I can't prove the triangle inequality holds for this metric space
In this real analysis book I have there is a proposition that if (X,d) is a metric space then so is (X,p) where p=d(x,y)/(1+d(x,y))
The proof that this is a metric space is left for the reader.
I have shown that it satisfies all requirements for a metric space apart from the triangle inequality i.e. p(x,y)<=p(x,z)+p(z,y)
Could someone give assistance please?
Re: I can't prove the triangle inequality holds for this metric space
to simplify the algebra, let:
a = d(x,y)
b = d(x,z)
c = d(z,y), and we are given that a ≤ b+c, and also that a,b,c are all non-negative.
then:
p(x,y) = a/(1+a)
p(x,z) = b/(1+b)
p(z,y) = c/(1+c)
what we want to prove is:
,
that is:

or, equivalently, that:
 \leq (1+a)(b+c+2bc))
which is to say:

so:

since
, it follows that:
, from which the desired result follows.
Re: I can't prove the triangle inequality holds for this metric space
Re: I can't prove the triangle inequality holds for this metric space
Thank you both very much. Very helpful.