With the standard Fibonacci numbers , , this identity holds for , . At it is immediate. If it holds for at every , apply it at and use to obtain , proving the assertion by mathematical induction. Taking gives for , linking the doubling formula to the Lucas numbers.
Lucas number 2026-10-14
The Lucas numbers obey the same second-order recurrence as the Fibonacci numbers but start with , so their sequence is . For , . Substitution in the Fibonacci addition formula gives . Consecutive Fibonacci numbers are coprime by the Euclidean algorithm; since , Bézout's identity gives .
For the Fibonacci addition formula, use mathematical induction on , with the assertion applying to every . At , . If the formula holds for some and all , apply it at and use the Fibonacci number recurrence:
This is the assertion at , completing the mathematical induction. Thus
Taking gives the doubling identity
For the Lucas numbers, , and . For , both expressions for earlier Lucas numbers are available, and
Hence . The separate check matters because the defining expression for was given separately.
The Euclidean algorithm and the Fibonacci number recurrence give, for ,
Repeating reduces to ; the case is immediate. Therefore .
For , , so a common divisor of divides both and . Since are coprime, Bézout's identity gives integers with . Multiplying by shows . Conversely any common divisor of and divides . Including , this proves the stronger greatest common divisor identity