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Sum of Cubes (Posted on 2004-05-25) |
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Prove that the sum of consecutive perfect cubes (starting with 1) is always a perfect square.
For example:
1=1
1+8=9
1+8+27=36
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Submitted by Gamer
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Rating: 3.4000 (5 votes)
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Solution:
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(Hide)
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The sum of perfect cubes up to x³ appears to be equal to ((x+1)(x/2))², so this will be called S(x). One easy way to prove is using induction.
Proving S(1) is true:
((1+1)(1/2))² = 1² = 1.
Proving S(x)+(x+1)³=S(x+1) is true:
((x+1)(x/2))²+(x+1)³=
((x+1)²/4)(x²)+((x+1)²/4)(4(x+1))=
((x+1)²/4)(x²+4x+4)=
((x+1)²/2²))((x+2)²=
(((x+1)+1)(x+1)/2)² |
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