What is the explanation for the inequality in Rudin 1.21?

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Unassuming
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the inequality presented in Rudin 1.21, specifically how the expression \( b^{n} - a^{n} \) relates to the identity \( b^{n} - a^{n} = (b-a)(b^{n-1} + b^{n-2}a + ... + a^{n-1} \) and leads to the inequality \( b^{n} - a^{n} < (b-a)nb^{n-1} \) under the condition \( 0 < a < b \). The focus is on understanding the derivation of the inequality from the identity, which involves mathematical reasoning and exploration of limits as \( b \) approaches \( a \).

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses confusion about how the inequality arises from the identity given in Rudin.
  • Another participant suggests examining the behavior of the second term on the right side when \( b = a \) to gain insight.
  • A third participant clarifies that the inequality follows from substituting \( a \) with \( b \) in the sum of the terms, leading to the conclusion that \( b^{n} - a^{n} < (b-a)nb^{n-1} \) since \( a < b \).
  • A later reply acknowledges the cleverness of the explanation provided.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants appear to be engaged in a constructive exploration of the inequality, with no explicit consensus reached on the explanation, but there is a shared understanding of the steps involved in deriving the inequality.

Contextual Notes

The discussion does not resolve the underlying assumptions or the specific conditions under which the inequality holds, nor does it clarify all mathematical steps involved in the derivation.

Unassuming
Messages
165
Reaction score
0
In Rudin 1.21 he says the following in the midst of proving a theorem,

"The identity b[tex]^{n}[/tex] - a[tex]^{n}[/tex]= (b-a)(b[tex]^{n-1}[/tex] + b[tex]^{n-2}[/tex]a + ... + a[tex]^{n-1}[/tex]) yields the inequality

b[tex]^{n}[/tex] - a[tex]^{n}[/tex] < (b-a)nb[tex]^{n-1}[/tex] when 0 < a < b"

I can understand that it is less than, but I cannot understand how it is coming (yielding) from the identity.

Any explanation would be greatly appreciated.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Try seeing what happens to the second term on the right side when b=a.
 
Vid's point is that:

[tex]b^n-a^n=(b-a)(b^{n-1}+b^{n-2}a+...+ba^{n-2}+a^{n-1})<(b-a)\underbrace{(b^{n-1}+b^{n-2}b+...+bb^{n-2}+b^{n-1})}=(b-a)nb^{n-1}[/tex] since a<b
 
...that's clever. Thank you.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
4K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
5K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
4K
  • · Replies 24 ·
Replies
24
Views
7K
  • · Replies 24 ·
Replies
24
Views
4K