Re: HSC 2013 4U Marathon
We can manipulate the inequality into wanting to prove that
x^y(x^(x-y)-1)/y^y >y^(x-y)-1. Now, x^a>y^a if a,x,y are positive since x^a is increasing for positive x (f'(x)=ax^(a-1)). So, x^(x-y)-1>y^(x-y)-1. Moreover x^y/y^y>1. So multiplying these two inequalities together we get the desired result. (Note y^(x-y)-1 is positive since x-y>0)
Assume that x>y since the problem is symmetric in x and y.
edit: my bad
We can manipulate the inequality into wanting to prove that
x^y(x^(x-y)-1)/y^y >y^(x-y)-1. Now, x^a>y^a if a,x,y are positive since x^a is increasing for positive x (f'(x)=ax^(a-1)). So, x^(x-y)-1>y^(x-y)-1. Moreover x^y/y^y>1. So multiplying these two inequalities together we get the desired result. (Note y^(x-y)-1 is positive since x-y>0)