Given that 'n' is any natural numbers greater than or equal 2. Prove the following Inequality with Mathematical Induction
[tex] \displaystyle \large{ \frac{1}{1} + \frac{1}{2} + \frac{1}{3} + ... + \frac{1}{n} > \frac{2n}{n + 1} }[/tex]
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Respuesta :

The base case is the claim that

[tex]\dfrac11 + \dfrac12 > \dfrac{2\cdot2}{2+1}[/tex]

which reduces to

[tex]\dfrac32 > \dfrac43 \implies \dfrac46 > \dfrac86[/tex]

which is true.

Assume that the inequality holds for n = k ; that

[tex]\dfrac11 + \dfrac12 + \dfrac13 + \cdots + \dfrac1k > \dfrac{2k}{k+1}[/tex]

We want to show if this is true, then the equality also holds for n = k + 1 ; that

[tex]\dfrac11 + \dfrac12 + \dfrac13 + \cdots + \dfrac1k + \dfrac1{k+1} > \dfrac{2(k+1)}{k+2}[/tex]

By the induction hypothesis,

[tex]\dfrac11 + \dfrac12 + \dfrac13 + \cdots + \dfrac1k + \dfrac1{k+1} > \dfrac{2k}{k+1} + \dfrac1{k+1} = \dfrac{2k+1}{k+1}[/tex]

Now compare this to the upper bound we seek:

[tex]\dfrac{2k+1}{k+1}  > \dfrac{2k+2}{k+2}[/tex]

because

[tex](2k+1)(k+2) > (2k+2)(k+1)[/tex]

in turn because

[tex]2k^2 + 5k + 2 > 2k^2 + 4k + 2 \iff k > 0[/tex]