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## Using the principle of mathematical induction to show identities IV

Solution:

#### Part a

If $n=1$, the sum is $1$.
If $n=2$, the sum is $1+3=4$.
If $n=3$, the sum is $1+3+5=9$.
If $n=4$, the sum is $1+3+5+7=16$.

Note that $1=1^2$, $4=2^2$, $9=3^2$, and $16=4^2$. It is natural to guess the answer should be $n^2$.

#### Part b

We show by induction on $n$ that
$$1+3+\cdots+(2n-1)=n^2$$ is true for all positive integers $n$.

The $n$-th proposition is
$$P_n: 1+3+\cdots+(2n-1)=n^2.$$ Then $P_1$ asserts $1=1^2$ which is clearly true and we have the induction basis.

Now we assume $P_n$ is true, that is the equation
\label{eq:1-4-1}
1+3+\cdots+(2n-1)=n^2.
We would like to show $P_{n+1}$ is true based on $P_n$. We add both sides of \eqref{eq:1-4-1} by $2(n+1)-1$ and obtain
\begin{align*}
&\ 1+3+\cdots+(2n-1)+\big(2(n+1)-1\big)\\
=&\ n^2+\big(2(n+1)-1\big)=n^2+(2n+2-1)\\
=&\ n^2+2n+1=(n+1)^2.
\end{align*} Therefore $P_{n+1}$ is true if $P_n$ is true. By the principle of mathematical induction, we make the conclusion that $P_n$ is true for all positive integers $n$.