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1 Algebraic and Analytic MethodsTopics of Discussion

§1.7 Inequalities

Contents
  1. §1.7(i) Finite Sums
  2. §1.7(ii) Integrals
  3. §1.7(iii) Means
  4. §1.7(iv) Jensen’s Inequality

§1.7(i) Finite Sums

In this subsection A and B are positive constants.

Cauchy–Schwarz Inequality

1.7.1 \left(\sum^{n}_{j=1}a_{j}b_{j}\right)^{2}\leq\left(\sum^{n}_{j=1}a_{j}^{2}%
\right)\left(\sum^{n}_{j=1}b_{j}^{2}\right).

Equality holds iff a_{j}=cb_{j}, \forall j; c=\text{ constant}.

Conversely, if \left(\sum^{n}_{j=1}a_{j}b_{j}\right)^{2}\leq AB for all b_{j} such that \sum^{n}_{j=1}b_{j}^{2}\leq B, then \sum^{n}_{j=1}a_{j}^{2}\leq A.

Hölder’s Inequality

For p>1, \dfrac{1}{p}+\dfrac{1}{q}=1, a_{j}\geq 0, b_{j}\geq 0,

1.7.2 \sum^{n}_{j=1}a_{j}b_{j}\leq\left(\sum^{n}_{j=1}a_{j}^{p}\right)^{1/p}\left(%
\sum^{n}_{j=1}b_{j}^{q}\right)^{1/q}.

Equality holds iff a_{j}^{p}=cb_{j}^{q}, \forall j; c=\text{ constant}.

Conversely, if \sum^{n}_{j=1}a_{j}b_{j}\leq A^{1/p}B^{1/q} for all b_{j} such that \sum^{n}_{j=1}b_{j}^{q}\leq B, then \sum^{n}_{j=1}a_{j}^{p}\leq A.

Minkowski’s Inequality

For p>1, a_{j}\geq 0, b_{j}\geq 0,

1.7.3 \left(\sum^{n}_{j=1}(a_{j}+b_{j})^{p}\right)^{1/p}\leq\left(\sum^{n}_{j=1}a_{j%
}^{p}\right)^{1/p}+\left(\sum^{n}_{j=1}b_{j}^{p}\right)^{1/p}.

The direction of the inequality is reversed, that is, \geq, when 0<p<1. Equality holds iff a_{j}=cb_{j}, \forall j; c=\text{ constant}.

§1.7(ii) Integrals

In this subsection a and b (>a) are real constants that can be \mp\infty, provided that the corresponding integrals converge. Also A and B are constants that are not simultaneously zero.

Cauchy–Schwarz Inequality

1.7.4 \left(\int_{a}^{b}f(x)g(x)\,\mathrm{d}x\right)^{2}\leq\int_{a}^{b}(f(x))^{2}\,%
\mathrm{d}x\int_{a}^{b}(g(x))^{2}\,\mathrm{d}x.

Equality holds iff Af(x)=Bg(x) for all x.

Hölder’s Inequality

For p>1, \dfrac{1}{p}+\dfrac{1}{q}=1, f(x)\geq 0, g(x)\geq 0,

1.7.5 \int_{a}^{b}f(x)g(x)\,\mathrm{d}x\leq\left(\int_{a}^{b}(f(x))^{p}\,\mathrm{d}x%
\right)^{1/p}\left(\int_{a}^{b}(g(x))^{q}\,\mathrm{d}x\right)^{1/q}.

Equality holds iff A(f(x))^{p}=B(g(x))^{q} for all x.

Minkowski’s Inequality

For p>1, f(x)\geq 0, g(x)\geq 0,

1.7.6 \left(\int_{a}^{b}(f(x)+g(x))^{p}\,\mathrm{d}x\right)^{1/p}\leq\left(\int_{a}^%
{b}(f(x))^{p}\,\mathrm{d}x\right)^{1/p}+\left(\int_{a}^{b}(g(x))^{p}\,\mathrm{%
d}x\right)^{1/p}.

The direction of the inequality is reversed, that is, \geq, when 0<p<1. Equality holds iff Af(x)=Bg(x) for all x.

§1.7(iii) Means

For the notation, see §1.2(iv).

1.7.7 H\leq G\leq A,

with equality iff a_{1}=a_{2}=\dots=a_{n}.

1.7.8 \min(a_{1},a_{2},\dots,a_{n})\leq M(r)\leq\max(a_{1},a_{2},\dots,a_{n}),

with equality iff a_{1}=a_{2}=\dots=a_{n}, or r<0 and some a_{j}=0.

1.7.9 M(r)\leq M(s),r<s,

with equality iff a_{1}=a_{2}=\dots=a_{n}, or s\leq 0 and some a_{j}=0.

§1.7(iv) Jensen’s Inequality

For f integrable on [0,1], a<f(x)<b, and \phi convex on (a,b)1.4(viii)),

1.7.10 \phi\left(\int^{1}_{0}f(x)\,\mathrm{d}x\right)\leq\int^{1}_{0}\phi(f(x))\,%
\mathrm{d}x,

For \exp and \ln see §4.2.