Cube Number as Difference between Squares of Triangular Numbers/Proof 1
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Theorem
Let $n \in \Z_{>0}$ be a positive integer.
Then:
- $n^3 = {T_n}^2 - {T_{n - 1} }^2$
where $T_n$ denotes the $n$th triangular number.
Proof
\(\ds {T_n}^2 - {T_{n - 1} }^2\) | \(=\) | \(\ds \paren {\frac {n \paren {n + 1} } 2}^2 - \paren {\frac {\paren {n - 1} n} 2}^2\) | Closed Form for Triangular Numbers | |||||||||||
\(\ds \) | \(=\) | \(\ds \frac {\paren {n^2 + n}^2 - \paren {n^2 - n}^2} 4\) | ||||||||||||
\(\ds \) | \(=\) | \(\ds \frac {\paren {n^4 + 2 n^3 + n^2} - \paren {n^4 - 2 n^3 + n^2} } 4\) | ||||||||||||
\(\ds \) | \(=\) | \(\ds \frac {4 n^3} 4\) | ||||||||||||
\(\ds \) | \(=\) | \(\ds n^3\) |
$\blacksquare$