Proving x<0, y<0, and x<y Implies [y][/2] < [x][/2]

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llanoda
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Hi,

Anybody can help me prove this? Thanks...

If x<0 and y<0 and x<y, then [y][/2] < [x][/2]
 
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Hi, welcome to PF.

What does the brackets notation mean?
What is [y][/2] ?
 
You seem to have said that y squared is LESS than x squared in your original post.
 
That's correct. Because x<y<0.

This might be the kind of thing you want to do in parts. For example, prove that x2 = (-x)2 so you can switch this to looking at positive numbers
 
llanoda said:
Hi,

Anybody can help me prove this? Thanks...

If x<0 and y<0 and x<y, then [y][/2] < [x][/2]

You mean, "if x< 0, y< 0 and x< y, then y2< x2". If you don't want to use HTML tags or LaTex, the y^2< x^2 is the best way to show an exponent.

It is easy to show that if 0< a< b, then a2< b2. Here, since x< y< 0, 0< -y< -x so (-y)2< (-x)2 which, because (-x)2= x2 and (-y)2= y2, leads to your result.
 
edit:
Use
If a < b, then c * b < c * a if and only if c < 0.
Spoiler :
We have x < 0, y < 0 and x < y. Then x * y < x * x, because x < 0. Similarly, y * y < y * x, because y < 0. So,
y^2 = y * y < y * x = x * y < x * x = x^2,
giving y^2 < x^2.
o:)
 
Last edited:
See, if you'll wait long enough with replying, we'll solve the entire question for you :smile:
 
llanoda said:
Hi,

Anybody can help me prove this? Thanks...

If x<0 and y<0 and x<y, then [y][/2] < [x][/2]


We have x<y and x<0 and y<0 ,so if we multiply x<y by x<0 we get:

[tex]x^2>xy[/tex]............1

and if we multiply x<y by y<0 we get:

[tex]xy> y^2[/tex]............2

And from (1) and (2) we have : [tex]x^2> y^2[/tex],using the fact .

If A>B AND B>C ,then A>C