We are to prove: Pn: n²-n+14 is divisible by 2 induction proof: First let's see what Pk+1 would be: [That's always the best first thing to do. Before you start an induction proof, you should calculate Pk+1 to see where you're headed]: To do that, replace n by k+1 in n²-n+14 to see what the Pk+1 is, for that is what we are going for, and if we have that beforehand, we'll know when we have arrived and the proof is finished. Substituting k+1 for n in n²-n+14, we have (k+1)²-(k+1)+14 = k²+2k+1-k-1+14 = k²+k+14. So now we have Pk+1, which is where we'll be headed Pk+1: k²+k+14 is divisible by 2 Now that we know what Pk+1 will have to be, we know where we're going, and we'll know we have arrived if and when we get that. So now we can start the proof: P1: 1²-1+14 is divisible by 2 That's true because 1²-1+14 = 1-1+14 = 14, which is divisible by 2 because (2)(7) = 14 Assume k is some integer for which k is true. We know there is at least one such value, because we just proved P1. Pk: k²-k+14 is divisible by 2 We look at the expression in Pk+1, that we're going for, and realize that the difference between the expression in Pk+1 and the expression in Pk is (k²+k+14)-(k²-k+14) = k²+k+14-k²+k-14 = 2k 2k is a multiple of 2, and we know that if we add two multiples of 2 we get another multiple of 2. So assuming Pk: k²-k+14 is divisible by 2 k²-k+14 + 2k is also divisible by 2 So k²+k+14 is divisible by 2 and that is Pk+1 So the proof is finished. Now we show that it is finished: So since P1 is true, 1 is a possible value for k, and therefore P1+1 or P2 is true, so P1 proves P2, P2 proves P3, P3 proves P4, etc., etc., ad infinitum. No matter how large an integer we have proved that P is true, we have proved that the next integer will also be one in which P is also true. Edwin