Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Arithmetic Series
An arithmetic series is the sum of the terms of an arithmetic sequence, where each term increases by a constant difference. In this case, the series Sn represents the sum of the first n terms of the sequence 4, 8, 12, ..., which can be expressed as 4 times the sum of the first n positive integers.
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Mathematical Induction
Mathematical induction is a proof technique used to establish the truth of an infinite number of statements. It involves two steps: proving the base case (usually for n=1) and then showing that if the statement holds for an arbitrary integer k, it also holds for k+1. This method is essential for validating the formula given in Sn.
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Simplifying Expressions
Simplifying expressions involves rewriting mathematical statements in a more concise or manageable form. In the context of this problem, simplifying S_(k+1) means expressing the sum of the series for n=k+1 in terms of n and then reducing it to match the form of the right side of the equation, 2n(n + 1).
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