Proving by Mathematical Induction that if the sequences U n  and Vn  are defined by

1 1
U 0  1, U n 1  U n  2Vn  and V0  12, Vn1  U n  3Vn 
3 4

then U n  is an increasing sequence.

Solution

Let Pn be the statement U n 1  U n >0, n 

When n  0
1 1 22
U1  U 0  U 0  2V0   U 0  1  2 12   1 
3 3 3
U1  U 0  0  P0 is true.
Assuming Pk is true for n  k , k 
1
U k 1  U k  0  U k  2Vk   U k  0
3
 2Vk  2U k  0
U k 1  U k  0  Vk  U k  0............................. 
When n  k  1
1 1
U k  2  U k 1  U k 1  2Vk 1   U k  2Vk 
3 3
1 2
 U k 1  U k   Vk 1  Vk 
3 3
1 21 
 U k 1  U k    U k  3Vk   Vk 
3 34 
2 U  3Vk  4Vk 
U k 1  U k    k
1
 
3 3 4 
1 1
U k  2  U k 1  U k 1  U k   U k  Vk 
3 6
From the assumption () :
1 1
U k 1  U k   0 and U k  Vk   0
3 6
1 1
 U k 1  U k   U k  Vk   0
3 6
U k  2  U k 1  0  Pk 1 is true
Since Pn is true for n  0, n  k and n  k  1,
it follows that by mathematical induction, U n 
is an increasing sequence.