# show that if $n\geq1$, $(1+{1\over n})^n<(1+{1\over n+1})^{n+1}$

I have derived the inequality if $k>1$, ${n(n-1)⋯(n-k+1)\over k!} ({1\over n})^k<{(n+1)n⋯(n-k+2)\over k!} ({1\over n+1})^k$

But, my problem is how to use this inequality to prove that if $n\geq1$, $(1+{1\over n})^n<(1+{1\over n+1})^{n+1}$

• – lab bhattacharjee Sep 29 '13 at 16:32
• Since it is an exercise from a reference book, on its question, i need to derive the formula from another proved formula. Therefore, i am questioning how to do it. – MaxGaussian Sep 29 '13 at 17:49

use $AM-GM$,$$(1+\dfrac{1}{n})(1+\dfrac{1}{n})\cdots(1+\dfrac{1}{n})\cdot 1\le\left(\dfrac{n+1+1}{n+1}\right)^{n+1}$$

• i didn't expect it to so simple (+1) – Santosh Linkha Sep 29 '13 at 16:28
• Yes, that's quite deviously clever. :-) – user43208 Sep 29 '13 at 16:35

$$\frac{1+\frac{1}{n+1}}{1+\frac{1}{n}} = 1-\frac{1}{(n+1)^2}$$

By Bernoulli's inequality:

$$\left(1-\frac{1}{(n+1)^2}\right)^n \geq 1-\frac{n}{(n+1)^2}$$

Putting it together:

$$\frac{\left(1+\frac{1}{n+1}\right)^{n+1}}{\left(1+\frac{1}{n}\right)^n} \geq \left(1-\frac{n}{(n+1)^2}\right)\left(1+\frac{1}{n+1}\right) = 1+\frac{1}{(n+1)^3}$$