Take an equilateral triangle with side length $2^n$. Divide it up into equilateral triangles with side length 1, and delete the top triangle. Call this shape $T_n$:
Take three of the smaller equaliteral triangles, and join them together to form the following shape:
Prove that you can tile $T_n$ with tiles of this shape for every $n\in\Bbb N$.
I prove for the base case but I don't know how to continue with inductive steps. Want some way of 'relating' $T_{n+1}$ and $T_n$; that is, some way of turning the task "cover an equilateral triangle with side length $2^{n+1}$ with our tiles" into the task "cover an equilateral triangle with side length $2^n$ with our tiles."
Best Answer
Here is the answer to the intended question:
$T_1$ is just one of our small three-triangle tiles; $T_n$ can be formed from four copies of $T_{n-1}$ and one more small tile as shown above, so can be tiled entirely with small tiles. The arrangement of the small tiles is reminiscent of the chair substitution.