COMP233 · Second Exam & Answers

Second Exam: Worked Solutions

Discrete Mathematics (COMP 233) · Section 9 · Second Semester 2025/2026
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Now posted: worked solutions to every question, plus your own mark and my feedback (sign in with your Birzeit ID to see yours). This is the Second Exam, covering Chapters 5 and 6: sequences and summation, mathematical induction, and set theory. Below are worked solutions to every question in the way we did them in class, each tied to the Epp section it draws on. Work each question on paper first, then click Show solution; for Q1, click any option to check it.

Course
Discrete Mathematics (COMP 233)
Section
9
Semester
Second Semester 2025/2026
Chapters
Epp Ch 5 (Sequences & Induction), Ch 6 (Set Theory)
Questions
4
Total
100 marks · 60 minutes
Q1
Multiple choice
[ 21 marks ]
Fill one correct answer for each branch (3 marks each). Click any option to check it.
Q1.1
3 marks
Which A(an)      is a sequence of the form a + ar + ar² + … + arn + …?
a.Arithmetic progression
b.Geometric progression
c.Fibonacci
d.Floor function
Q1.2
3 marks
Which set identity is the correct translation of the Logical Absorption Law into set theory?
a.A ∪ (A ∩ B) = A
b.A ∩ (B ∪ C) = (A ∩ B) ∪ (A ∩ C)
c.A − B = A ∩ Bc
d.(A ∪ B)c = Ac ∩ Bc
Q1.3
3 marks
The set S of odd positive integers less than 7 in set-builder notation is:
a.S = {x ∈ R+ | x is odd and x < 7}
b.S = {x ∈ Z+ | x is odd and x < 7}
c.S = {x | x is odd and x < 7}
d.S = ∅
Q1.4
3 marks
If |P(A)| = 32 and |P(B)| = 8, then |A × B| is:
a.15 elements
b.40 elements
c.256 elements
d.24 elements
Q1.5
3 marks
In the inductive step of proving 1·2 + 2·3 + … + n(n+1) = n(n+1)(n+2)/3, which term is added to both sides to go from P(k) to P(k+1)?
a.k(k+1)
b.(k+1)(k+2)
c.k(k+2)
d.(k+1)²
Q1.6
3 marks
The double sum Σi=02 Σj=03 j equals:
a.18
b.6i
c.6j
d.12
Q1.7
3 marks
Most simplified form of the Boolean expression (A + B̅)(A + C̅)(B + C).
Credited to everyone. The printed expression simplifies to (A + B̅)(A + C̅) = A + B̅C̅, then (A + B̅C̅)(B + C) = AB + AC = A(B + C), which is not among the four printed options. Because no option is correct, this branch was awarded to every student. (Without the complements, (A + B)(A + C)(B + C) = AB + AC + BC, which is option (b).)
Q2
Sequences and summation
[ 15 marks ]
The number of ancestors a node can trace back at level k is Ak = 2k.
Q2.a.1
5 marks
Express the total number of ancestors across all levels from 1 to n using a single summation.
Worked solution

Level k contributes Ak = 2k ancestors. Summing over the levels k = 1 to n:

$$\text{Total} = \sum_{k=1}^{n} 2^{k}$$

 Epp, Section 5.1 (Sequences and summation notation).

Q2.a.2
10 marks
Prove, by expanding the terms and applying the geometric-series formula, that this sum has the closed form 2n+1 − 2.
Worked solution

The terms 2 + 4 + 8 + … + 2n form a geometric series with first term a = 2, common ratio r = 2, and n terms. The geometric-sum formula gives:

$$\sum_{k=1}^{n} 2^{k} = a\cdot\frac{r^{n}-1}{r-1} = 2\cdot\frac{2^{n}-1}{2-1} = 2(2^{n}-1) = 2^{n+1}-2.$$

The same result follows by expansion: 2 + 4 + … + 2n doubles and telescopes to 2n+1 − 2. ∎

 Epp, Section 5.2 (Sums of geometric sequences).

Q3
Factorials and set theory
[ 35 marks ]
Q3.a
10 marks
Prove algebraically that for any integer n ≥ 1, (2n)! / (2(n−1))! = 4n² − 2n, using the recursive meaning of factorial and no factorial notation in the final answer.
Worked solution

First simplify the denominator: 2(n − 1) = 2n − 2, so we have (2n)! / (2n−2)!.

Unfold the top two factors of (2n)! down to (2n−2)!:

$$\frac{(2n)!}{(2n-2)!} = \frac{(2n)(2n-1)\,(2n-2)!}{(2n-2)!} = (2n)(2n-1).$$

The (2n−2)! cancels, leaving (2n)(2n − 1) = 4n² − 2n. ∎

 Epp, Section 5.1 (Factorial and the recursive definition).

Q3.b
25 marks
Universal set Z. A = {x ∈ Z | 1 ≤ x ≤ 6}, B = {x ∈ A | x is even}, C = {x ∈ Z | x = 2k+1 for some integer k} (the odd integers).
Worked solution

(1) Roster form. A = {1,2,3,4,5,6}, so the even members give B = {2, 4, 6}. The odd integers intersected with A give A ∩ C = {1, 3, 5}.

(2) Set difference and its relationship. A − B = {1, 3, 5} (the members of A not in B). By the definition of set difference,

$$A - B = A \cap B^{c},$$

the elements that are in A and not in B. Here that set also happens to equal A ∩ C = {1,3,5}, since within A "not even" and "odd" describe the same elements.

(3) Is 𝒜 = {B, A−B} a partition of A? Yes. With B = {2,4,6} and A−B = {1,3,5}, all three partition conditions hold:

  • Non-empty blocks: both {2,4,6} and {1,3,5} are non-empty.
  • Mutually disjoint: B ∩ (A−B) = ∅.
  • Union covers A: {2,4,6} ∪ {1,3,5} = {1,2,3,4,5,6} = A.

All three hold, so 𝒜 is a valid partition of A. ∎

 Epp, Section 6.1 (Set operations, difference, and partitions).

Q4
Induction and set identities
[ 30 marks ]
Q4.a
20 marks
Prove by mathematical induction that for all integers n ≥ 1, 1³ + 2³ + … + n³ = [n(n+1)/2]². Label the basis, hypothesis, and inductive step.
Worked solution

Basis (n = 1). LHS = 1³ = 1; RHS = [1·2/2]² = 1. They agree. ✔

Inductive hypothesis. Assume for some k ≥ 1 that Σi=1k i³ = [k(k+1)/2]².

Inductive step. Add (k+1)³ to both sides:

$$\sum_{i=1}^{k+1} i^{3} = \left[\frac{k(k+1)}{2}\right]^{2} + (k+1)^{3} = (k+1)^{2}\left[\frac{k^{2}}{4} + (k+1)\right] = (k+1)^{2}\cdot\frac{k^{2}+4k+4}{4} = \left[\frac{(k+1)(k+2)}{2}\right]^{2}.$$

This is the formula at n = k+1. By the principle of mathematical induction it holds for all n ≥ 1. ∎

 Epp, Section 5.3 (Mathematical induction).

Q4.b
10 marks
Prove the set identity (A ∪ B) ∩ (A ∪ Bc) = A algebraically, naming the law used at each step.
Worked solution
(A ∪ B) ∩ (A ∪ Bc) = A ∪ (B ∩ Bc)Distributive law
= A ∪ ∅Complement law
= AIdentity law

Hence (A ∪ B) ∩ (A ∪ Bc) = A. ∎

 Epp, Section 6.2 (Set identities and Boolean algebra).