4. Positive numbers x and y are such that x2>x+y and x4>x3+y. Prove that x3>x2+y.
Solution
First solution. Rewrite the condition as x2−x=x(x−1)>y, x4−x3=x3(x−1)>y. We need to prove that x3−x2=x2(x−1)>y. Note that x>1 - otherwise x(x−1)≤0x(x−1)>y. Second solution. Since x2>x+y and x>1,x3>x2+xy>x2+y. Third solution. Multiply the inequalities x(x−1)>y and x3(x−1)>y (this is possible since x−1>0) and take the square root of both sides of the resulting inequality. We obtain the desired inequality x2(x−1)>y. Remark. As we can see, the condition x4>x3+y is redundant, but there are solutions that use it.
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