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Bjorn Poonen
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Strong induction without a base case

Strong induction proves a sequence of statements $P(0)$, $P(1)$, $\ldots$ by proving the implication

"If $P(m)$ is true for all nonnegative integers $m$ less than $n$, then $P(n)$ is true."

for every nonnegative integer $n$. There is no need for a separate base case, because the $n=0$ instance of the implication is the base case, vacuously. But most strong induction proofs nevertheless seem to involve a separate argument to handle the base case (i.e., to prove the implication for $n=0$).

Can you think of a natural example of a strong induction proof that does not treat the base case separately? Ideally it should be a statement at the undergraduate level or below, and it should be a statement for which strong induction works better than ordinary induction or any direct proof.

Bjorn Poonen
  • 23.8k
  • 7
  • 90
  • 109