We first observe that x4+3≥(x+1)2 as x4+3−(x+1)2=(x−1)2(x2+2x+2)≥0. Therefore it suffices to prove that
i=1∑nai+1ai≤21i=1∑nai1
for all positive integers n and positive real numbers a1,a2,…,an satisfying the condition a1a2⋯an=1.
Next we observe that
2xy1−xy+1xy≤2x1+2y1−x+1x−y+1y(∗)
for 0<x≤1≤y. This can be seen using the fact that
0≤(1−x)(y−1)(2x2y2+x2y+xy2+xy+x+y+1)
after collecting all the terms to the right side of the inequality and getting a common denominator.
Let fk(x1,x2,…,xk)=21∑i=1kxi1−∑i=1kxi+1xi. We will prove by induction on k that x1x2⋯xk=1⟹fk(x1,x2,…,xk)≥0.
* For k=1, x1=1 and f1(x1)=0.
* Suppose k>1 and x1x2⋯xk=1. If x1≤x2≤⋯≤xk, then x1≤1≤xk, and using (*) we get fk(x1,x2,…,xk)≥fk−1(x1xk,x2,…,xk−1)≥0.