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PrintEstonian Mathematical Olympiad
Estonia algebra
Problem
Prove that .
Solution
Multiplying out yields among others the terms and . All of the other terms are positive for a positive . Thus for all positive integers we have . Combining this for yields
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Alternative solution.
We will prove that for all integers greater than 1, where taking , yields the desired result. We will prove this via mathematical induction on the variable . For , the inequality is well known. For the induction step we will show that if (4) holds, then so does We will show that the left hand side increases by at least as much as the right hand side or . Using the formula for the difference of powers together with yields which proves the induction step and thus finishes the proof.
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Alternative solution.
As the function is increasing in , we have As the integral of is , the Newton-Leibniz formula gives Altogether, as desired.
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Alternative solution.
We will prove that for all integers greater than 1, where taking , yields the desired result. We will prove this via mathematical induction on the variable . For , the inequality is well known. For the induction step we will show that if (4) holds, then so does We will show that the left hand side increases by at least as much as the right hand side or . Using the formula for the difference of powers together with yields which proves the induction step and thus finishes the proof.
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Alternative solution.
As the function is increasing in , we have As the integral of is , the Newton-Leibniz formula gives Altogether, as desired.
Techniques
Polynomial operationsSums and productsInduction / smoothing