Strong Form Induction P(0): Show that some property P is true for 0 Assume P(0),P(1),...,P(k) for a particular k P(0) and P(1) and ... and P(k) => P(k+1): Show that if P is true for all integers <= k, then P is true for k+1 Conclude that P(n) holds for all integers. The gist: Check if a property P works for a base case Assume P is true for all integers from the base case value to k Check if P(k+1) (the next case) produces a true result. If so, since k is arbitrary, all values of k will work. Example: P: Every integer n >=2 is divisible by a prime number Base case: P(2) is true because 2/2 is legal and 2 is prime Inductive hypothesis: Assume P is true for 2 <= i < k. So, P(2), P(3), ..., P(k) is true. (use k-1 to make things easier) Inductive step: Need to show P works for *next* integer, k Note: k is either prime or not prime 1) k is prime: k is divisible by itself, which is prime. OK. 2) k is not prime: k = a*b, where 2<=a= 2 are divisible by a prime number.