1969 Canadian MO Problems/Problem 2

Problem

Determine which of the two numbers $\displaystyle \sqrt{c+1}-\sqrt{c}$ , $\displaystyle\sqrt{c}-\sqrt{c-1}$ is greater for any $\displaystyle c\ge 1$ .

Solution

Multiplying and dividing $\displaystyle \sqrt{c+1}-\sqrt c$ by its conjugate,

$\displaystyle \sqrt{c+1}-\sqrt c=\frac{(\sqrt{c+1})^2-(\sqrt c)^2}{\sqrt{c+1}+\sqrt{c}}=\frac1{\sqrt{c+1}+\sqrt{c}}.$

Similarly, $\displaystyle \sqrt c-\sqrt{c-1}=\frac{1}{\sqrt c-\sqrt{c-1}}$ . We know that $\displaystyle \frac1{\sqrt{c+1}+\sqrt{c}}<\frac{1}{\sqrt c-\sqrt{c-1}}$ for all positive $\displaystyle c$ , so $\displaystyle \sqrt{c+1}-\sqrt c <\sqrt c-\sqrt{c-1}$ .

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1969 Canadian MO Problems/Problem 2

Problem

Solution