Question

For principle of mathematical induction to be true, what type of number should ‘n’ be?

(a) Whole number

(b) Natural number

(c) Rational number

(d) Any form of number

The question was posed to me by my college professor while I was bunking the class.

Query is from The Principle of Mathematical Induction in chapter Principle of Mathematical Induction of Mathematics – Class 11

Answer 1

Correct choice is (a) Whole number

To explain: According to the Principle of Mathematical induction, X(n) can be true if X(1) is true and if X(k) is true. When X(k) is true, it implies that X(k + 1) is also true. Here n can be equal to 0, 1, 2, 3 and so on.