Chapter 1: Problem 15
Under what conditions does equality hold in the Schwarz inequality?
Short Answer
Expert verified
Answer: Equality holds in the Cauchy-Schwarz (Schwarz) Inequality if and only if the vectors u and v are linearly dependent, meaning one vector is a scalar multiple of the other (i.e., u = k*v for some constant k).
Step by step solution
01
State the Cauchy-Schwarz Inequality
The Cauchy-Schwarz Inequality is given by: \(| \textbf{u} \cdot \textbf{v} | \leq ||\textbf{u}|| ||\textbf{v}||\), where \(\textbf{u}\) and \(\textbf{v}\) are two arbitrary vectors and \(||\textbf{u}||\) and \(||\textbf{v}||\) denotes their magnitudes. Here, the dot product \(\textbf{u}\cdot\textbf{v}\) is equivalent to the sum of the product of their respective components: \(\textbf{u}\cdot\textbf{v} = u_1v_1+u_2v_2+\cdots +u_nv_n\)
02
Find when equality holds
Let's consider when \(\textbf{u} = k \textbf{v}\) for some constant \(k\). In this case, the dot product becomes \(k(v_1^2+v_2^2+\cdots +v_n^2)\) and the magnitudes become \(|k| \sqrt{v_1^2+v_2^2+\cdots +v_n^2}\) and \(\sqrt{v_1^2+v_2^2+\cdots +v_n^2}\). The inequality now becomes:
\(|k(v_1^2+v_2^2+\cdots +v_n^2)| \leq |k| (v_1^2+v_2^2+\cdots +v_n^2)\)
Since the left side and the right side of the inequality are the same, the equality holds when \(\textbf{u} = k \textbf{v}\).
In other words, equality holds in the Schwarz inequality when the two vectors are linearly dependent.
03
Conclusion
The equality in the Cauchy-Schwarz (Schwarz) Inequality holds if and only if the vectors \(\textbf{u}\) and \(\textbf{v}\) are linearly dependent. This means that one vector is a scalar multiple of the other, i.e., \(\textbf{u} = k \textbf{v}\) for some constant \(k\).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Vectors
Vectors are fundamental in understanding many concepts in mathematics and physics. A vector is a quantity that has both a magnitude and a direction. Think of it as an arrow that points in a certain direction and has a certain length.
When we talk about vectors in the context of the Cauchy-Schwarz Inequality, we consider their properties like
When we talk about vectors in the context of the Cauchy-Schwarz Inequality, we consider their properties like
- Magnitude: This is the length of the vector, often represented by \(||\textbf{v}||\).
- Direction: The arrow direction signifies the line along which the vector acts.
- Components: These describe the vector in a coordinate system, such as \(u_1, u_2, ... , u_n\) for vector \(\textbf{u}\).
Linear Dependence
Linear dependence is a crucial concept in linear algebra, especially when understanding when equality holds in the Cauchy-Schwarz Inequality. Two vectors are linearly dependent if one is a scalar multiple of the other. In other words,
- One vector can be expressed as \(\textbf{u} = k \textbf{v}\), where \(k\) is a constant.
- This relationship implies that both vectors point in the same or exact opposite direction.
Scalar Multiples
Scalar multiples play a significant role in determining vector relationships under the Cauchy-Schwarz Inequality. A scalar is a real number that "stretches" or "shrinks" a vector. Making one vector a scalar multiple of another involves scaling its components with a constant factor. This is represented mathematically as:
- \(\textbf{u} = k \textbf{v}\), where \(k\) is the scalar.