Ramsey Number Inequality: $R(\underbrace{3,3,...,3,3}_{k+1}) \le (k+1)(R(\underbrace{3,3,...3}_k)-1)+2$

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I want to prove that:

$$R(\underbrace{3,3,...,3,3}_{k+1}) \le (k+1)(R(\underbrace{3,3,...3}_k)-1)+2$$

where R is a Ramsey number. In the LHS, there are $k+1$ $3$'s, and in the RHS, there are $k$ $3's$. I really have no clue how to start this proof. Any help is appreciated!

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The general strategy will probably look something like this. (Let $R = R(\underbrace{3,\ldots,3}_k)$ in what follows.)

  1. Take $k+1$ copies of $K_{R-1}$, the complete graph on $R-1$ vertices, and assume that the edges of each one are colored with $k+1$ colors so as to avoid monochromatic triangles.

  2. Then suppose that no copy contains a triangle in the $k+1$'th color.

  3. Then show that if you add 2 more vertices $u,v$ there must be some monochromatic triangle unless (something about the edges between $u$ and the $K_{R-1}$'s, and between $v$ and the $K_{R-1}$'s).

  4. Then show that the edge from $u$ to $v$ must complete a monochromatic triangle with some vertex in one of the $K_{R-1}$'s.

A more careful analysis would consider the many edges between one $K_{R-1}$ and another, but with any luck you won't have to do that.

On review, I think Alex's suggestion of induction on $k$ is probably an excellent one.