MathCastle
Proof WritingSuperchallengeInduction

Induction · Superchallenge problem

The claim ∑i=1n1i3<32\displaystyle \sum_{i=1}^{n} \frac{1}{i^3} < \frac32 cannot be proved by a direct induction (the step would need the sum up to kk to be well below 32\tfrac32). Instead prove ∑i=1n1i3≤c−12n2\displaystyle \sum_{i=1}^n \frac{1}{i^3} \le c - \frac{1}{2n^2}. The step works for every cc; the base n=1n = 1 decides it. What is the smallest cc that works?