Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-5g6vh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-29T21:12:44.957Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Mathematical Induction: A Recurring Theme

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 September 2016

Paul Ernest
Paul Ernest*
Affiliation:
Bedford College of Higher Education, Bedford
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

The great mathematician Henri Poincare [1] described the method of proof by mathematical induction as mathematical reasoning par excellence. Induction is, undoubtedly, a method of great significance for mathematics. Unfortunately, induction is also a rather complicated form of proof. Furthermore, it is taught in schools at sixth form level. In fact, it is probably the only method of proof explicitly taught in British schools. Perhaps it is not surprising that some students find the method difficult to apply. In view of the importance and difficulty of the method, mathematical induction is worthy of further attention. In this article, the history and equivalents of mathematical induction are discussed.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Mathematical Gazette , Volume 66 , Issue 436 , June 1982 , pp. 120 - 125
Copyright
Copyright © Mathematical Association 1982

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Poincaré, H., Science and hypothesis. Dover (1952).Google Scholar
2. Heath, T. L., The thirteen books of Euclid’s elements (2nd ed.). CUP (1926).Google Scholar
3. Boyer, C. B., A history of mathematics. Wiley (1968).Google Scholar
4. Edwards, H. M., Fermat’s last theorem. Springer (1977).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5. Smith, D. E., A source book in mathematics, volume 1. Dover (t1959).Google Scholar
6. Dedekind, R., Was sind und was sollen die Zahlen? Brunswick (1888).Google Scholar
7. Peano, G., Arithmeticesprincipia, nova methodo exposita. Turin (1889).Google Scholar
8. Woodall, D. R., Inductio ad absurdam? Mathl. Gaz. 59, 64–70 (1975).Google Scholar