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.