Suppose x and y are real numbers with x≥0 and y2≥x(x+1). Prove that (y−1)2≥x(x−1).
Solution
Suppose x≥0 and y2≥x(x+1). If 0≤x≤1, then (y−1)2≥0≥x(x−1). If x>1, either y≥x(x+1) or y≤−x(x+1). If y≥x(x+1), then y>1, since x>1. So (y−1)2≥(x(x+1)−1)2=x2+x+1−2x(x+1). It suffices to prove that this is ≥x(x−1). That is, 2x+1≥2x(x+1), when x>1. Squaring both sides, this reduces to 1>0, which is true. The second case is y≤−x(x+1). In this case, we have (y−1)2≥(x(x+1)+1)2=x2+x+1+2x(x+1)>x2+x>x2−x, which proves the result.
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