Solution to Prove that there is a positive integer that equals the sum of the positive integersnot … - Sikademy
Author Image

Archangel Macsika

Prove that there is a positive integer that equals the sum of the positive integersnot exceeding it

The Answer to the Question
is below this banner.

Can't find a solution anywhere?

NEED A FAST ANSWER TO ANY QUESTION OR ASSIGNMENT?

Get the Answers Now!

You will get a detailed answer to your question or assignment in the shortest time possible.

Here's the Solution to this Question

Statement that need to be proved: there is a positive integer that equals the sum of the positive integers not exceeding it. In quantifiers this can be written as

\displaystyle \exists \, n \in N\; (n = \sum_{i=0}^n i )

We know that for finite sum \displaystyle \sum_{i=0}^n i = \frac{n(n+1)}{2}

So, \displaystyle n = \frac{n(n+1)}{2}

n^2+n =2n

n^2-n=n(n-1)=0

This has two solutions: n=0 and n=1n=0 doesn't satisfy the condition of being positive integer (by definition positive is >0, 0 is not greater than 0). Therefore, only n=1 makes the statement true. We have showed that indeed there is a positive integer that equals the sum of the positive integers not exceeding it, and this positive integer is n=1.

Related Answers

Was this answer helpful?

Join our Community to stay in the know

Get updates for similar and other helpful Answers

Question ID: mtid-5-stid-8-sqid-3706-qpid-2405