Does Minimum of Complex Set Subset Exist?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the existence of a minimum for the set of magnitudes derived from a convex subset of complex numbers. The original poster questions whether the convexity of the set implies the existence of a minimum for the derived set of magnitudes.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster considers the implications of convexity on the derived set of magnitudes and questions whether this leads to the existence of a minimum. Some participants introduce the concept of compactness as a potential condition for ensuring a minimum exists.

Discussion Status

The discussion is exploring various interpretations of the problem, including the implications of compactness on the existence of a minimum. Participants are engaging with counterexamples and definitions related to convex and compact sets without reaching a consensus.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of the need for compactness to ensure the existence of a minimum, and the discussion includes references to properties of sets in the context of real numbers.

Bashyboy
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Homework Statement


The following doesn't come from a textbook, and I am very uncertain whether it is true or false. Suppose that ##B \subseteq \mathbb{C}## is a convex set, and consider the set ##L_B := \{|b|: b \in B \}##.

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


My question is, will ##min~L_B## exist? My thought was that ##B## being convex implied that ##L_B## is convex; but I am unsure whether convexity of ##L_B## is sufficient to conclude that ##min~L_B##. Please refrain from giving me an entire answer, but I would appreciate a few hints.
 
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Think about an open set in ##\mathbb{R}##.
 
Ah, a counterexample! For instance, if we have ##B = (0,1)##, then ##L_B = B##, yet ##B## does not have a minimum. What if we stipulate that ##B## must also be compact?
 
Does a compact set always have a minimum?
 
A compact set is both bounded and closed.
 
Since a compact set is bounded and closed, the infimum is the minimum, and the minimum exists.
 

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