Looking back at step 1, when we say “the statement is true for \(n=k\),” this is called an induction assumption or even an induction hypothesis. Our hypothesis is what we assume when we are trying to prove our statement by induction.

One very important thing to remember is that when working with induction most people will show that if \(P\left(k\right)\) is true then \(P\left(k+1\right)\) is also true because this is the most important part about induction, it is what we want to prove. However a common mistake that is made is when proving \(P\left(1\right)\) true, and if this is not shown then we cannot know for sure that \(P\left(2\right)\), \(P\left(3\right)\), and so on is true.

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