Questions tagged [convexity]

For questions involving the concept of convexity

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Area Enclosed by the Convex Hull of a Set of Random Points

Consider $n$ points generated randomly and uniformly on a unit square. What is the expected value of the area (as a function of $n$) enclosed by the convex hull of the set of points?
user18011's user avatar
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3 answers
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Are small $\varepsilon$-balls convex in geodesic metric spaces?

Let $(M,d)$ be a complete, separable, compact metric space. Assume $M$ is geodesic, that is for any $x,y \in M$ there exists a distance realizing geodesic between $x$ and $y$ (not necessarily unique). ...
quarague's user avatar
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1 answer
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Tverberg's theorem in CAT(0) spaces

Does Tverberg's theorem hold for CAT(0) spaces of covering dimension $d<\infty$: Is it true that for any $d$-dimensional $CAT(0)$-space $X$ and a subset $E\subset X$ of cardinality $(d + 1)(r - ...
Misha's user avatar
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12 votes
3 answers
698 views

A "round" lattice with low kissing number?

Historically, the lattices with high density were studied intensively, e.g. E_8 lattice or Leech Lattice. However, there are situations that lattices with low kissing number are required. Specifically,...
Kore Min's user avatar
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12 votes
1 answer
466 views

Status of the compact AR problem?

The so-called "compact AR Problem" reads: Is every compact convex set in a metrizable topological vector space an absolute retract? It is open according to the chapter by T. Banakh, R. Cauty and ...
Sergey Melikhov's user avatar
11 votes
5 answers
5k views

A criterion for the sum of two closed sets to be closed ?

Let $V$ and $I$ be two closed subsets of a Banach space $A$. The set $V$ is a convex cone, and $I$ is a linear subspace of $A$. I also know that $V\cap I=\{0\}$. I would like to know whether $I+V$ ...
Fabien Besnard's user avatar
11 votes
2 answers
639 views

Existence of an open convex set

Let $T$ be a normed vector space, $K\subseteq T$ compact and convex and $O\subseteq K$ convex and open in $K$ (i.e. open w.r.t. the subspace topology of $K$ inherited by $T$). Can we find an open set $...
Julian's user avatar
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11 votes
2 answers
417 views

Convexity of a certain sublevel set

Consider the polynomial of degree $4$ in variable $r$ $$ r^4 + (x^2 + y^2)\ r^2 - 2 x y\ r + x^2 y^2 $$ The discriminant of this polynomial in $r$ is the following expression (obtained using ...
orangeskid's user avatar
11 votes
1 answer
2k views

Extreme points of a set of probability measures

Consider the set of Borel-measurable probability measures over the interval $[0,1]$ with a given mean, say 1/2. To be precise, I'm talking about the following set $$M=\left(\mu\in \Delta([0,1]):\int x\...
Henrique de Oliveira's user avatar
11 votes
1 answer
445 views

Determination of a symmetric convex region by parallel sections

This question is partly inspired by a problem in Stewart's Calculus: "Find the area of the region enclosed by $y=x^2$ and $x=y^2$." Suppose $f\colon [0,1]\to [0,1]$ is a convex increasing function ...
11 votes
2 answers
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Convex hull of the Stiefel manifold with non-negativity constraints

Consider the Stiefel manifold $$\mathrm{St}(n,k) :=\{X \in \mathbb{R}^{n\times k} : X^TX = I_k\},$$ where $I_k$ is the $k$-dimensional identity matrix. It is well known that $$\mathrm{conv} \left( ...
Mahdi's user avatar
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11 votes
1 answer
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The set of boundary vectors of compact convex body has empty interior

Let $K$ be a compact convex body in the Euclidean space $\mathbb R^n$ and $\partial K$ be its topological boundary in $\mathbb R^n$. Definition. A vector $\mathbf v\in\mathbb R^n$ is called $K$-...
Taras Banakh's user avatar
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11 votes
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Is there yet an example of a non-negative convex polynomial that cannot be written as a sum-of-squares?

I have read that it remains an open question, whether an example can be constructed of a non-negative convex polynomial that cannot be written as a sum-of-squares. My reading includes the following ...
Brian's user avatar
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10 votes
4 answers
620 views

Packing and isoperimetrics

Suppose a manufacturer bottles small units of liquid and ships them via very large trucks. If the transportation cost nothing, spherical bottles would minimize the packaging cost (isoperimetric ...
David Feldman's user avatar
10 votes
2 answers
494 views

Inequalities for averaging over partially ordered sets

Let's start from a classical inequality: If $0\le a_1\le\cdots\le a_k$ and $0\le b_1\le\cdots\le b_k$ then $(a_1+\cdots+a_k)(b_1+\cdots+b_k)\le k(a_1b_1+\cdots+a_k b_k)$. It can be written also in ...
Dmitry Kerner's user avatar
10 votes
1 answer
478 views

Monotonicity of Loewner ellipsoid?

Given two $0$-symmetric convex bodies $K \subset L \subset \mathbb{R}^n$, is it true that the Loewner ellipsoid of $K$ is contained in the Loewner ellipsoid of $L$? I have just finished proving a ...
alvarezpaiva's user avatar
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10 votes
2 answers
861 views

volume of the unit ball of the Banach space $\ell_1^n\otimes_{\epsilon}\ell_1^n$?

We denote by $\otimes_{\epsilon}$ the injective Banach tensor product. Which is the asymptotic volume of the unit ball of the Banach space $\ell_1^n\otimes_{\epsilon}\ell_1^n$?
BigBill's user avatar
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Continuous functions with convex level sets

Assume that $f:\mathbb{R}^{2}\to \mathbb{R}$ is a continuous function such that each level set $f^{-1}(c)$ is a convex set. To what extent such functions are studied? In particular: Is there a ...
Ali Taghavi's user avatar
10 votes
1 answer
977 views

A square root inequality for symmetric matrices?

In this post all my matrices will be $\mathbb R^{N\times N}$ symmetric positive semi-definite (psd), but I am also interested in the Hermitian case. In particular the square root $A^{\frac 12}$ of a ...
leo monsaingeon's user avatar
10 votes
1 answer
537 views

Is $Q_n(x)=\sigma_{n+1}(x)/\sigma_n(x)$ logarithmically convex on $\mathbf{R}$?

In 1975 J. van de Lune considered the monotony properties of the canonical Riemann Upper and Lower sums for $\int_0^1 t^xdt$, with $x>0$. Writing $\sigma_n(x) := 1^x+2^x+\cdots+n^x$ these sums are ...
juan's user avatar
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Extremal bases in finite-dimensional Banach spaces

Definition. A basis $e_1,\dots,e_n$ for a Banach space $X$ is called extremal if there exists a point $s$ in the unit sphere $S_X=\{x\in X:\|x\|=1\}$ such that for every $i\in\{1,\dots,n\}$ the ...
Lviv Scottish Book's user avatar
10 votes
0 answers
143 views

A geometrical problem in terms of a convex function

I wish to know whether the following problem has ever been investigated. Let $D$ be a convex domain in ${\mathbb R}^d$, with smooth boundary $\partial D$. Let $\vec V:\partial D\rightarrow{\mathbb R}^...
Denis Serre's user avatar
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253 views

Plank invariant measures on convex bodies

Let $K\subset R^2$ be a convex body, i.e., a compact convex set with interior points. A plank $P$ is the region between a pair of parallel lines in $R^2$. Let us say that $P$ intersects $K$ properly ...
Mohammad Ghomi's user avatar
10 votes
0 answers
405 views

Determining convexity of a polygon from its Fourier coefficients

Consider an $n$-sided polygonal curve in the plane, represented by an ordered set of points $(x_0, x_1, \ldots, x_{n-1})$; line segments connect consecutive points and also $x_{n-1}$ to $x_0$. It is ...
Menachem's user avatar
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10 votes
0 answers
298 views

Are plactic classes convex under the right weak Bruhat order?

For those who are unfamiliar with the terminology, I'll explain a little. The symmetric group $S_n$, as a type A Coxeter group, has generators $\{s_1,\ldots,s_{n-1}\}$ with relations (1) $s_i^2$ for ...
Kurt Luoto's user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
717 views

Simple-looking problem with integrals

Let $f: [0,\infty) \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ be a continuous function such that $f(0) = 0$. Is it true that if the integral $$ \int_0^{\pi/2} \sin(\theta) f(\lambda \sin(\theta)) \, d\theta $$ is zero ...
alvarezpaiva's user avatar
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9 votes
3 answers
691 views

surfaces of constant centro-affine curvature

It is well-known that every closed surface in $\mathbb R^3$ having constant Gauss curvature is a round sphere. Inspired by this question, I'd like to ask whether a similar rigidity holds for centro-...
Sergei Ivanov's user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
301 views

Closedness of linear image of positive L1 functions

Let $\mathcal X$ be the Banach space of $L^1$ functions on some probability space, $\mathcal Y$ be some other Banach space, $T:\mathcal X\to \mathcal Y$ be some surjective continuous linear map, $\...
e.lipnowski's user avatar
9 votes
2 answers
1k views

Is every open convex subset of a Riemannian manifold necessarily contractible?

Question: Is every open convex subset $C$ of a Riemannian manifold $M$, necessarily contractible? Here by a "convex subset" I mean a set $C$ having the property that between each pair of points in $...
Mostafa's user avatar
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9 votes
2 answers
2k views

Does a notion of convex graph make sense?

Let $X=(V,E)$ be a finite connected graph. I would be interested in some notion of convexity. General question: Is there a notion of convexity for finite connected graphs? How does it look like? ...
9 votes
1 answer
436 views

Less complicated proof of this "obvious" fact about convexity

Let $C\subset \mathbb{R}^n$ be a compact, convex set. In any convex analysis course, it would be a standard homework exercise to prove that the functions $f(x)=\max_{y\in C} \|x-y\|$ and $f(x)=\min_{...
Tom Solberg's user avatar
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9 votes
1 answer
457 views

In what sense is the Bayesian posterior mean a “convex combination”?

I asked this on math.stackexchange with no response, I'm hoping someone here might have something. Suppose I want to estimate $x \in \mathbb{R}^n$ from two signals with zero mean, normally ...
Ronaldo Carpio's user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
371 views

A Generalized Version of Maximal Correlation and Hypercontractivity of Conditional Expectation Operator

Given a pair of random variables $(X,Y)$ over a product space $\mathcal{X}\times \mathcal{Y}$, the maximal correlation coefficient is defined as $$\rho_2(X;Y):=\sup\frac{\mathbb{E}[f(X)g(Y)]}{||f||_2||...
math-Student's user avatar
  • 1,109
9 votes
2 answers
482 views

Comparing the growth of $f\circ g$ and $g\circ f$

I asked this Question on Math.StackExchange without success. Then I learned, that this might be the better place to ask. So, sorry for crossposting. I would agree on deleting my old question. Let $\...
M. Winter's user avatar
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8 votes
9 answers
5k views

Ways to prove an inequality

It seems that there are three basic ways to prove an inequality eg $x>0$. Show that x is a sum of squares. Use an entropy argument. (Entropy always increases) Convexity. Are there other means? ...
user avatar
8 votes
3 answers
407 views

Characterising semi-definite positiveness on vectors with non-negative entries

My problem is to characterise (or find useful information on) the cone $C$ of $N\times N$ matrices $M$ ($N\geq 1$) such that $$V^t M V\geq 0$$ for every vector $V $ with non-negative entries. Is this ...
kaleidoscop's user avatar
  • 1,268
8 votes
1 answer
659 views

Is the square root of the Kullback-Leibler divergence a convex map?

$\newcommand{\KL}{\operatorname{KL}}$Let $X$ be a Polish metric space and $P(X)$ the space of probability measures on $X$. Given $\mu, \nu\in P(X)$, recall that $$\KL(\mu\parallel\nu) = \begin{cases}\...
ECL's user avatar
  • 271
8 votes
3 answers
330 views

Shape whose translated and scaled copies are closed under intersection

The translated and scaled copies of an equilateral triangle with fixed orientation are closed under intersection - the intersection is again an equilateral triangle with the same orientation. What ...
Mangara's user avatar
  • 183
8 votes
1 answer
900 views

Generalization of Popoviciu's inequality

Popoviciu's inequality states that for convex $f$ and numbers $x_1,x_2,x_3$, we have $f(x_1)+f(x_2) + f(x_3) + 3\cdot f(\frac{x_1+x_2+x_3}3) \geq 2\cdot f(\frac{x_1+x_2}2)+2\cdot f(\frac{x_1+x_3}2)+2\...
Marek Adamczyk's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
700 views

On the convexity of element-wise norm 1 of the inverse

Question first asked on math.stackexchange here: https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/317209/on-the-convexity-of-element-wise-norm-1-of-the-inverse On the convexity of element-wise norm 1 of the ...
Ferpect's user avatar
  • 83
8 votes
2 answers
489 views

How can we show that if $f$ is convex, then $\liminf_{|x|\to\infty}\frac{x\cdot\nabla f(x)}{|x|}>0$?

Let $d\in\mathbb N$ and $f:\mathbb R^d\to\mathbb R$ be convex with $$\int e^{-f(x)}\:{\rm d}x<\infty\tag1.$$ How can we show that $$\liminf_{|x|\to\infty}\frac{x\cdot\nabla f(x)}{|x|}>0?$$ $f$ ...
0xbadf00d's user avatar
  • 161
8 votes
1 answer
608 views

Small quadrilaterals containing a given convex region

It is easy to prove that (*) Every convex planar set of area 1 is contained in a quadrilateral of area 2. It is also easy to see that statement (*) remains true if the constant 2 is replaced with a ...
Wlodek Kuperberg's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
677 views

Faces of the intersection of convex sets

Let $V$ be a normed real vector space and let $K_1, K_2\subseteq V$ be closed convex subsets such that the intersection $K_1\cap K_2$ is non-empty. Assume that $F_1$ is a face of $K_1$ and $F_2$ is a ...
Janko Bracic's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
356 views

Convex bodies with symmetric shadows

Theorem. If all orthogonal projections of a convex body $K \subset \mathbb{R}^n$ onto $2$-dimensional subspaces have a center of symmetry, then $K$ has a center of symmetry. This is a classic result ...
alvarezpaiva's user avatar
  • 13.2k
8 votes
2 answers
267 views

Is it possible to solve the argument maximization problem $\arg\max_x \langle x,l \rangle −f_1(x)−f_2(x)$ via convex duality?

I am attempting to solve the argument maximization problem $$\arg\sup_x \{ \langle x,l \rangle − f_1(x)−f_2(x) \} \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ (1)$$ where the functions $f_1$ and $f_2$ are concave but ...
JNM's user avatar
  • 101
8 votes
1 answer
553 views

A variation on "Hearing the shape of a drum" for polytopes.

Let $\varphi:\mathcal S^{d-1}\longrightarrow \mathbb R_{>0}$ be a strictly positive function describing the boundary $\varphi(\mathbf x)\mathbf x,\mathbf x\in\mathbb S^{d-1}$ of a $d-$dimensional ...
Roland Bacher's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
272 views

Almost convex combinations in $\mathbb R^n$

Working on some problems in the $C_p$-theory I discovered the following simple but amazing Fact. For any subset $A\subset \mathbb R^n$, non-zero vector $a\in \bar A\subset\mathbb R^n$ and $\...
Taras Banakh's user avatar
  • 40.8k
8 votes
0 answers
185 views

Geometric mean of three or more positive definite matrices

The geometric mean of two positive definite (Hermitian) matrices of same size is defined by $$A\natural B := A^{1/2}(A^{-1/2}BA^{-1/2})^{1/2}A^{1/2},$$equivalently, $$A\natural B =(BA^{-1})^{1/2}A=A(A^...
Wolfgang's user avatar
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8 votes
0 answers
192 views

Concavity of product and ratio of sums

Apologies if this question is not appropriate for MathOverflow. I have asked at Math.StackExchange without success. Consider the function $f:\mathbb{R}^n\rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ defined as $$ f(x)=\...
user_lambda's user avatar
8 votes
0 answers
814 views

Geometry of the metric cone

Let us say that two metrics $d$ and $d_0$ on a set $X$ are related if there exist positive constants $0 < \alpha \leq \beta$ such that $$ \alpha \,\left(d_0(x,y) + d_0(y,z) - d_0(x,z)\right) \leq ...
alvarezpaiva's user avatar
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