Integral Inequality: Prove $\left|f\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)\right|$ Bound

In summary, both solutions lead to the same equation which implies the result that $\left|f\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)\right| \le \int_0^1 |f(t)|\, dt + \frac{1}{2}\int_0^1 |f'(t)|\, dt$.
  • #1
Euge
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Here's my first challenge!

Let $f : [0,1] \to \Bbb R$ be continuously differentiable. Show that

$\displaystyle \left|f\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)\right| \le \int_0^1 |f(t)|\, dt + \frac{1}{2}\int_0^1 |f'(t)|\, dt$.
 
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  • #2
Euge said:
Here's my first challenge!

Let $f : [0,1] \to \Bbb R$ be continuously differentiable. Show that

$\displaystyle \left|f\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)\right| \le \int_0^1 |f(t)|\, dt + \frac{1}{2}\int_0^1 |f'(t)|\, dt$.

Nice challenge! ;)

We have:
$$f(x)=\int_0^x f'(t)\,dt \le \int_0^x |f'(t)|\,dt$$
If $f(x)<0$, we have:
$$-f(x)=\int_0^x -f'(t)\,dt \le \int_0^x |f'(t)|\,dt$$
Therefore:
$$|f(x)| \le \int_0^x |f'(t)|\,dt$$
It follows that:
$$\left|f\left(\frac 12\right)\right| \le \int_0^{1/2} |f'(t)|\,dt$$
By symmetry (or substitution of $u=1-t$):
$$\left|f\left(\frac 12\right)\right| \le \int_{1/2}^1 |f'(t)|\,dt$$
Adding them up and dividing by 2 tells us that:
$$\left|f\left(\frac 12\right)\right| \le \frac 12\int_0^1 |f'(t)|\,dt$$
And since $\int_0^1 |f(t)|\,dt \ge 0$, the requested result follows.
 
  • #3
I'm glad you liked the challenge, ILS! You have a very good attempt, but you started out with an error in the first line. If you take $f(x) = 1$, then

$\displaystyle \int_0^{1/2}f'(t)\, dt = 0 \neq 1 = f\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)$.
 
  • #4
Euge said:
Here's my first challenge!

Let $f : [0,1] \to \Bbb R$ be continuously differentiable. Show that

$\displaystyle \left|f\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)\right| \le \int_0^1 |f(t)|\, dt + \frac{1}{2}\int_0^1 |f'(t)|\, dt$.
[sp]Replacing $f$ by $-f$ if necessary, we may assume that $f\bigl(\frac12\bigr) \geqslant0.$

Suppost that the minimum value of $f$ in the interval $\bigl[0,\frac12\bigr]$ occurs at $a$, and the minimum value of $f$ in the interval $\bigl[\frac12,1\bigr]$ occurs at $b$. Then $\frac12\bigl(f(a) + f(b)\bigr)$ is the lower Riemann sum for \(\displaystyle \int_0^1f(t)\,dt\) corresponding to the dissection $\{0,\frac12,1\}$, so that \(\displaystyle \tfrac12\bigl(f(a) + f(b)\bigr) \leqslant \int_0^1f(t)\,dt.\)

Next, \(\displaystyle \int_{1/ 2}^bf'(t)\,dt - \int_a^{1/ 2}f'(t)\,dt = f(b) - f\bigl(\tfrac12\bigr) - f\bigl(\tfrac12\bigr) + f(a).\) It follows that $$\begin{aligned} f\bigl(\tfrac12\bigr) &= \tfrac12\!\bigl(f(a) + f(b)\bigr) + \tfrac12\!\!\int_a^{1/ 2}f'(t)\,dt - \tfrac12\!\!\int_{1/ 2}^bf'(t)\,dt \\ &\leqslant \int_0^1f(t)\,dt + \tfrac12\!\!\int_a^b|f'(t)|\,dt \\ &\leqslant \int_0^1|f(t)|\,dt + \tfrac12\!\!\int_0^1|f'(t)|\,dt. \end{aligned}$$[/sp]
 
  • #5
Opalg said:
[sp]Replacing $f$ by $-f$ if necessary, we may assume that $f\bigl(\frac12\bigr) \geqslant0.$

Suppost that the minimum value of $f$ in the interval $\bigl[0,\frac12\bigr]$ occurs at $a$, and the minimum value of $f$ in the interval $\bigl[\frac12,1\bigr]$ occurs at $b$. Then $\frac12\bigl(f(a) + f(b)\bigr)$ is the lower Riemann sum for \(\displaystyle \int_0^1f(t)\,dt\) corresponding to the dissection $\{0,\frac12,1\}$, so that \(\displaystyle \tfrac12\bigl(f(a) + f(b)\bigr) \leqslant \int_0^1f(t)\,dt.\)

Next, \(\displaystyle \int_{1/ 2}^bf'(t)\,dt - \int_a^{1/ 2}f'(t)\,dt = f(b) - f\bigl(\tfrac12\bigr) - f\bigl(\tfrac12\bigr) + f(a).\) It follows that $$\begin{aligned} f\bigl(\tfrac12\bigr) &= \tfrac12\!\bigl(f(a) + f(b)\bigr) + \tfrac12\!\!\int_a^{1/ 2}f'(t)\,dt - \tfrac12\!\!\int_{1/ 2}^bf'(t)\,dt \\ &\leqslant \int_0^1f(t)\,dt + \tfrac12\!\!\int_a^b|f'(t)|\,dt \\ &\leqslant \int_0^1|f(t)|\,dt + \tfrac12\!\!\int_0^1|f'(t)|\,dt. \end{aligned}$$[/sp]

This is an excellent solution. Thanks Opalg for participating!
 
  • #6
I will show two of my solutions, both leading to the same equation that implies the result.

Solution 1.
By integration by parts,

$\displaystyle \int_0^1 f(t)\, dt = \int_0^{1/2} f(t)\, dt + \int_{1/2}^1 f(t)\, dt = \left(\frac{f\bigl(\tfrac{1}{2}\bigr)}{2} - \int_0^{1/2} tf'(t)\, dt\right) + \left(\frac{f\bigl(\tfrac1{2}\bigr)}{2} + \int_{1/2}^1 (1 - t)f'(t)\, dt\right) = f\bigl(\tfrac1{2}\bigr) - \int_0^{1/2} tf'(t)\, dt + \int_{1/2}^1 (1 - t)f'(t)\, dt.$

So,

$\displaystyle f\bigl(\tfrac1{2}\bigr) = \int_0^1 f(t)\, dt + \int_0^{1/2} tf'(t)\, dt - \int_{1/2}^1 (1 - t)f'(t)\, dt$,

and thus

$\displaystyle |f\bigl(\tfrac1{2}\bigr)| \le \int_0^1 |f(t)|\, dt + \frac{1}{2}\int_0^{1/2} |f'(t)|\, dt + \frac1{2}\int_{1/2}^1 |f'(t)|\, dt = \int_0^1 |f'(t)|\, dt + \frac{1}{2}\int_0^1 |f'(t)|\, dt.$

Solution 2.
For all $x \ge \tfrac1{2}$,

$\displaystyle f(x) = f\bigl(\tfrac1{2}\bigr) + \int_{1/2}^x f'(t)\, dt$.

Therefore

$\displaystyle \int_{1/2}^1 f(t)\, dt = \frac{f\bigl(\tfrac1{2}\bigr)}{2} + \int_{1/2}^1 \int_{1/2}^x f'(t)\, dt\, dx = \frac{f\bigl(\tfrac1{2}\bigr)}{2} + \int_{1/2}^1 \int_t^1 f'(t)\, dx\, dt$
$\displaystyle = \frac{f\bigl(\tfrac1{2}\bigr)}{2} + \int_{1/2}^1 (1 - t)f'(t)\, dt.$

Now we can write

$\displaystyle \frac{f\bigl(\tfrac1{2}\bigr)}{2} = \int_{1/2}^1 f(t)\, dt - \int_{1/2}^1 (1 - t)f'(t)\, dt.$

By a symmetric argument,

$\displaystyle \frac{f\bigl(\tfrac1{2}\bigr)}{2} = \int_0^{1/2} f(t)\, dt + \int_0^1 tf'(t)\, dt$.

Adding the latter two equations,

$\displaystyle f\bigl(\tfrac1{2}\bigr) = \int_0^1 f(t)\, dt + \int_0^{1/2} tf'(t)\, dt - \int_{1/2}^1 (1 - t)f'(t)\, dt.$

This leads to the result in exactly the same way as Solution 1.
 

FAQ: Integral Inequality: Prove $\left|f\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)\right|$ Bound

What is an integral inequality?

An integral inequality is a mathematical statement that compares the value of an integral (a mathematical function that represents the area under a curve) to another value or function. It is used to prove certain properties or bounds of a function.

What is the purpose of proving an integral inequality?

The purpose of proving an integral inequality is to establish a mathematical relationship between two quantities and to determine the bounds or limitations of a function. This can help in solving mathematical problems and understanding the behavior of a function.

How do you prove an integral inequality?

To prove an integral inequality, you need to use mathematical techniques such as integration, substitution, and algebraic manipulation. You also need to have a good understanding of the properties of integrals and the function in question.

What is the meaning of the notation $\left|f\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)\right|$ in an integral inequality?

In this notation, $f\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)$ represents the value of the function at the point $\frac{1}{2}$. The notation $\left| x \right|$ means the absolute value of $x$, which is the distance of $x$ from zero on the number line. So, $\left|f\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)\right|$ represents the absolute value of the function at the point $\frac{1}{2}$.

How is the bound for $\left|f\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)\right|$ determined in an integral inequality?

The bound for $\left|f\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)\right|$ is determined by using various mathematical techniques such as integration, substitution, and algebraic manipulation. The bound is usually expressed in terms of other known values or functions and is used to prove the inequality statement.

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