TITLE: How to prove $|f(x) - f(y)| < |x - y|$ if $f(x) = x + 1/x$ where $x > 1$
QUESTION [5 upvotes]: I have attempted as follows:
$|f(x) - f(y)| = |x + 1/x - y - 1/y|$
$\leq |x - y| + |1/x - 1/y|$
Struck here.
Any help.

REPLY [7 votes]: Suppose $x,y>1$. If $x=y$ then both sides are 0 in your inequality, so I assume $x\ne y$. 
Say that $x>y$. Then $f(x)-f(y)=(x-y)+(1/x-1/y)=\displaystyle (x-y)(1-\frac1{xy})$. Now, the fraction $1/(xy)$ is positive, but strictly less than 1, as $1<x,y$. Then the product is clearly positive but strictly less than $x-y$.
Similarly, if $y>x$, we get $0<f(y)-f(x)=\displaystyle(y-x)(1-\frac1{xy})<y-x$.