PDA

View Full Version : Superadditive function property


jetoso
Feb21-07, 03:54 PM
1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
Show that a superadditive function has the following property:
For any superadditive function g on XxY (cartesian product):
f(x) = min { y' : y' = argmin g(x,y) }
is nonincreasing in x.


2. Relevant equations
if g(x,y) is a superadditive on XxY, x in X, y in Y, x1 >= x2, y1 >= y2, then it satisfies the inequality:

g(x1,y1) + g(x2,y2) >= g(x1,y2) + g(x2,y1)


3. The attempt at a solution
Let f(x1) = y', and suppose there is an x2 <= x1 such that f(x2) = y' then, g(x2,y1) - g(x2,y1) <= g(x2,y2) - g(x1,y2).

I am trying to find a contradiction, so that f is increasing in x for x2.

jetoso
Feb26-07, 09:27 PM
I think I solved this problem.
Let x2 >= x1, and take y2 >= f(x1) = y'. Then, from the definition of f, we have:
g(x1,f(x1)) - f(x1,y2) <= 0.

Since g is superadditive is satisfies:
g(x2,y2) + g(x1,f(x1)) >= g(x2,f(x1)) + g(x1,y2)

From the first inequality above we get:
g(x2,f(x1)) <= [g(x1,f(x1))-g(x1,y2)] + g(x2,y2) <= 0 + g(x2,y2) = g(x2,y2)

So, we have that:
g(x2,f(x1)) <= g(x2,y2)
for all y2 >= f(x1). Thus, f(x2)<=f(x1) which is nonincreasing in x.