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Assume you want to prove an identity such as

$$\sum_{k=m+1}^{n}A(k,m)-B(k,m)=S(m)+T(n,m)\qquad\text{for } n,m\in \mathbb{Z},n,m\geq 0.$$

Added: I applied mathematical induction on $m,n$ to prove it. I am unsure because up to now I have seen it applied to properties depending on a single variable only.

Question: does application of two inductive arguments, one on $m$ and the other on $n$, guarantee the validity of such a proof?

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    Sure. Why wouldn't it?2010-10-24
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    @Qiaochu Yuan: Thanks! I asked it because I actually have not seen yet any proof of a two indices identity by this method.2010-10-24

2 Answers 2

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Here are some induction principles for two variables:

  • $P(0,0)$
  • $\forall x,y. P(x,y) \Rightarrow P(x+1,y)$
  • $\forall x,y. P(x,y) \Rightarrow P(x,y+1)$


  • $\forall x,y. P(x,y)$

and

  • $P(0,0)$
  • $\forall x,y. P(x,0) \Rightarrow P(x+1,0)$
  • $\forall x,y. P(x+1,y) \Rightarrow P(x,y+1)$


  • $\forall x,y. P(x,y)$

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    @muad: in the 2nd example is it $\forall x,y. P(x+1,y) \Rightarrow P(x,y+1)$ or $\forall x,y. P(x,y) \Rightarrow P(x,y+1)$?2010-10-24
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    @Américo Tavares, the second one is covering the x-axis and shifting diagonally back to cover everything above it. So it is $\forall x,y. P(x+1,y) \Rightarrow P(x,y+1)$.2010-10-24
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    @muad: I see now, thanks!2010-10-24
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    Nice! You can extend this to transfinite ordinals by taking $$\forall z\Big(\big(\forall x,y\big[x2017-05-08
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Suppose you are trying to prove a family of statements $P(x, y)$. This is the same as proving the family of statements $F(x)$, where $F(x) = \forall y : P(x, y)$. Each statement $F(x)$ can be proven by induction on $y$ (for fixed $x$), and then you can prove $P(x, y)$ by induction on $x$. You might want to try proving

$${n+1 \choose k+1} = {n \choose k+1} + {n \choose k}$$

this way.

But actually you can be much trickier than this. Sometimes it suffices to induct on $x + y$, for example.