Mathematics 2200H

1. (a)
(b)

Prove that
Prove that

ASSIGNMENT 2

due October 7, 2014

6 is irrational.
2 + 3 is irrational. [Hint: Find a way to make use of (a).]

2. Suppose x and y are real numbers with x ! 0 . Prove that y +

x = 1 or y = 1 .

1
y
= 1 + if and only if
x
x

3. Prove that for every real number x ! 2 there is a unique real number y such that
2y
= x.
y +1
4. Exercises 3.3

#1, 14, 16

5. Prove that for every integer n ! 12 , there are nonnegative integers a and b such that
n = 3a + 7b .
6. Let fn denote the nth Fibonacci number. Prove the following identities:
(a) For all n ! 0, ( f0 )2 + ( f1 )2 + ( f2 )2 + ! + ( fn )2 = fn fn +1 .
(b) For all n ! 0, f1 + f3 + f5 + ! + f2n +1 = f2n + 2 .
7. A sequence a1 , a2 , a3 , is defined recursively as follows:
a
a1 = 1 and for n ! 1, an +1 = n
an + 1
By computing the first few terms of this sequence, conjecture a formula for an and then
prove that your formula is correct using mathematical induction.