Proof by Induction: Explaining Step 3 to 4 | Math Homework

[Robb]

Homework Statement

Attached are notes from class. Can someone please explain what happens to (-x(n+1)) in step 3 to step 4. Not sure why it goes away. Thanks!

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

 

[Mark44]

Homework Statement

Attached are notes from class. Can someone please explain what happens to (-x(n+1)) in step 3 to step 4. Not sure why it goes away. Thanks!

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

Your notes (did you take them?) aren't very helpful, as there is a relatively minor error in them -- a misplaced parenthesis.
Here's the corrected version of step 2.
$\Pi_{i = 1}^{n + 1} (1 - x_i) \ge \left(1 - \sum_{i =1}^n x_i)\right)(1 - x_{n + 1})$
The right side of your inequality is incorrect, due to the parentheses being in the wrong place. One of the factors in the inequality is $(1 - \sum_{i = 1}^n x_i)$ and the other is $(1 - x_{n + 1})$

The error is corrected in step 3. Now, to answer your question, what do $-\sum_{i = 1}^n x_i$ and $-x_{n + 1}$ combine to make?

 

[StoneTemplePython]

the only things I'd add are

i.) if OP has proven Union Bound (Boole's Inequality), this result follows almost immediately -- though you need to think carefully about sets and coin tossing to get the result.


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edit: geometric mean idea ran into too much trouble. Boole's Inequality still gives a very quick and satisfying answer.