Have you ever played Risk, by Parker Brothers?
a^8 > a^7 excepting [0,1] with maximum difference less than 1/20. That's lot's of room.
a^5 > a^3 excepting [0,1] with maximum difference less than 1/5. That's almost cavernous.
We need the "+1" only on [0,1] and it is quite sufficient.
You do have to demonstrate the parts outside [0,1]
-----This should be trivial for even exponents vs. odd exponents for a < 0.
----- Relatively trivial for odd exponents vs. odd exponents on [-1,0]
----- Pretty clear for any exponent greater than 1.
I'm sure there is a less "Brute Force" method.