Use mathematical induction to prove that $\forall n\in \mathbb{N}$, $$\sum ^{n}_{i=1}i^{2}=\dfrac {n\left( n+1\right) \left(2n +1\right) }{6}$$
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What have you tried so far? Did you already prove the base case $;n=1;$ ? Did you make some advance in the case $;n+1;$ assuming the equation is true for $;n;$ ? – Timbuc Nov 02 '14 at 13:34
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Welcome to Math SE ! People here are willing to help but not to do your homework. So, explain what you already tried and tell where you are stuck. Cheers :-) – Claude Leibovici Nov 02 '14 at 13:37
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True for $n=1$. Then, assuming the induction hypothesis (IH) holds for $n \geq 1$, $$\begin{align*} \sum_{k=1}^{n+1} k^2 &= \sum_{k=1}^{n} k^2 + (n+1)^2 \stackrel{\rm(IH)}{=} \frac{n(n+1)(2n+1)}{6} + (n+1)^2 \\ &= \frac{n+1}{6}\left(n(2n+1)+6(n+1)\right) = \frac{n+1}{6}\left(2n^2+7n+6\right) \end{align*}$$ and you conclude by observing that $(n+2)(2(n+1)+1) = 2n^2+7n+6$ indeed, then by invoking the induction principle.

Clement C.
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