Can $k>1$ Prove This Inequality?

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SUMMARY

The inequality $\left(\dfrac{1+(k+1)^{k+1}}{k+2}\right)^{k-1}>\left(\dfrac{1+k^k}{k+1}\right)^{k}$ holds for all integers $k>1$. The proof involves manipulating the expressions on both sides and applying mathematical induction to establish the validity of the inequality. Key techniques include analyzing the growth rates of the terms involved and utilizing properties of exponents and logarithms to simplify the comparison.

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Prove that for all integers $k>1$:

$\left(\dfrac{1+(k+1)^{k+1}}{k+2}\right)^{k-1}>\left(\dfrac{1+k^k}{k+1}\right)^{k}$
 
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Hint:

Compare the value of $k^{k(k-1)}$ with both

1. $\left(\dfrac{1+(k+1)^{k+1}}{k+2}\right)^{k-1}$ and

2. $\left(\dfrac{1+k^k}{k+1}\right)^{k}$.
 
Solution of other:

Note that $\left(\dfrac{1+(k+1)^{k+1}}{k+2}\right)^{k-1}>k^{k(k-1)}>\left(\dfrac{1+k^k}{k+1}\right)^{k}---(1)$

Taking roots of order $k-1$ and $k$ respectively, we rewrite the left and right inequalities of (1) into their equivalent forms:

$\dfrac{(k+1)^{k+1}+1}{k+2}>k^k$ and $k^{k-1}>\dfrac{k^k+1}{k+1}---(2)$

Then second inequality is immediate as:

$(k+1)k^{k-1}=k^k+k^{k-1}>k^k+1$ for $k>1$.

For the first one for $k>1$, apply the Binomial Theorem to get

$\begin{align*}(k+1)^{k+1}+1&=(k^{k+1}+(k+1)k^k+\cdots+1)+1 \\&> k^{k+1}+(k+1)k^k\\&>k^{k+1}+2k^k=k^k(k+2)\end{align*}$

Hence both sides of the inequalities are proved and the result follows.
 

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