Let xk=n2n(1+n21)k and yk=n2n+(k+1)n2n−2, k=1,…,n. Then
x1<y1<x2<y2<⋯<xn<yn.
By the binomial theorem, we have for k≥2 and a≤1/k2,
(1+a)k=1+ka+a(2!ak(k−1)+3!a2k(k−1)(k−2)+⋯+k!ak−1k!)≤1+ka+a(k2k(k−1)+2!1+k4k(k−1)(k−2)3!1+⋯+k2kk−2k!k!)≤1+ka+a(2!1+⋯+k!1)<1+ka+a(1⋅21+⋯+(k−1)!1)≤1+ka+a(1−k1)<1+(k+1)a.
Let Xk=(1+n2k)k, k=1,…,n. Then, for 2≤k≤n, n21≤k21. Therefore
1+n2k<Xk<1+n2k+1.
Multiplying throughout by n2n, we have
n2n+kn2n−2<n2n(1+n21)k<n2n+(k+1)n2n−2.