Prove that $a^2+\dfrac{1}{a^a-a+1}\ge a+1$, for any number $a$ 
Prove that $a^2+\dfrac{1}{a^a-a+1}\ge a+1$, for any number $a$

I think I can solve the problem by putting all the variables on one side and then $0$ on the other side, then factoring the side with the variables to become a square. This proves the inequality because anything squares is positive. Can I solve this problem using algebra? Obviously you can solve it using induction.

Let $f:[1,\infty) \to \mathbb{R}$ be defined by
$$f(a) = a^2 - a  - 1 + \frac{1}{a^a - a + 1}$$
The goal is to show $f(a) \ge 0$ for all $a \in [1,\infty)$. 

First suppose $a \ge 2$. Then
\begin{align*}
f(a) &= a^2 - a  - 1 + \frac{1}{a^a - a + 1}\\[6pt]
&> a^2 - a  - 1\\[6pt] 
&\ge 2^2 - 2 - 1 = 1\\[6pt]
&> 0\\
\end{align*}
Next suppose $1 \le a < 2$. Then
\begin{align*}
f(a) &= a^2 - a  - 1 + \frac{1}{a^a - a + 1}\\[6pt]
&\ge a^2 - a  - 1 + \frac{1}{a^2 - a + 1}\\[6pt]
&= \left(a^2 - a + 1 + \frac{1}{a^2 - a + 1}\right) - 2\\[6pt] 
&\ge 2 - 2\qquad\text{[by AM-GM]}\\[6pt] 
&=0\\
\end{align*}
Therefore $f(a) \ge 0$  for all $a \in [1,\infty)$, as required.
