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Algebra Difficulty 4.8 AIME Prove it

Given f(n)=1+12+13++1n(nN)f(n)=1+ \frac {1}{ \sqrt {2}}+ \frac {1}{ \sqrt {3}}+\ldots+ \frac {1}{ \sqrt {n}}(n\in\mathbb{N}^{*}), g(n)=2(n+11)(nN)g(n)=2( \sqrt {n+1}-1)(n\in\mathbb{N}^{*}).
(1) When n=1n=1, 22, 33, compare the size of f(n)f(n) and g(n)g(n) respectively (give the conclusion directly);
(2) Based on (1), conjecture the relationship between f(n)f(n) and g(n)g(n), and prove your conjecture.

Solution

Solution:
(1) When n=1n=1, f(1)=1f(1)=1, g(1)=2(21)g(1)=2( \sqrt {2}-1), f(1)>g(1)f(1) > g(1),
When n=2n=2, f(2)=1+12f(2)=1+ \frac {1}{ \sqrt {2}}, g(2)=2(31)g(2)=2( \sqrt {3}-1), f(2)>g(2)f(2) > g(2),
When n=3n=3, f(3)=1+12+13f(3)=1+ \frac {1}{ \sqrt {2}}+ \frac {1}{ \sqrt {3}}, g(3)=2g(3)=2, f(3)>g(3)f(3) > g(3).
(2) Conjecture: f(n)>g(n)(nN)f(n) > g(n) (n\in\mathbb{N}^{*}), i.e., 1+12+13++1n>2(n+11)(nN)1+ \frac {1}{ \sqrt {2}}+ \frac {1}{ \sqrt {3}}+\ldots+ \frac {1}{ \sqrt {n}} > 2( \sqrt {n+1}-1) (n\in\mathbb{N}^{*}).
Now, let's prove it by mathematical induction:
① When n=1n=1, it has been proven above.
② Assume the conjecture holds for n=kn=k, i.e., 1+12+13++1k>2(k+11)1+ \frac {1}{ \sqrt {2}}+ \frac {1}{ \sqrt {3}}+\ldots+ \frac {1}{ \sqrt {k}} > 2( \sqrt {k+1}-1)
Then when n=k+1n=k+1, f(k+1)=1+12+13++1k+1k+1>2(k+11)+1k+1=2k+1+1k+12f(k+1)=1+ \frac {1}{ \sqrt {2}}+ \frac {1}{ \sqrt {3}}+\ldots+ \frac {1}{ \sqrt {k}}+ \frac {1}{ \sqrt {k+1}} > 2( \sqrt {k+1}-1)+ \frac {1}{ \sqrt {k+1}}=2 \sqrt {k+1}+ \frac {1}{ \sqrt {k+1}}-2;
And g(k+1)=2(k+21)=2k+22g(k+1)=2( \sqrt {k+2}-1)=2 \sqrt {k+2}-2, next we need to prove: 2k+1+1k+1>2k+22 \sqrt {k+1}+ \frac {1}{ \sqrt {k+1}} > 2 \sqrt {k+2}
It suffices to prove: 2(k+1)+1=2k+3>2(k+2)(k+1)2(k+1)+1=2k+3 > 2 \sqrt {(k+2)(k+1)}, it requires to prove: (2k+3)2>4(k+2)(k+1)(2k+3)^{2} > 4(k+2)(k+1),
i.e., 4k2+12k+9>4k2+12k+84k^{2}+12k+9 > 4k^{2}+12k+8, this inequality obviously holds. Therefore, the conjecture also holds for n=k+1n=k+1.
In summary, for nNn\in\mathbb{N}^{*}, the conjecture holds,
i.e., 1+12+13++1n>2(n+11)(nN)1+ \frac {1}{ \sqrt {2}}+ \frac {1}{ \sqrt {3}}+\ldots+ \frac {1}{ \sqrt {n}} > 2( \sqrt {n+1}-1) (n\in\mathbb{N}^{*}) is true. True\boxed{\text{True}}

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Source: NuminaMath-1.5, licensed Apache-2.0. Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic and difficulty added by this site.