a) Show that if a,b>1 are distinct real numbers then loga(logab)>logb(logab).
b) Let a1>a2>⋯>an>1 be real numbers, n≥2. Prove that loga1(loga1(a2)+loga2(loga2(a3)+⋯+logan−1(logan−1(an)+logan(logan(a1))))>0.
Solution
a) For a<b, loga(logab)=(logab)(logb(logab))>logb(logab) because logb(logab)>0 and logab>1. For a>b, the claim is reached from logab<1 and logb(logab)<0.
b) Induct on n. For n=2, loga1(loga1(a2)+loga2(loga2(a1)))>loga2(loga1(a2)+loga1(loga1(a1)))=loga2(1)=0. Assume now that the claim holds for some n and consider the numbers a1>a2>⋯>an+1>1. Then loga1(loga1(a2)+⋯+logan(logan(an+1)+logan+1(logan+1(a1)))=loga1(loga1(a2)+⋯+logan−1(logan−1(an)+logan(logan(a1)))+loga1(loga1(a2)+⋯+logan−1(logan−1(an)+logan(logan(a1))=>logan+1(logan(an+1)+logan+1(logan+1(a1))−logan(logan(a1))>>logan+1(logan(an+1)+logan+1(logan+1(a1))−logan(logan(a1))==logan+1(logan(a1)−logan(logan(a1)))>0, because logana1>1 and an+1<an.
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