Derivation of Cauchy-Schwarz Inequality

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the derivation of the Cauchy-Schwarz Inequality, specifically the transition from the inequality ##-|v||w| ≤ v \cdot w ≤ |v||w|## to ##|v \cdot w| ≤ |v||w|##. Participants clarify that this transformation is based on the definition of absolute values and the properties of inequalities. The geometric definition of the dot product, ##u \cdot v = |u| |v| \cos(\theta)##, is also referenced to explain the relationship between vectors and their angles. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding absolute value inequalities and their implications in algebra.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of vector dot products and their geometric interpretation.
  • Familiarity with absolute value inequalities and their definitions.
  • Basic knowledge of algebraic manipulation of inequalities.
  • Concept of angles in the context of trigonometric functions.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the geometric interpretation of vector operations in linear algebra.
  • Learn about absolute value inequalities and their applications in algebra.
  • Explore the derivation and applications of the Cauchy-Schwarz Inequality in various mathematical contexts.
  • Review properties of trigonometric functions, particularly in relation to angles and their cosine values.
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Mathematics students, educators, and anyone interested in understanding vector algebra and inequalities, particularly in the context of linear algebra and pre-calculus concepts.

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For this,
1679289109955.png

I don't understand how they got from (1) to (2)? Dose someone please know what binary operation allows for that?

I also don't understand how they algebraically got from line (2) to (3).

Many thanks!
 

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jedishrfu said:
They used the geometric definition of vector dot product which is:

##u \cdot v = |u| |v| cos(\theta)## where its understood that ##\theta## is the angle between u and v

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dot_product
Thank you for your reply @jedishrfu !

Sorry if I was not clear. How did they go from ## -|v||w| ≤ v \cdot w ≤ |v||w| ## be equal to ##|v \cdot w| ≤ |v||w|##? The textbook dose not show any immediate steps.

I also don't know what allowed them to multiply all of ##-1 ≤ \cos\theta ≤ 1## by ##|v||w| ## to get line (2).

Many thanks!
 
Callumnc1 said:
Sorry if I was not clear. How did they go from ## -|v||w| ≤ v \cdot w ≤ |v||w| ## be equal to ##|v \cdot w| ≤ |v||w|##? The textbook dose not show any immediate steps.
Try it the other way. What does ##|x|\leq a## tell you about the range of allowed values for ##x##?
Callumnc1 said:
I also don't know what allowed them to multiply all of ##-1 ≤ \cos\theta ≤ 1## by ##|v||w| ## to get line (2).
If one number (e.g. ##\cos\theta##) is less than another (e.g. ##1##) and I multiply both by some positive value (e.g. ##|v||w|##), do you think the product with the smaller value (##|v||w|\cos\theta##) could ever be larger than the product with the larger value (##1|v||w|##)?
 
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Ibix said:
Try it the other way. What does ##|x|\leq a## tell you about the range of allowed values for ##x##?
Thank you for your reply @Ibix!

The range of allowed values of x have to such that their abs is less than or equal to a.

Many thanks!
 
Ibix said:
If one number (e.g. ##\cos\theta##) is less than another (e.g. ##1##) and I multiply both by some positive value (e.g. ##|v||w|##), do you think the product with the smaller value (##|v||w|\cos\theta##) could ever be larger than the product with the larger value (##1|v||w|##)?
Thank you for your reply @Ibix!

No I don't think so.

Many thanks!
 
Callumnc1 said:
##-|v||w| ≤ v \cdot w ≤ |v||w| ## be equal to ##|v \cdot w| ≤ |v||w|##?

By definition, if ## -b \leq a \leq b ## then we write this as ## |a| \leq b##
 
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malawi_glenn said:
By definition, if ## -b \leq a \leq b ## then we write this as ## |a| \leq b##
Thank you for your reply @malawi_glenn! Sorry, where did you read that is true? I am not sure where it is derived from. I have never seen that before sorry.

Many thanks!
 
Callumnc1 said:
Thank you for your reply @malawi_glenn! Sorry, where did you read that is true? I am not sure where it is derived from. I have never seen that before sorry.

Many thanks!
Any math textbook on pre calc should cover this

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absolute_value

And it is not derived it is a definition, a way of writing more compact
 
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  • #11
Callumnc1 said:
Thank you for your reply @malawi_glenn! Sorry, where did you read that is true? I am not sure where it is derived from. I have never seen that before sorry.
Draw a number line. Mark ##0## and ##\pm b##. What region of this line can ##a## lie in if ##|a|\leq b##? What region can it lie in if ##-b\leq a\leq b##?
 
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  • #12
Ibix said:
Draw a number line. Mark ##0## and ##\pm b##. What region of this line can ##a## lie in if ##|a|\leq b##? What region can it lie in if ##-b\leq a\leq b##?
Thank you for your reply @lbix ! I will do some thinking. Many thanks!
 
  • #13
If ##-b \le a \le b##, then ##a \le b## and ##-b \le a## (or, ##-a \le b##). So ##\pm a \le b##. Since ##|a|## is either ##a## or ##-a##, then ##|a| \le b##.
 
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  • #14
Euge said:
If ##-b \le a \le b##, then ##a \le b## and ##-b \le a## (or, ##-a \le b##). So ##\pm a \le b##. Since ##|a|## is either ##a## or ##-a##, then ##|a| \le b##.
Thank you for your reply @Euge!

Could you also equally just take the absolute value of the of both sides of the inequality ##\pm a \le b## instead of using the definition of absolute value? This would give ##|a| \le |b|##

Many thanks!
 
  • #15
Callumnc1 said:
Could you also equally just take the absolute value of the of both sides of the inequality ##\pm a \le b## instead of using the definition of absolute value? This would give ##|a| \le |b|##
In general, the inequality ##a \le b## does not imply ##|a| \le |b|##. For example, ##-2 \le 1## but ##|-2| > |1|## since ##|-2| = 2## and ##|-1| = 1##.
 
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