It depends on what you mean by "it works for n+2". If you mean that there is some statement S(n)
, and you can prove
If S(n) is True then S(n+2) is True
And if you know S(0) is True, then by induction, it follows that
S(2), S(4), S(6), ..., S(n) for all even n
is True.
And if also you know S(1) is True, then by a second application of induction, it follows that S(3), S(5), ..,. S(n) for all odd n
is True.
Or, if you can prove
If S(2n-1) and S(2n-2) are True, then S(2n) is True
and also that S(0) and S(1) are True, then by the inductive step it follows that S(2) is True. And since S(1) and S(2) are True, then again by the inductive step S(3) is True. And by successive applications of the inductive step it follows that S(n) is true for all n > 0.
(This is easily adaptable to induction steps where m
prior statements S(n-m), ..., S(n-1)
are used to prove S(n)
...)
If on the other hand you can only prove
If S(n-1) and S(n) are True, then S(n+2) is True
then even if S(0) and S(1) are True, you are in trouble since your inductive step merely gives you that S(3) is True. It does not prove S(2) is True. Thus the inductive step can not be applied over and over again and thus it fails to achieve lift off...