Let n be a natural number, and let f:{i∈N:1≤i≤n}→N be a function. Show that there exists a natural number M such that f(i)≤M for 1≤i≤n
We prove this by induction on n, when n = 1, f(i)≤M for 1≤i≤1. since if M := 1, the above holds.
now suppose that we have already proven the proposition for some n≥1, we have to prove it for n++,
by the induction hypothesis, we know that there exists a natural number M such that f(i)≤M for 1≤i≤n, in particular there must exist a natural number M+1, in which case f(i)≤M+1 for 1≤i≤n++
Could someone shed some light on whether i have logically proved this?
Answer
You haven't proved it because neither your base-case argument nor your induction step argument is correct.
For example, when n=1, suppose f is the function that sends 1 to 5. You claim that if M=1 then f(i)≤M when i=1. But f(1)=5>1=M. What do you need to do to fix this?
As for the induction step, when n=2, f might be the function that sends 1 to 1 and 2 to 1. So if we choose M=1, then f(i)≤M for each i. But now,, if g is the function that sends 1 to 1, 2 to 1 and 3 to 5, then it is not the case that f(i)≤M+1 for each i. Indeed f(3)=5>2=M+1. What do you need to do to fix this?
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