The Method Of Mathematical Induction | I. S. Sominskii

The method of mathematical induction, which is the subject of this book, is widely applicable in all departments of mathematics, from the elementary school course up to branches of higher mathematics only lately investigated. It is clear, therefore, that even a school course of mathematics cannot be studied seriously without mastering this method. Ideas of mathematical induction, moreover, have a wide general significance and acquaintance with them also has an importance for those whose interests are far removed from mathematics and its applications.

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This book is meant for pupils in the higher forms of secondary schools, first year students in universities, teacher training colleges and technical colleges. It would also be useful for discussion in a school mathematical society.

The book was translated from Russian by Martin Greendlinger and was first published by Mir in 1975. Previous to that this booklet was also published in the West under the series of Topics in Mathematics (TiM) and also under Popular Lectures in Mathematics (PLM) Vol. 1. The link below is from the PLM version and was translated by Halina Moss, and was edited by I. N. Sneddon ans was published by Pergamon in 1961.

The essentials of the method and some simple examples of its use are given in Chapter I and in the first section of Chapter II. To study these it is sufficient for the reader to be familiar with the course of mathematics in the seven year school period. The remaining sections of this book are fully accessible to the reader who has mastered the mathematics course of a full secondary school.

Contents:

Foreword vii

INTRODUCTION  1

CHAPTER I
The Method of Mathematical Induction 3

CHAPTER II
Examples and Exercises  12

CHAPTER III
The Proof by Induction of Some Theorems of Elementary Algebra 39

CHAPTER IV
Solutions 45