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How can I prove that a complete binary tree has $\lceil n/2 \rceil$ leaves?

Submitted by: @import:stackexchange-cs··
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Problem

Given a complete binary tree with $n$ nodes. I'm trying to prove that a complete binary tree has exactly $\lceil n/2 \rceil$ leaves.
I think I can do this by induction.

For $h(t)=0$, the tree is empty. So there are no leaves and the claim holds for an empty tree.

For $h(t)=1$, the tree has 1 node, that also is a leaf, so the claim holds.
Here I'm stuck, I don't know what to choose as induction hypothesis and how to do the induction step.

Solution

If the statement you're trying to prove by induction is


For all positive integers $n$, a complete binary tree with $n$ nodes has $\lceil{n/2}\rceil$ leaves.

then the induction hypothesis must be


For all positive integers $k<n$, a complete binary tree with $k$ nodes has $\lceil{k/2}\rceil$ leaves.

Similarly, if the statement you're trying to prove by induction is


For all positive integers $n$, a hoosegow with $n$ whatsits has $2^{\lfloor\sqrt{n}\rceil!}\cdot n^\pi$ nubbleframets.

then the induction hypothesis must be


For all positive integers $k<n$, a hoosegow with $k$ whatsits has $2^{\lfloor\sqrt{k}\rceil!}\cdot k^\pi$ nubbleframets.

Context

StackExchange Computer Science Q#2193, answer score: 5

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