Solving a Serious Math Problem

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the existence of a positive and twice differentiable function f defined on [0,∞) such that the inequality f(x)f’’(x) ≤ -1 holds. Participants conclude that such a function cannot exist due to the implications of concavity. Specifically, if f is concave down (f''(x) < 0) for all x in [0,∞), it must eventually cross the x-axis, contradicting the condition that f(x) > 0. The discussion also highlights that if the inequality were f(x)f''(x) < 0, functions like f(x) = ln(x + 2) would satisfy the condition.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of calculus concepts such as derivatives and concavity
  • Familiarity with the properties of functions defined on the interval [0,∞)
  • Knowledge of inequalities involving functions and their derivatives
  • Basic understanding of limits and their implications in calculus
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the implications of concavity in functions and how it affects their behavior
  • Explore the properties of logarithmic functions, specifically f(x) = ln(x + 2)
  • Learn about the conditions under which a function can be positive and concave down
  • Investigate the relationship between a function and its second derivative in the context of inequalities
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Mathematicians, calculus students, and anyone interested in advanced function analysis and inequalities in mathematical contexts.

vip89
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Serius problem!

Can you help me in solving this??

Is there a positive and twice differentiable function f defned on [0,∞) such
that f(x)f’’(x) ≤ -1 on [0,∞) ? Why or why not?
 
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Guys,no one can solve this problem??!
 
What does that tell you about f"(x)? Where is f concave up or down?
 
vip89 said:
Guys,no one can solve this problem??!


Is anybody supposed to solve it...besides you?
 
vip89 said:
Can you help me in solving this??

Is there a positive and twice differentiable function f defned on [0,∞) such
that f(x)f’’(x) ≤ -1 on [0,∞) ? Why or why not?
Any positive constant funtion works.
 
pebloy said:
Any positive constant funtion works.


What do you mean with constant?

say

f(x)=b, where b is a constant, this defenitely doesn't work, since f'=f''=0 so also

f(x)f''(x)=0, so this defenitely is not smaller than -1.
 
picking up on Halls advice.

SInce f(x)>0 on[0,infty) this means that the sign of f(x)f''(x) is determined only by the sign of f''. So, since the problem requires that f(x)f''(x) be smaller or equal to -1 on the interval [0,infty) it means that for all x's on this interval f''(x)<0. What does this tell us about the concavity of f? this means that f is concave down on the whole interval. But if f is concave down on the whole interval it means that at some point it should defenitely cross the x-axis, and therefore at some point be also negative, but this contradicts the fact that f>0, so i would say that such a function does not exist at all.
 
sutupidmath said:
What do you mean with constant?

say

f(x)=b, where b is a constant, this defenitely doesn't work, since f'=f''=0 so also

f(x)f''(x)=0, so this defenitely is not smaller than -1.
Sorry I reversed the inequality. :-)
 
that is wt I did,pls send me ur help
 

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  • #10
vip89 said:
that is wt I did,pls send me ur help

This is not what you did, but exactly what sutupidmath wrote in his post... you should at least credit him if you literally copy his words...

Anyways, could you prove that a function on [0,inf) which is always concave down has to be negative somewhere..? This is the key argument in your reasoning and you did not justify it.
 
  • #11


The answer is NO:

Suppose the statement is true. Then f(x)&gt;0, f&#039;&#039;(x)&lt;0 for all x&gt;0. Moreover, \lim_{x\rightarrow +\infty} f&#039;&#039;(x)&lt;0 if it exists.

Let f(0)&gt;0, f&#039;(x) is monotonically decreasing, then \lim_{x\rightarrow +\infty} f&#039;(x) is either -\infty or a constant.

If \lim_{x\rightarrow +\infty} f&#039;(x)=-\infty, then f is monotonically decreasing on [T,\,+\infty) for some T large enough and \lim_{x\rightarrow+\infty} f(x) must be negative. Otherwise, \lim_{x\rightarrow+\infty} f(x)=c_0\geq 0 and there exists a unbounded sequence \{x_n\} so that \lim_{n\rightarrow +\infty} f&#039;(x_n)=0. Contradiction;

if \lim_{x\rightarrow +\infty} f&#039;(x)=c, where c is a constant, then there exists a unbounded sequence \{x_n\} so that \lim_{n\rightarrow +\infty} f&#039;&#039;(x_n)=0, but we already have \lim_{n\rightarrow +\infty} f&#039;&#039;(x_n)&lt;0. Contradiction.

P. S.

Note that the assumption is f(x)\cdot f&#039;&#039;(x)\leq -1 on [0,\,+\infty). If we change it into f(x)\cdot f&#039;&#039;(x)&lt;0, then we cannot have \lim_{x\rightarrow +\infty} f&#039;&#039;(x)&lt;0 and in this case the statement is true:
e.g.: Let f(x)=\ln (x+2). Then we have
\begin{align*}<br /> f&#039;(x)&amp;=1/(x+2),\\<br /> f&#039;&#039;(x)&amp;=-1/(x+2)^2.<br /> \end{align*}​
Therefore, for all x\geq 0, we have
\begin{align*}f(x)\cdot f&#039;&#039;(x)&amp;=-\frac{\ln (x+2)}{(2+x)^2}&lt;0 \\<br /> \intertext{and}<br /> f(x)&amp;&gt;0.<br /> \end{align*}​
 
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