = x · x ≥
1 · x = x.
Now suppose x ∈ (0, 1), that is, x < 1. So x2 = x · x < 1 · x = x.
S T
(8) What is the set n∈N [0, n] equal to? What is the set n∈Z+ [0, 1/n) equal to?
Solution. Consider any x ∈ R, x ≥ 0. Then by (6), there exists n ∈ N such that
x ≤ n, that is, x ∈ [0, n]. Also for any x < 0, we have x 6∈ [0, n], for all n ∈ N. Thus
S
n∈N [0, n] = {x ∈ R : x ≥ 0}.
Clearly, 0 ∈ n∈Z+ [0, 1/n). Further, x 6∈ [0, 1/n), for any n ∈ Z+ , if x < 0. Now consider
S
any x > 0. Then 1/x > 0 and S by (6), there exists n ∈ Z+ such that 1/x < n, that is,
x > 1/n. So x 6∈ [0, 1/n). Thus n∈Z+ [0, 1/n) = {0}.