Why Is the Discriminant Non-Positive in the Triangle Inequality Proof?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the derivation of the triangle inequality |(x,y)| ≤ ||x|| ||y||, specifically examining the quadratic inequality ||x||² + ||y||²t² - 2tRe(x,y) ≥ 0. The discriminant of this quadratic equation, D = 4(Re(x,y))² - 4||y||²||x||², is established as non-positive (D ≤ 0) to ensure that the solutions for t are either complex conjugates or a single real solution. This condition guarantees that the function f(t) = ||x||² + ||y||²t² - 2tRe(x,y) remains non-negative for all real t, confirming the validity of the triangle inequality.

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In the derivation of triangle inequality |(x,y)| \leq ||x|| ||y|| one use some ##z=x-ty## where ##t## is real number. And then from ##(z,z) \geq 0## one gets quadratic inequality
||x||^2+||y||^2t^2-2tRe(x,y) \geq 0
And from here they said that discriminant of quadratic equation
D=4(Re(x,y))^2-4 ||y||^2|x||^2 \leq 0
Could you explain me why ##<## sign in discriminant relation? When discriminant is less then zero solutions are complex conjugate numbers. But I still do not understand the discussed inequality. What about for example in case
||x||^2+||y||^2t^2-2tRe(x,y) \leq 0?
 
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The quadratic equation
$$
||x||^2+||y||^2t^2-2tRe(x,y) \geq 0
$$
must always be zero or positive for all real ##t##. This means the function ##f(t)=||x||^2+||y||^2t^2-2tRe(x,y)## must always be above the ##t## axis, which further implies that it can have at most one solution (which occurs when the minimum of this function touches the ##t## axis): one solution or no solution at all. In terms of the discrimant, the discrimant of ##f(t)## is either zero or negative.
 

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