Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Some beautiful arguments using mathematical induction

  • Published:
Acta Informatica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Three elegant proofs and an efficient algorithm are derived. The derivations evolve smoothly from the choice to apply mathematical induction, the pattern of reasoning that has been chosen as the ‘Leitmotiv’ for this small collection. The last proof is the by-product of the algorithm.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Burroughs Corporation, Plataanstraat 5, 5671, AL Nuenen, The Netherlands

    Edsger W. Dijkstra

Authors
  1. Edsger W. Dijkstra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dijkstra, E.W. Some beautiful arguments using mathematical induction. Acta Informatica 13, 1–8 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00288531

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00288531

Keywords

Search

Navigation