Cauchy-Schwarz Inequality for Summations

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around proving the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality in the context of summations involving sequences \( a_j \) and \( b_j \). Participants are exploring the relationship between the inner products and norms of these sequences.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are attempting to define sequences \( u \) and \( v \) in terms of the given summations and are questioning how to apply the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality effectively. There are discussions about the correct formulation of the inner products and the implications of the terms involved.

Discussion Status

There is an active exchange of ideas with some participants providing clarifications and others expressing confusion about specific steps. Several interpretations of the sequences and their relationships are being explored, indicating a productive dialogue without a clear consensus yet.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the definitions and the specific series being referenced, highlighting potential gaps in information or understanding that are under discussion.

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Homework Statement


Prove that ([tex]\sum_{j=1}^n[/tex]ajbj)2 <= ([tex]\sum_{j=1}^n[/tex]jaj2)([tex]\sum_{j=1}^n[/tex](1/j)bj2)


Homework Equations


Cauchy-Schwarz Inequality: |<u, v>| <= ||u||*||v||


The Attempt at a Solution


If I let u = [tex]\sum_{j=1}^n[/tex]jaj2 and v = [tex]\sum_{j=1}^n[/tex](1/j)bj2, then I have ||u|| = sqrt(<u, u>) and ||v|| = sqrt(<v, v>). Not really sure where to go from here. Any ideas? Thanks!
 
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The other form is more helpful in this problem:
<u,v>^2 = <u,u><v,v>

Now, you just have to choose u and v to get the required identity. You know that <u,v> needs to equal to Sum[a_j*b_j]. You also know that the j-th term in the series on the right side is equal to the j-th component of u or v squared.

Can you finish it from here?
 
Vid said:
The other form is more helpful in this problem:
<u,v>^2 = <u,u><v,v>

Now, you just have to choose u and v to get the required identity. You know that <u,v> needs to equal to Sum[a_j*b_j]. You also know that the j-th term in the series on the right side is equal to the j-th component of u or v squared.

Can you finish it from here?

First of all, thanks for the help!

Don't you mean <u,v>2 <= <u,u><v,v> ? Also, I'm not sure what you mean by your last sentence. "The series on the right side" is referring to which series? The product of the two series? Anyway, how do I know that? Sorry for these possibly stupid questions, and thanks again for your help.
 
Yea, that should be less than or equal to.

I meant that one series was for u and the other for v. With the standard dot product <u,u> = Sum[(u_j)^2].

So Sum[u_j^2] = Sum[j*a_j^2]
and Sum[v_j^2] = Sum[(1/j)*b_j^2]

What does this tell us about what u and v must be equal to?
 
Vid said:
Yea, that should be less than or equal to.

I meant that one series was for u and the other for v. With the standard dot product <u,u> = Sum[(u_j)^2].

So Sum[u_j^2] = Sum[j*a_j^2]
and Sum[v_j^2] = Sum[(1/j)*b_j^2]

What does this tell us about what u and v must be equal to?

I don't think I'm seeing it. u_j = sqrt(j)*a_j and u = Sum[u_j] = Sum[sqrt(j)*a_j] ?
v_j = (1/sqrt(j))*b_j and v = Sum[v_j] = Sum[(1/sqrt(j))*b_j] ?

Is this correct? I don't really see how this helps.
 
the cs inequality says <p, q> <= |p||q|, here | | denotes the norm

so (<p, q>)^2 <= |p|^2|q|^2


Set p = (a_1/sqrt(1),..., a_n/sqrt(n)), q= (sqrt(1)*b_1, 2*b_2,..., sqrt(n)*b_n)


so your sum on the left = (<p, q>)^2 <= |p|^2|q|^2 = the stuff you have on the right

just verify this
 
Ok, just to make sure I got it:

Cauchy Schwarz says |<u, v>| <= ||u||*||v||. This implies <u, v>2 <= <u, u><u, v>. Let <u, u> = [tex]\sum[/tex]uj2 = [tex]\sum[/tex]jaj2 and let <v, v> = [tex]\sum[/tex]vj2 = [tex]\sum[/tex](1/j)bj2.

Then we have u = [tex]\sum[/tex]uj = [tex]\sum[/tex]sqrt(j)*aj and v = [tex]\sum[/tex]vj = [tex]\sum[/tex](1/sqrt(j))*bj.

Then we have <u, v> = [tex]\sum[/tex]ujvj = ... = [tex]\sum[/tex]ajbj. Then square both sides to get <u, v>2 = ([tex]\sum[/tex]ajbj)2.

Then after plugging in, this completes the proof. Thanks again for all your help guys!
 

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