When does it hold that for $x\in (-1, 0), n>2$, $(1+x)^n<1+nx+\frac{n(n-1)}{2}x^2$? I know that for $n=3$ it's always true as
$$(1+x)^3=1+3x+\frac{3(3-1)}{2}x^2+x^3<1+3x+\frac{3(3-1)}{2}x^2$$
as $x^3<0$ for $x\in (-1, 0)$.
EDIT: I think that I found a proof by induction: I already proved the case $n=3$. Now let us suppose that it's true for $n=k$. Then, as $(1+x)>0$, we have
$$(1+x)^{n+1}<(1+x)\left ( 1+kx+\frac{k(k-1)}{2}x^2\right )$$ $$= 1+kx+\frac{k(k-1)}{2}x^2+x+kx^2+\frac{k(k-1)}{2}x^3=1+(k+1)x+\frac{(k+1)k}{2}x^2+\frac{k(k-1)}{2}x^3$$ $$<1+(k+1)x+\frac{(k+1)k}{2}x^2$$
as $x^3<0$. So, we cloncuded the proof.
Now I ask if is there a proof without induction.
(Too long for a comment)
Rewrite the inequality for $y\in(0,1)$
$$(1-y)^n<1-ny+\frac{n(n-1)}{2}y^2$$
while
$$(1-y)^n=1-ny+\frac{n(n-1)}{2}y^2+\sum_{k=3}^{n}{n\choose k}(-y)^{k}$$
So it is equivalent to prove
$$\sum_{k=3}^{n}{n\choose k}(-y)^{k}<0$$