Math Is Fun Forum

Hi,

I'm currently studying at Uni and our topic has now been started on.  I haven't done any serious maths for a long, long time and I am struggling quite badly to understand what I am trying to do.  I've read and re-read all my material but nothing is click, at the moment it is like another language to me and since this is the last part of my assignments this year I don't want to bring to down my average too much.  So I was wondering if you could help me figure out this problem.

U(0) = 8
U(i)=17+2 × U(i− 1) (i>0)

Question:

For an integer i,with i≥ 0, U(i) is defined by the recurrence system in part (a)(iii) see above, and F(i) is defined by the formula F(i)= 25 × 2i − 17. Prove by mathematical induction that U(i)= F(i) (for all integers iwith i≥ 0).

I'll be honest, I have no idea where to start.

Any help would be grateful.

Thanks
John.