Full binary tree with L leaves has 2L - 1 total nodes

Definition of Full Binary Tree 

    A Binary Tree is full if and only if every node has 0 or 2 children.

Proof by Induction

Inductive Hypothesis

The full binary tree with L leaves has N = 2L - 1 total nodes.

Base Case

We can easily think of two base cases.
Note that the shape of the tree at each base case is unique (Draw by yourself).

If L = 1, then N = 1.
If L = 2, then N = 3.

Inductive Step

We want to show that the full binary tree with L + 1 leaves has 2(L + 1) - 1 total leaves \forall n \gt 2, n \in \mathbb{N}.

Suppose that \exists n \gt 2, n \in \mathbb{N} the full binary tree with L leaves has 2L - 1 total leaves.

T : the full binary tree with L leaves.
v : a leaf node of T

If we want to append a new node in T, two nodes must be inserted on the left and right side of some leaf node of T. Which implies that every node insertion increases N by 2 and L by 1.

2L - 1 + 2 = 2(L + 1) - 1

Hence, the inductive hypothesis is proved.

- Please mail or comment to me if this proof has any erroneous part.

     
     
        

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