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    11 Ma 1 A Section 1 Sol 1

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    Julian Ortega Ramos
    This document contains solutions to 5 problems from an introductory real analysis homework assignment. Problem 1 proves that there is no greatest real number. Problem 2 shows that between any two real numbers there exists a rational number. Problem 3 proves an identity involving sums of cubes using mathematical induction. Problem 4 uses induction to show straight lines of any length can be constructed with a compass and straightedge. Problem 5 uses induction to simplify a sum involving reciprocals of terms.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    11 Ma 1 A Section 1 Sol 1

    Uploaded by

    Julian Ortega Ramos
    26 views2 pages
    This document contains solutions to 5 problems from an introductory real analysis homework assignment. Problem 1 proves that there is no greatest real number. Problem 2 shows that between any two real numbers there exists a rational number. Problem 3 proves an identity involving sums of cubes using mathematical induction. Problem 4 uses induction to show straight lines of any length can be constructed with a compass and straightedge. Problem 5 uses induction to simplify a sum involving reciprocals of terms.

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    11Ma1aSection1Sol1

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    This document contains solutions to 5 problems from an introductory real analysis homework assignment. Problem 1 proves that there is no greatest real number. Problem 2 shows that between any two real numbers there exists a rational number. Problem 3 proves an identity involving sums of cubes using mathematical induction. Problem 4 uses induction to show straight lines of any length can be constructed with a compass and straightedge. Problem 5 uses induction to simplify a sum involving reciprocals of terms.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    26 views2 pages

    11 Ma 1 A Section 1 Sol 1

    Uploaded by

    Julian Ortega Ramos
    This document contains solutions to 5 problems from an introductory real analysis homework assignment. Problem 1 proves that there is no greatest real number. Problem 2 shows that between any two real numbers there exists a rational number. Problem 3 proves an identity involving sums of cubes using mathematical induction. Problem 4 uses induction to show straight lines of any length can be constructed with a compass and straightedge. Problem 5 uses induction to simplify a sum involving reciprocals of terms.

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    MA 1A (SECTION 1) HW1 SOLUTIONS

    Problem 1. (Apostol I 3.5 9)


    There is no real number a such that x ≤ a for all real x.

    Solution. Assume contrary, let a ∈ R be such that for all x ∈ R, x ≤ a. As R is closed under
    addition, a, 1 ∈ R ⇒ a + 1 ∈ R. Hence, by assumption, a + 1 ≤ a. By Thm I.21, 0 < 1.
    By Axiom 4, a = a + 0. By Thm I.18, a = a + 0 < a + 1, contradiction.
    (At most half credit if only applied Archimedean property (Thm I.30).)

    Problem 2. (Apostol I 3.12 6)


    If x and y are arbitrary real numbers, x < y, prove that there exists at least one rational
    number r satisfying x < r < y, and hence infinitely many. This property is often described
    by saying that the rational numbers are dense in the real-number system.

    Solution. Assume contrary, there does not exists r ∈ Q such that x < r < y.
    1
    As y − x > 0, there exists M ∈ N such that M > y−x (Archimedean property (Thm I.30)).
    There also exists a, b ∈ Z such that a < xM and b > yM , i.e. Ma < x < y < Mb .

    Consider Ma , a+1
    M
    , a+2
    M
    , . . . , b−1
    M M
    , b . As they are all in Q, none of them is in the interval (x, y)
    by assumption. Then there exists i ∈ Z, a ≤ i ≤ b, such that Ma ≤ Mi ≤ x < y ≤ i+1 M
    ≤ Mb .
    This implies that M1 = i+1 M
    − Mi ≥ y − x, and hence M ≤ y−x 1
    , contradicting with the defini-
    tion of M .

    Problem 3. (Apostol I 4.4 1(c))


    Prove by induction that

    13 + 23 + 33 + · · · + n3 = (1 + 2 + 3 + · · · + n)2 .

    Solution. When n = 1, L.H.S. = 13 = 1, and R.H.S. = 12 = 1 = L.H.S.

    Assume that the equality holds for some k ∈ N, i.e. 13 + 23 + 33 + · · · + k 3 = (1 + 2 + 3 +


    · · · + k)2 . When n = k + 1,

    Date: Fall 2011.


    1
    R.H.S. = (1 + 2 + · · · + k + (k + 1))2
    = (1 + 2 + · · · + k)2 + 2(1 + 2 + · · · + k)(k + 1) + (k + 1)2
    = 13 + 23 + · · · + k 3 + 2(1 + 2 + · · · + k)(k + 1) + (k + 1)2 (induction assumption)
    k(k + 1)
    = 13 + 23 + · · · + k 3 + 2 (k + 1) + (k + 1)2 (proved in recitation)
    2
    = 13 + 23 + · · · + k 3 + (k + 1)3 = L.H.S.

    Hence, by induction, 13 + 23 + 33 + · · · + n3 = (1 + 2 + 3 + · · · + n)2 for all n ∈ N.

    Problem 4. (Apostol I 4.4 9)


    Prove√the following statement by induction: If a line of unit length is given, then a line of
    length n can be constructed with straightedge and compass for each positive integer n.
    √
    Solution. When n = 1, a line of length 1 = 1 can be constructed since it is given.
    √
    Assume that for some k ∈ N, a line of length k can be constructed with straightedge
    and compass. Note that by Pythagoras’
    √ Theorem, if the two vertical √
    lines of a right-angled
    triangle are of lengths 1 and k, then the hypothenuse is of length k + 1. Since we can
    construct perpendicular lines at any given point √ on a straight line with straightedge and
    compass (proved in recitation), a line of length k + 1 can be constructed.
    √
    Hence, by induction, a line of length n can be constructed for all n ∈ N.

    Problem 5. (Apostol I 4.7 12)


    Guess and prove a general rule which simplifies the sum
    n
    X 1
    .
    k=1
    k(k + 1)

    n
    1 n
    P
    Solution. Claim: k(k+1)
    = n+1
    for all n ∈ N.
    k=1
    1
    When n = 1, L.H.S. = 1×2
    = 12 , and R.H.S. = 1
    1+1
    = 1
    2
    =L.H.S.
    r
    1 r
    P
    Assume that the equality holds for some r ∈ N, i.e. k(k+1)
    = r+1
    . When n = r + 1,
    k=1
    r+1 r
    1 1 1 r 1
    P P
    L.H.S. = k(k+1)
    = k(k+1)
    + (r+1)(r+2)
    = r+1
    + (r+1)(r+2)
    (induction assumption) =
    k=1 k=1
    n
    r(r+2)+1 r+1
    P 1 n
    (r+1)(r+2)
    = r+2
    = R.H.S. Hence, by induction, k(k+1)
    = n+1
    for all n ∈ N.
    k=1

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