If x≥−1 satisfies the problem condition, then setting a1=a2=⋯=an=1 in the given inequality:
2a1+x⋅2a2+x⋅⋯⋅2an+x≤2a1a2…an+x(1)
we obtain the inequality (21+x)n≤21+x, which yields x≤1.
We prove, by induction on n≥2, that for x∈[−1,1] inequality (1) holds for all n∈N and all a1,…,an≥1.
For n=2 inequality (1) has the form:
2a1+x⋅2a2+x≤2a1a2+x,(2)
which is equivalent to:
x2+(a1+a2−2)x−a1a2≤0.
The last inequality holds for all x∈[−1,1] and all a1,a2≥1. Indeed,
x2+(a1+a2−2)x−a1a2≤1+(a1+a2−2)⋅1−a1a2=a1+a2−a1a2−1=−(a1−1)(a2−1)≤0.
The base of induction is proved.
If we suppose that inequality (1) holds for some n≥2, then from (1) and (2) it follows that:
2a1+x⋅2a2+x⋅⋯⋅2an+x⋅2an+1+x≤2a1a2…an+x⋅2an+1+x≤≤2a1a2…anan+1+x,(3)
as required.