Strict convexity and equivalent conditions
Let $f colon mathbb R^n to [0,+infty)$ be a convex, positively 1-homogeneous function, i.e. it holds
$$tag{1}
f(lambda x + (1-lambda)y) le lambda f(x) + (1-lambda) f(y), qquad forall lambda in [0,1], , forall x,y in mathbb R^n
$$
and
$$tag{2}
f(lambda x) = lambda f(x), qquad forall lambda >0, , x in mathbb R^n.
$$
Let me denote by $E_c := { f le c}$ the sub-level set at height $c$. I have been asked to show that Assumption (2) implies that the sub-level sets are homothetic. Indeed I have proved that
$E_c = cE_1$ for every $c>0$.
Now, assuming that $f$ is also of class $C^2(mathbb R^n)$, I have to investigate the validity of the following equivalence:
(A) The set $E_1$ is strictly convex;
(B) There exists $s>0$ such that
$$
nabla^2 f[x] (z,z) ge s vert z - (zcdot x)x vert^2
$$
for every $x,z in mathbb R^n$, being $nabla^2 f[x](z,z) = langle (nabla^2 f)(x) cdot z, z rangle$ the quadratic form associated to the Hessian matrix of $f$ (evaluated at $x$).
Q. Is it true that (A) iff (B)?
I have no idea on how to face the question, and I am looking for some intuition behind condition (B). What is it actually saying? How could it be related to sub-level sets?
ADDENDUM: I think I got some intuition behind condition (B). If I am not wrong that should be a uniform bound (from below) on the Gaussian curvature of the level set ${f=1}$ (assuming that all points are regular, i.e. $vert nabla f(x) vert ne 0$ for every $x in {f=1}$: is this assumption necessary?). This is an easy consequence of the formula contained in this page. Do you agree on this consideration? Now the question becomes: how is it possible to relate a (uniform) bound on the Gaussian curvature of the level set ${f=1}$ with the (strict) convexity of the set ${f le 1}$?
To me this makes sense, because the strict convexity of ${f le 1}$ roughly means that its boundary has no flat parts, and its boundary should be related to the level set - which has curvature bounded from below, i.e. it is well-round...
real-analysis functions convex-analysis
This question has an open bounty worth +200
reputation from Romeo ending in 2 days.
This question has not received enough attention.
add a comment |
Let $f colon mathbb R^n to [0,+infty)$ be a convex, positively 1-homogeneous function, i.e. it holds
$$tag{1}
f(lambda x + (1-lambda)y) le lambda f(x) + (1-lambda) f(y), qquad forall lambda in [0,1], , forall x,y in mathbb R^n
$$
and
$$tag{2}
f(lambda x) = lambda f(x), qquad forall lambda >0, , x in mathbb R^n.
$$
Let me denote by $E_c := { f le c}$ the sub-level set at height $c$. I have been asked to show that Assumption (2) implies that the sub-level sets are homothetic. Indeed I have proved that
$E_c = cE_1$ for every $c>0$.
Now, assuming that $f$ is also of class $C^2(mathbb R^n)$, I have to investigate the validity of the following equivalence:
(A) The set $E_1$ is strictly convex;
(B) There exists $s>0$ such that
$$
nabla^2 f[x] (z,z) ge s vert z - (zcdot x)x vert^2
$$
for every $x,z in mathbb R^n$, being $nabla^2 f[x](z,z) = langle (nabla^2 f)(x) cdot z, z rangle$ the quadratic form associated to the Hessian matrix of $f$ (evaluated at $x$).
Q. Is it true that (A) iff (B)?
I have no idea on how to face the question, and I am looking for some intuition behind condition (B). What is it actually saying? How could it be related to sub-level sets?
ADDENDUM: I think I got some intuition behind condition (B). If I am not wrong that should be a uniform bound (from below) on the Gaussian curvature of the level set ${f=1}$ (assuming that all points are regular, i.e. $vert nabla f(x) vert ne 0$ for every $x in {f=1}$: is this assumption necessary?). This is an easy consequence of the formula contained in this page. Do you agree on this consideration? Now the question becomes: how is it possible to relate a (uniform) bound on the Gaussian curvature of the level set ${f=1}$ with the (strict) convexity of the set ${f le 1}$?
To me this makes sense, because the strict convexity of ${f le 1}$ roughly means that its boundary has no flat parts, and its boundary should be related to the level set - which has curvature bounded from below, i.e. it is well-round...
real-analysis functions convex-analysis
This question has an open bounty worth +200
reputation from Romeo ending in 2 days.
This question has not received enough attention.
1
Can you explain the notation $ nabla^2 f[x] (z,z)$?
– zhw.
Jan 1 at 18:44
1
@zhw. It is simply the Hessian matrix of $f$ (computed at $x$) evaluated (as a quadratic form) on the vector $z$. I added clarification in the OP. Thanks for your comment.
– Romeo
Jan 1 at 19:51
add a comment |
Let $f colon mathbb R^n to [0,+infty)$ be a convex, positively 1-homogeneous function, i.e. it holds
$$tag{1}
f(lambda x + (1-lambda)y) le lambda f(x) + (1-lambda) f(y), qquad forall lambda in [0,1], , forall x,y in mathbb R^n
$$
and
$$tag{2}
f(lambda x) = lambda f(x), qquad forall lambda >0, , x in mathbb R^n.
$$
Let me denote by $E_c := { f le c}$ the sub-level set at height $c$. I have been asked to show that Assumption (2) implies that the sub-level sets are homothetic. Indeed I have proved that
$E_c = cE_1$ for every $c>0$.
Now, assuming that $f$ is also of class $C^2(mathbb R^n)$, I have to investigate the validity of the following equivalence:
(A) The set $E_1$ is strictly convex;
(B) There exists $s>0$ such that
$$
nabla^2 f[x] (z,z) ge s vert z - (zcdot x)x vert^2
$$
for every $x,z in mathbb R^n$, being $nabla^2 f[x](z,z) = langle (nabla^2 f)(x) cdot z, z rangle$ the quadratic form associated to the Hessian matrix of $f$ (evaluated at $x$).
Q. Is it true that (A) iff (B)?
I have no idea on how to face the question, and I am looking for some intuition behind condition (B). What is it actually saying? How could it be related to sub-level sets?
ADDENDUM: I think I got some intuition behind condition (B). If I am not wrong that should be a uniform bound (from below) on the Gaussian curvature of the level set ${f=1}$ (assuming that all points are regular, i.e. $vert nabla f(x) vert ne 0$ for every $x in {f=1}$: is this assumption necessary?). This is an easy consequence of the formula contained in this page. Do you agree on this consideration? Now the question becomes: how is it possible to relate a (uniform) bound on the Gaussian curvature of the level set ${f=1}$ with the (strict) convexity of the set ${f le 1}$?
To me this makes sense, because the strict convexity of ${f le 1}$ roughly means that its boundary has no flat parts, and its boundary should be related to the level set - which has curvature bounded from below, i.e. it is well-round...
real-analysis functions convex-analysis
Let $f colon mathbb R^n to [0,+infty)$ be a convex, positively 1-homogeneous function, i.e. it holds
$$tag{1}
f(lambda x + (1-lambda)y) le lambda f(x) + (1-lambda) f(y), qquad forall lambda in [0,1], , forall x,y in mathbb R^n
$$
and
$$tag{2}
f(lambda x) = lambda f(x), qquad forall lambda >0, , x in mathbb R^n.
$$
Let me denote by $E_c := { f le c}$ the sub-level set at height $c$. I have been asked to show that Assumption (2) implies that the sub-level sets are homothetic. Indeed I have proved that
$E_c = cE_1$ for every $c>0$.
Now, assuming that $f$ is also of class $C^2(mathbb R^n)$, I have to investigate the validity of the following equivalence:
(A) The set $E_1$ is strictly convex;
(B) There exists $s>0$ such that
$$
nabla^2 f[x] (z,z) ge s vert z - (zcdot x)x vert^2
$$
for every $x,z in mathbb R^n$, being $nabla^2 f[x](z,z) = langle (nabla^2 f)(x) cdot z, z rangle$ the quadratic form associated to the Hessian matrix of $f$ (evaluated at $x$).
Q. Is it true that (A) iff (B)?
I have no idea on how to face the question, and I am looking for some intuition behind condition (B). What is it actually saying? How could it be related to sub-level sets?
ADDENDUM: I think I got some intuition behind condition (B). If I am not wrong that should be a uniform bound (from below) on the Gaussian curvature of the level set ${f=1}$ (assuming that all points are regular, i.e. $vert nabla f(x) vert ne 0$ for every $x in {f=1}$: is this assumption necessary?). This is an easy consequence of the formula contained in this page. Do you agree on this consideration? Now the question becomes: how is it possible to relate a (uniform) bound on the Gaussian curvature of the level set ${f=1}$ with the (strict) convexity of the set ${f le 1}$?
To me this makes sense, because the strict convexity of ${f le 1}$ roughly means that its boundary has no flat parts, and its boundary should be related to the level set - which has curvature bounded from below, i.e. it is well-round...
real-analysis functions convex-analysis
real-analysis functions convex-analysis
edited Jan 1 at 19:50
asked Dec 30 '18 at 16:28
Romeo
2,99121048
2,99121048
This question has an open bounty worth +200
reputation from Romeo ending in 2 days.
This question has not received enough attention.
This question has an open bounty worth +200
reputation from Romeo ending in 2 days.
This question has not received enough attention.
1
Can you explain the notation $ nabla^2 f[x] (z,z)$?
– zhw.
Jan 1 at 18:44
1
@zhw. It is simply the Hessian matrix of $f$ (computed at $x$) evaluated (as a quadratic form) on the vector $z$. I added clarification in the OP. Thanks for your comment.
– Romeo
Jan 1 at 19:51
add a comment |
1
Can you explain the notation $ nabla^2 f[x] (z,z)$?
– zhw.
Jan 1 at 18:44
1
@zhw. It is simply the Hessian matrix of $f$ (computed at $x$) evaluated (as a quadratic form) on the vector $z$. I added clarification in the OP. Thanks for your comment.
– Romeo
Jan 1 at 19:51
1
1
Can you explain the notation $ nabla^2 f[x] (z,z)$?
– zhw.
Jan 1 at 18:44
Can you explain the notation $ nabla^2 f[x] (z,z)$?
– zhw.
Jan 1 at 18:44
1
1
@zhw. It is simply the Hessian matrix of $f$ (computed at $x$) evaluated (as a quadratic form) on the vector $z$. I added clarification in the OP. Thanks for your comment.
– Romeo
Jan 1 at 19:51
@zhw. It is simply the Hessian matrix of $f$ (computed at $x$) evaluated (as a quadratic form) on the vector $z$. I added clarification in the OP. Thanks for your comment.
– Romeo
Jan 1 at 19:51
add a comment |
1 Answer
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The only function I can think of that satisfies all your conditions (convex, range $[0,infty)$, positively 1-homogeneous, $C^2$) is the function that always takes the value $0$.
You cannot have a positively 1-homogeneous function for which $E_1$ is strictly convex: the function is linear on the line segment ${ lambda x : f(lambda x) leq 1 } subseteq E_1$ (the line segment cannot be a single point or an empty set).
Now let's look at condition B. Since (2) holds for all $x$, the derivatives have to be equal as well: $lambdanabla f(lambda x) = lambda nabla f(x)$. It follows that $nabla f(lambda x)$ is the same for all $lambda$, so the second derivative at $0$ in the direction $z$ is $0$: $nabla^2f[0](z,z)=0$.
As neither condition (A) nor condition (B) can ever hold, they are equivalent.
First of all, thank you very much for your very interesting answer. May I ask some further questions? In the first line you wrote: convex, range $[0,+infty)$, pos 1-hom and $C^2$ imply identically vanishing. Can you provide a short proof of this elementary fact? I am not able to see it. Concerning assumption $A$, I see your point and I realized the question is ill-posed. What I actually have is that the boundary of the set ${fle 1}$ does not contain straight segments. Concerning assumption (B) I do not see your conclusion (the hessian vanishes hence...?). Thank you very much for your help.
– Romeo
yesterday
@Romeo First line: I do not have a proof but it's merely a conjecture ("the only function I can think of"). Part A: are you sure? Then $f(x)=0$ is a counterexample. Part B: the Hessian vanishes at 0 for all $z$, so the Hessian cannot be bounded below by $s|z|^2$.
– LinAlg
yesterday
add a comment |
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The only function I can think of that satisfies all your conditions (convex, range $[0,infty)$, positively 1-homogeneous, $C^2$) is the function that always takes the value $0$.
You cannot have a positively 1-homogeneous function for which $E_1$ is strictly convex: the function is linear on the line segment ${ lambda x : f(lambda x) leq 1 } subseteq E_1$ (the line segment cannot be a single point or an empty set).
Now let's look at condition B. Since (2) holds for all $x$, the derivatives have to be equal as well: $lambdanabla f(lambda x) = lambda nabla f(x)$. It follows that $nabla f(lambda x)$ is the same for all $lambda$, so the second derivative at $0$ in the direction $z$ is $0$: $nabla^2f[0](z,z)=0$.
As neither condition (A) nor condition (B) can ever hold, they are equivalent.
First of all, thank you very much for your very interesting answer. May I ask some further questions? In the first line you wrote: convex, range $[0,+infty)$, pos 1-hom and $C^2$ imply identically vanishing. Can you provide a short proof of this elementary fact? I am not able to see it. Concerning assumption $A$, I see your point and I realized the question is ill-posed. What I actually have is that the boundary of the set ${fle 1}$ does not contain straight segments. Concerning assumption (B) I do not see your conclusion (the hessian vanishes hence...?). Thank you very much for your help.
– Romeo
yesterday
@Romeo First line: I do not have a proof but it's merely a conjecture ("the only function I can think of"). Part A: are you sure? Then $f(x)=0$ is a counterexample. Part B: the Hessian vanishes at 0 for all $z$, so the Hessian cannot be bounded below by $s|z|^2$.
– LinAlg
yesterday
add a comment |
The only function I can think of that satisfies all your conditions (convex, range $[0,infty)$, positively 1-homogeneous, $C^2$) is the function that always takes the value $0$.
You cannot have a positively 1-homogeneous function for which $E_1$ is strictly convex: the function is linear on the line segment ${ lambda x : f(lambda x) leq 1 } subseteq E_1$ (the line segment cannot be a single point or an empty set).
Now let's look at condition B. Since (2) holds for all $x$, the derivatives have to be equal as well: $lambdanabla f(lambda x) = lambda nabla f(x)$. It follows that $nabla f(lambda x)$ is the same for all $lambda$, so the second derivative at $0$ in the direction $z$ is $0$: $nabla^2f[0](z,z)=0$.
As neither condition (A) nor condition (B) can ever hold, they are equivalent.
First of all, thank you very much for your very interesting answer. May I ask some further questions? In the first line you wrote: convex, range $[0,+infty)$, pos 1-hom and $C^2$ imply identically vanishing. Can you provide a short proof of this elementary fact? I am not able to see it. Concerning assumption $A$, I see your point and I realized the question is ill-posed. What I actually have is that the boundary of the set ${fle 1}$ does not contain straight segments. Concerning assumption (B) I do not see your conclusion (the hessian vanishes hence...?). Thank you very much for your help.
– Romeo
yesterday
@Romeo First line: I do not have a proof but it's merely a conjecture ("the only function I can think of"). Part A: are you sure? Then $f(x)=0$ is a counterexample. Part B: the Hessian vanishes at 0 for all $z$, so the Hessian cannot be bounded below by $s|z|^2$.
– LinAlg
yesterday
add a comment |
The only function I can think of that satisfies all your conditions (convex, range $[0,infty)$, positively 1-homogeneous, $C^2$) is the function that always takes the value $0$.
You cannot have a positively 1-homogeneous function for which $E_1$ is strictly convex: the function is linear on the line segment ${ lambda x : f(lambda x) leq 1 } subseteq E_1$ (the line segment cannot be a single point or an empty set).
Now let's look at condition B. Since (2) holds for all $x$, the derivatives have to be equal as well: $lambdanabla f(lambda x) = lambda nabla f(x)$. It follows that $nabla f(lambda x)$ is the same for all $lambda$, so the second derivative at $0$ in the direction $z$ is $0$: $nabla^2f[0](z,z)=0$.
As neither condition (A) nor condition (B) can ever hold, they are equivalent.
The only function I can think of that satisfies all your conditions (convex, range $[0,infty)$, positively 1-homogeneous, $C^2$) is the function that always takes the value $0$.
You cannot have a positively 1-homogeneous function for which $E_1$ is strictly convex: the function is linear on the line segment ${ lambda x : f(lambda x) leq 1 } subseteq E_1$ (the line segment cannot be a single point or an empty set).
Now let's look at condition B. Since (2) holds for all $x$, the derivatives have to be equal as well: $lambdanabla f(lambda x) = lambda nabla f(x)$. It follows that $nabla f(lambda x)$ is the same for all $lambda$, so the second derivative at $0$ in the direction $z$ is $0$: $nabla^2f[0](z,z)=0$.
As neither condition (A) nor condition (B) can ever hold, they are equivalent.
answered 2 days ago
LinAlg
8,4761521
8,4761521
First of all, thank you very much for your very interesting answer. May I ask some further questions? In the first line you wrote: convex, range $[0,+infty)$, pos 1-hom and $C^2$ imply identically vanishing. Can you provide a short proof of this elementary fact? I am not able to see it. Concerning assumption $A$, I see your point and I realized the question is ill-posed. What I actually have is that the boundary of the set ${fle 1}$ does not contain straight segments. Concerning assumption (B) I do not see your conclusion (the hessian vanishes hence...?). Thank you very much for your help.
– Romeo
yesterday
@Romeo First line: I do not have a proof but it's merely a conjecture ("the only function I can think of"). Part A: are you sure? Then $f(x)=0$ is a counterexample. Part B: the Hessian vanishes at 0 for all $z$, so the Hessian cannot be bounded below by $s|z|^2$.
– LinAlg
yesterday
add a comment |
First of all, thank you very much for your very interesting answer. May I ask some further questions? In the first line you wrote: convex, range $[0,+infty)$, pos 1-hom and $C^2$ imply identically vanishing. Can you provide a short proof of this elementary fact? I am not able to see it. Concerning assumption $A$, I see your point and I realized the question is ill-posed. What I actually have is that the boundary of the set ${fle 1}$ does not contain straight segments. Concerning assumption (B) I do not see your conclusion (the hessian vanishes hence...?). Thank you very much for your help.
– Romeo
yesterday
@Romeo First line: I do not have a proof but it's merely a conjecture ("the only function I can think of"). Part A: are you sure? Then $f(x)=0$ is a counterexample. Part B: the Hessian vanishes at 0 for all $z$, so the Hessian cannot be bounded below by $s|z|^2$.
– LinAlg
yesterday
First of all, thank you very much for your very interesting answer. May I ask some further questions? In the first line you wrote: convex, range $[0,+infty)$, pos 1-hom and $C^2$ imply identically vanishing. Can you provide a short proof of this elementary fact? I am not able to see it. Concerning assumption $A$, I see your point and I realized the question is ill-posed. What I actually have is that the boundary of the set ${fle 1}$ does not contain straight segments. Concerning assumption (B) I do not see your conclusion (the hessian vanishes hence...?). Thank you very much for your help.
– Romeo
yesterday
First of all, thank you very much for your very interesting answer. May I ask some further questions? In the first line you wrote: convex, range $[0,+infty)$, pos 1-hom and $C^2$ imply identically vanishing. Can you provide a short proof of this elementary fact? I am not able to see it. Concerning assumption $A$, I see your point and I realized the question is ill-posed. What I actually have is that the boundary of the set ${fle 1}$ does not contain straight segments. Concerning assumption (B) I do not see your conclusion (the hessian vanishes hence...?). Thank you very much for your help.
– Romeo
yesterday
@Romeo First line: I do not have a proof but it's merely a conjecture ("the only function I can think of"). Part A: are you sure? Then $f(x)=0$ is a counterexample. Part B: the Hessian vanishes at 0 for all $z$, so the Hessian cannot be bounded below by $s|z|^2$.
– LinAlg
yesterday
@Romeo First line: I do not have a proof but it's merely a conjecture ("the only function I can think of"). Part A: are you sure? Then $f(x)=0$ is a counterexample. Part B: the Hessian vanishes at 0 for all $z$, so the Hessian cannot be bounded below by $s|z|^2$.
– LinAlg
yesterday
add a comment |
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1
Can you explain the notation $ nabla^2 f[x] (z,z)$?
– zhw.
Jan 1 at 18:44
1
@zhw. It is simply the Hessian matrix of $f$ (computed at $x$) evaluated (as a quadratic form) on the vector $z$. I added clarification in the OP. Thanks for your comment.
– Romeo
Jan 1 at 19:51