What's the Origin of This Integral Inequality?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the origin and implications of the integral inequality |\int f(x)| \leq \int|f(x)|. Participants explore its mathematical significance and related concepts, including the triangle inequality and the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the origin of the integral inequality and seeks clarification on its meaning and implications.
  • Another participant argues that the left side represents the absolute value of the area under the curve, which could be negative, while the right side counts negative values as positive, using the example of velocity versus displacement.
  • A third participant suggests that the inequality is not particularly interesting and speculates that it relates to the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality, providing a link for reference.
  • Another participant states that the inequality is simply an application of the triangle inequality.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

The discussion contains multiple competing views regarding the significance and interpretation of the integral inequality, with no consensus reached among participants.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying interpretations of the inequality, including its mathematical implications and connections to other inequalities, without resolving these interpretations.

philosophking
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I know this is probably a gross generalization of what the actual inequality states, but I'm wondering if someone can tell me the origin of this integral inequality (or something resembling it :/ ):

[tex]|\int f(x)| \leq \int|f(x)|[/tex]

This is my first time using latex, so I hoped that turned out ok. Any suggestions on that too would be appreciated! Thanks.
 
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I don't understand your question...

the left side just takes the absolute value of the area under f(x), which could well be negative. As for the right side, it will count a negative f(x) as positive... if it's applied to a velocity function, it would give the total distance traveled rather than displacement for example.
 
[tex]|\int f(x)| \leq \int|f(x)|[/tex]

This is not a terribly interesting equality, I am sure that you could form a proof. I can only guess that you are trying to discuss the cauchy-schwarz inequality:

http://mathworld.wolfram.com/SchwarzsInequality.html

Which is reasonably famous but very uninteresting.
 
It's just an application of the triangle inequality.
 

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