Question

Question 31 pts Prove the statement is true using mathematical induction: 2n-1 ≤ n! Use the space below to write your answer. To make the < symbol, you might want to use the < with the underline feature.

Answer 1

P(3) is true since 2(3) - 1 = 5 < 3! = 6.

Explanation:

Let P(n) be the proposition that 2n-1 ≤ n!. for n ≥ 3

Basis: P(3) is true since 2(3) - 1 = 5 < 3! = 6.

Inductive Step: Assume P(k) holds, i.e., 2k - 1 ≤ k! for an arbitrary integer k ≥ 3. To show that P(k + 1) holds:

2(k+1) - 1 = 2k + 2 - 1

≤ 2 + k! (by the inductive hypothesis)

= (k + 1)! Therefore,2n-1 ≤ n! holds, for every integer n ≥ 3.