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Exercise 323Logic, sets and proofs › Proof techniques › InductionL1Added 31 Oct 2026

Bernoulli's inequality

#induction#inequalities

Statement

Prove that for every real x≥−1x\ge-1 and every integer n≥0n\ge0,
(1+x)n≥1+nx.(1+x)^n\ge1+nx.

Hint

Use induction on nn, and remember that 1+x≥01+x\ge0.

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Solution

Base case. For n=0n=0 both sides equal 11.

Induction step. Assume (1+x)n≥1+nx(1+x)^n\ge1+nx. Since 1+x≥01+x\ge0, multiplying by 1+x1+x keeps the inequality:
(1+x)n+1≥(1+nx)(1+x)=1+(n+1)x+nx2≥1+(n+1)x.(1+x)^{n+1}\ge(1+nx)(1+x)=1+(n+1)x+nx^2\ge1+(n+1)x.

So the statement holds for n+1n+1, and by induction for all n≥0n\ge0.