How can I prove that $x-{x^2\over2}<\ln(1+x)$
Solution 1:
Hint:
Prove that $\ln(1 + x) - x + \dfrac{x^2}2$ is strictly increasing for $x > 0$.
edit: to see why this isn't a complete proof, consider $x^2 - 1$ for $x > 0$. It's strictly increasing; does that show that $x^2 > 1$? I hope not, because it's not true!
Solution 2:
consider $f(x)=\ln(1+x)-x+\dfrac{x^2}{2}$
$f^{'}(x)=\dfrac{x^2}{1+x}>0$ forall $x>0$
Hence f(x)>f(0)