Prove that the function F(x,y)=xy is concave, the function log(ax+ay) is convex, the function x1q1x2q2 and generally the function x1q1x2q2…xnqn is concave (where q1,q2 and q1,q2,…,qn are given positive numbers such that q1+q2=1 and q1+q2+…+qn=1, and the variables x1,x2 and x1,x2,…,xn can only take positive values).
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Official solution
For example, consider the function xy defined for positive values. Forming the difference between the two sides of the symmetric Jensen inequality for this function:
Here, the denominator is positive, and the numerator can be further transformed by expanding the square terms and simplifying:
x1y2+x2y1−2x1y1x2y2
Here, the first two terms are the arithmetic mean of x1y2 and x2y1, and the subtrahend is twice their geometric mean. Thus, the difference cannot be negative. The expression can be zero, however, if x1y2=x2y1, i.e., x1/y1=x2/y2. Therefore, the surface is concave in a broader sense. On the (x,y) plane, straight lines passing through the initial point also draw straight lines on the surface.
For the function loga(ax+ay)
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according to the previously proven inequality, assuming that a>1. Equality can hold if ax1−y1=ax2−y2. If 0<a<1, the function is convex if a>1 and concave in a broader sense if 0<a<1.
Now let's examine the function xq1xq2 where x,y,q1, and q2 are positive and q1+q2=1. Here, we need to compare the expressions
2x1q1y2q2+x2q1y2q2 and (2x1+x2)q1(2y1+y2)q2=21(x1+x2)q1(y1+y2)q
We can transform their ratio using the fact that the weighted geometric mean of two quantities is less than or equal to their weighted arithmetic mean.
x1+x2x1=y1+y2y1 and x1+x2x2=y1+y2y2
i.e., if x1/y1=x2/y2. Therefore, the function xq1yq2 is concave in a broader sense if q1+q2=1. Similarly, for the function x1q1x2q2…xnqn where x1,x2,…,xn;y1,y2,…,yn;q1,q2,…,qn are positive and q1+q2+…+qn=1, we have
Thus, the function is again concave in a broader sense. Let's write down the symmetric inequality for k terms. Denote k sets of n numbers as (x1(1),x2(1),…,xn(1)),(x1(2),x2(2),…,xn(2)),…,(x1(k),x2(k),…,xn(k)), then