Exercise 4. Let P (n) be the statement that a postage of n
cents can be formed using just 4-cent stamps and 7-cent
stamps.
The parts of this exercise outline a strong induction proof
that P(n)is true for n≥18.
a) Show statements P(18), P(19), P(20), and P(21) are true,
completing the basis step of the proof.
b) What is the inductive hypothesis of the proof?
c) What do you need to prove in the inductive step?
d) Complete the inductive step for k ≥ 21.
e) Explain why these steps show that this statement is true
whenever n ≥ 18.
Exercise 5. Use strong induction to show that every positive
integer n can be written as a sum of distinct powers of two, that
is, as a sum of a subset of the integers 20 =1,21 =2,22 =4, and so
on. [Hint: For the inductive step, separately con- sider the case
where k + 1 is even and where it is odd. When it is even, note that
(k + 1)/2 is an integer.]