# Proof of equality - possibly previously answered [duplicate]

I am looking for a proof of the following inequality Let a be a positive real number. Prove that for every natural number n $$(1+a)^n\ge 1+na.$$

Can you help?

## marked as duplicate by David K, user147263, Namaste algebra-precalculus StackExchange.ready(function() { if (StackExchange.options.isMobile) return; $('.dupe-hammer-message-hover:not(.hover-bound)').each(function() { var$hover = $(this).addClass('hover-bound'),$msg = $hover.siblings('.dupe-hammer-message');$hover.hover( function() { $hover.showInfoMessage('', { messageElement:$msg.clone().show(), transient: false, position: { my: 'bottom left', at: 'top center', offsetTop: -7 }, dismissable: false, relativeToBody: true }); }, function() { StackExchange.helpers.removeMessages(); } ); }); }); Feb 25 '15 at 0:31

You can prove it by induction :

Base case :

$$1+a \geq 1+a$$

Induction step :

$$(1+a)^{n+1} = (1+a)(1+a)^n \geq (1+a)(1+na) = 1+a+na+na^2 \geq 1+(n+1)a$$

Try the binomial theorem.

Then $(1+a)^n = \sum_{k=0}^n \binom{n}{k} a^k$. Taking the first two terms gives the desired result.

It's called Bernoulli's inequality, and you even have more: if $a_1,a_2, \dots, a_n$ are numbers all $>-1$, with the same sign, then: $$(1+a_1)(1+a_2)\dotsm(1+a_n)\ge 1+a_1+a_2+\dots+a_n.$$ Proof by a simple induction: \begin{align*} (1+a_1)(1+a_2)\dotsm(1+a_n)&(1+a_{n+1})\ge (1+a_1+a_2+\dots+a_n)(1+a_{n+1})\\ &=1+a_1+a_2+\dots+a_n+a_{n+1}+ a_{n+1}(a_1+a_2+\dots+a_n)\\ & \ge=1+a_1+a_2+\dots+a_n+a_{n+1} \end{align*} since $\,a_{n+1}(a_1+a_2+\dots+a_n)\ge 0\,$ (all numbers have the same sign).

Addendum. In the case $a_1=a_2=\dots=a_n=a$, you have a stronger result: if $a>-1$, then: $$(1+a)^n\ge 1+na+\frac{n(n-1)}2 a^2.$$

• This too has a mechanical telescopic proof as in my answer. – Bill Dubuque Feb 25 '15 at 0:13
• Your proof can't work if $-1<a<0$, or do I miss something? – Bernard Feb 25 '15 at 0:18
• The OP has $\, a > 0.\$ – Bill Dubuque Feb 25 '15 at 0:47
• Yes, but the interesting case, in my opinion is it can also be true for negative numbers (as an exercise that is not so trivial, even with the binomial formula). – Bernard Feb 25 '15 at 0:53

Hint $\ \, f_n = (1+a)^n/(1+na)\,$ is a telescoping product of factors $\,\frac{f_{n+1}}{f_n} \ge 1,\,$ so it is $\,\ge 1,\,$ e.g.

$$\dfrac{(1+a)^4}{1+4a} =\, \dfrac{(1+a)(1+a)}{\qquad\quad\color{#c00}{ 1+2a}}\ \dfrac{(\color{#c00}{1+2a})(1+a)}{\qquad\quad\ \ \color{#0a0}{1+3a}}\ \dfrac{(\color{#0a0}{1+3a})(1+a)}{\qquad\quad\ \ 1+4a}\qquad$$

Each factor is $> 1$ by $\ \underbrace{(1 + na)(1 + a)}_{\large\rm numerator}-\,\underbrace{(1+(n\!+\!1)a)}_{\large\rm denominator} =\, na^2 \ge\, 0$

Remark $\$ Equivalently $\, f_n\,$ is increasing $f_{n+1}\ge f_n\,$ so $\ f_n\ge f_1 = 1\,$ by induction.