a) Let a∈R and f:R→R be a continuous function, having antiderivative F:R→R, such that F(x)+a⋅f(x)≥0, for x∈R, and lim∣x∣→∞e∣α⋅x∣F(x)=0, for any α∈R∗. Prove that F(x)≥0, for x∈R.
b) Let n∈N∖{0,1}, g=Xn+a1Xn−1+⋯+an−1X+an∈R[X] a polynomial with all its roots real and f:R→R, a polynomial function such that f(x)+a1⋅f′(x)+a2⋅f(2)(x)+⋯+an⋅f(n)(x)≥0, for all x∈R. Show that f(x)≥0, for x∈R.
Solution
a) For a=0 the result is obvious. For a=0, consider the differentiable function g:R→R defined by g(x)=F(x)⋅eax. We have g′(x)=f(x)⋅eax+a1⋅F(x)⋅eax=a1⋅eax⋅(F(x)+a⋅f(x)). For a>0 it is obvious that g′(x)≥0, for x∈R, implying that g is non-decreasing. As limx→−∞g(x)=limx→−∞F(x)⋅eax=0, we get g(x)≥0, for any x∈R, thus F(x)=g(x)⋅e−ax≥0, for x∈R. If a<0, g′(x)≤0, for x∈R, implying that g is non-increasing. As limx→∞g(x)=limx→−∞F(x)⋅eax=0, we obtain g(x)≥0, for x∈R. It follows that F(x)=g(x)⋅e−ax≥0, for any x∈R.
b) Let P={f∣f:R→R,f is a polynomial function}. For any real a consider the function Ta:P→P, defined by Ta(f)=f+a⋅f′, i.e., Ta(f)(x)=f(x)+a⋅f′(x), for any x∈R. As for any f∈P and any α∈R, we have lim∣x∣→∞e∣α⋅x∣f(x)=0, by a), for real a, we have the implication f∈P:Ta(f)(x)≥0,∀x∈R⟹f(x)≥0,∀x∈R. Consider the roots r1,r2,…,rn of g, and sk=−rk for k∈{1,2,…,n} their opposites. Then g=(X−r1)(X−r2)…(X−rn)=(X+s1)(X+s2)…(X+sn). By Vieta, we obtain the coefficients of g: ak=1≤i1<i2<⋯<ik≤n∑si1si2…sik,for any k∈{1,2,…,n}. For m∈{1,2,…,n} and any f∈P, we get (Tsm∘⋯∘Ts2∘Ts1)(f)=f+(i=1∑msi)f′+(1≤i1<i2≤m∑si1si2)f′′+…⋯+(1≤i1<i2<⋯<ik≤m∑si1si2…sik)f(k)+⋯+(s1s2…sm)f(m).(Q(m)) If for m∈{1,2,…,n−1}, Q(m) is supposed to be true, we have (Tsm+1∘Tm∘…Ts2∘Ts1)(f)=Tsm+1(Tm∘⋯∘Ts1)(f)==Tsm+1J⊆{1,2,…,m}∑j∈J∏sjf∣J∣==J⊆{1,2,…,m}∑j∈J∏sjf∣J∣++sm+1⋅J⊆{1,2,…,m}∑j∈J∏sjf∣J∣′=J1⊆{1,2,…,m,m+1}∑j∈J1∏sjf∣J1∣ so Q(m+1) is also true.
From Q(n), we have (Tsn∘⋯∘Ts2∘Ts1)(f)=f+a1⋅f′+a2⋅f′′+⋯+an⋅f(n). By the hypothesis, we have (Tsn∘⋯∘Ts2∘Ts1)(f)(x)=f(x)+a1⋅f′(x)+a2⋅f′′(x)+⋯+an⋅f(n)(x)≥0, for all x∈R. Successively, applying a), for m∈{1,2,…,n}, we get (Tsm∘⋯∘Ts2∘Ts1)(f)(x)≥0,for any x∈R. In particular f(x)≥0, for any x∈R.
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