Question
Question: Let P(n) be a statement and \[P\left( n \right) = P\left( {n + 1} \right)\forall n \in N\], then P(n...
Let P(n) be a statement and P(n)=P(n+1)∀n∈N, then P(n) is true for what values of n?
A For all n
B For all n>1
C For all n>m, m being a fixed positive integer
D Nothing can be said
Solution
Here, in the question, n∈N which means n belongs to N. Here N is an indication of natural numbers. So, n belongs to set N which means n is a natural number and as per the given data P(n) consists of the values which are true for all the natural numbers. Natural numbers are a part of the number system which includes all the positive integers from 1 till infinity and are also used for counting purposes and it does not include zero.
Complete step by step solution:
Let us write the given data as
P(n)=P(n+1)∀n∈N
To find out the values of n, which satisfies with P(n) of the given statement, hence substitute n-1 in place of n i.e.,
P(n)=P(n+1)
P(n−1)=P(n−1+1)
P(n)−1=P(n)
Thus, if P(n) is true for n∈N, then it is true for n-1 and n+1.
Therefore, P(n) is true for ∀n∈N and hence, option A is the right answer.
Additional information:
Properties of natural numbers are:
- Closure property
- Commutative property
- Associative property
- Distributive property
Note:
Natural numbers include all the whole numbers excluding the number 0. In other words, all-natural numbers are whole numbers, but all whole numbers are not natural numbers. Zero does not have a positive or negative value. Since all the natural numbers are positive integers, hence we cannot say zero is a natural number. Although zero is called a whole number.