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Algebra Difficulty 4.5 AIME Prove it

Given f(n)=1+12+13++1nf(n)=1+ \frac {1}{2}+ \frac {1}{3}+…+ \frac {1}{n}. It is calculated that f(4)>2f(4) > 2, f(8)>52f(8) > \frac {5}{2}, f(16)>3f(16) > 3, f(32)>72f(32) > \frac {7}{2}.
(I) Based on the above data, try to conjecture a general conclusion;
(II) Prove your conjecture using mathematical induction.

Solution

Solution:
(I) From the problem, we know that f(22)>2=2+22,f(23)>52=3+22f(2^{2}) > 2= \frac {2+2}{2},f(2^{3}) > \frac {5}{2}= \frac {3+2}{2}, f(24)>3=4+22,f(25)>72=5+22...f(2^{4}) > 3= \frac {4+2}{2},f(2^{5}) > \frac {7}{2}= \frac {5+2}{2}...
From this, we can draw a general conclusion: f(2n+1)>n+32f(2^{n+1}) > \frac {n+3}{2}. (Or we can guess f(2n)>n+22f(2^{n}) > \frac {n+2}{2} (n2,nN)(n\geqslant 2,n\in\mathbb{N}) is also valid).
(II) Prove by mathematical induction:
(1) When n=1n=1, f(22)=1+12+13+14=2512>42=1+32f(2^{2})=1+ \frac {1}{2}+ \frac {1}{3}+ \frac {1}{4}= \frac {25}{12} > \frac {4}{2}= \frac {1+3}{2}, so the conclusion holds.
(2) Assume when n=kn=k (k1,kN)(k\geqslant 1,k\in\mathbb{N}), the conclusion holds, that is, f(2k+1)>k+32f(2^{k+1}) > \frac {k+3}{2},
then, when n=k+1n=k+1, f(2k+2)=1+12+13++12k+1+12k+1+1+12k+1+2++12k+2>k+32+12k+1+1+12k+1+2++12k+2f(2^{k+2})=1+ \frac {1}{2}+ \frac {1}{3}+…+ \frac {1}{2^{k+1}}+ \frac {1}{2^{k+1}+1}+ \frac {1}{2^{k+1}+2}+…+ \frac {1}{2^{k+2}} > \frac {k+3}{2}+ \frac {1}{2^{k+1}+1}+ \frac {1}{2^{k+1}+2}+…+ \frac {1}{2^{k+2}},
>k+32+12k+2+12k+2++12k+2=k+32+2k+12k+2=k+1+32 > \frac {k+3}{2}+ \frac {1}{2^{k+2}}+ \frac {1}{2^{k+2}}+…+ \frac {1}{2^{k+2}}= \frac {k+3}{2}+ \frac {2^{k+1}}{2^{k+2}}= \frac {k+1+3}{2}.
Therefore, when n=k+1n=k+1, the conclusion also holds.
In summary, the above conclusion holds for all n1n\geqslant 1, nNn\in\mathbb{N}, so the conjecture is valid. Valid\boxed{\text{Valid}}

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Source: NuminaMath-1.5, licensed Apache-2.0. Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic and difficulty added by this site.